Guided Walking for Families at Selworthy

• A unique feature of Guided Walking for Families is the selection of up to 3 guided walks each walking day

• Our friendly and experienced leaders will guide you on the walks and are there to assist with any queries you may have
• Evening activities are fun for all the family – enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, and there’s also a kids-only games room
• Make the most of the nearby family-friendly attractions

  Easier Walks     Medium Walks       Harder Walks

Holidays for 2012

7 night holiday - Sat 28 July

Itinerary for 7 night holiday - arrive Sat 28 July

Sunday: Holnicote and Selworthy Beacon

Easier Walk: A circular walk taking in woodland paths, National Trust villages and the coast at Porlock Bay. 6¾ miles with 700 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Heading up onto the moorland we follow the South West Coast Path around Selworthy Beacon and North Hill, passing through Selworthy village. 7½ miles with 1,150 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: This walk reaches North Hill via an alternative and more rugged coast path through three deep combes above the sea.  We return via Selworthy village to Holnicote House, once owned by the Acland family, who rebuilt Selworthy village in 1828, and now owned by the National Trust. 10 miles with 1,300 feet of ascent.

Monday: The Doone Valley to Watersmeet

Easier Walk: We visit the valleys of Oare Water and Badgworthy Water (Doone Valley) to visit some of the sights made famous by the 1869 novel Lorna Doone. We reach the East Lyn River and walk down beside it to the old fishing lodge at Watersmeet, now a National Trust shop and cafe. 7½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We walk across moorland to the Doone Valley, passing Oare Church and Cloud Farm on the banks of Badgworthy Water.  We then traverse open moorland to the hamlet of Rockford and along the cascading waters to Watersmeet. 9½ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We also walk in Lorna Doone country, following the course of Badgworthy Water before we pick up the route of the Two Moors Way and on to Cheriton Ridge with its panoramic views into Wales.  We arrive at Watersmeet via some impressive waterfalls. 11¼ miles with 900 feet of ascent.

Tuesday: Valley and hills to Dunster Castle

Easier Walk: Today we take a scenic walk to Dunster with its yarn market, castle and other historic sites. The route is via the hidden valley of Withycombe and the castle’s old deer park. 7 miles with 900 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Holnicote House we take a mixture of estate and moorland paths to the viewpoint at Webber’s Post – overlooking the Horner Valley – before reaching Dunster via Wootton Courtenay and Grabbist Hill. 9¼ miles with 1,350 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Following a similar route to the Medium Walk we have an extra highlight in ascending Dunkery Beacon, the highest point in Exmoor and indeed in Somerset. 12¼ miles with 2,150 feet of ascent.

Wednesday:

With no guided walks organised, this is a great opportunity for your family to explore Exmoor independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Thursday: The East Lyn River and the Valley of Rocks

Easier Walk: This walk provides a chance to explore Lynton and Lynmouth. From Barna Barrow we walk to Countisbury and follow a zig-zag path to Watersmeet.  We then head down the valley of the East Lyn River to Lynmouth before taking the Victorian cliff railway to Lynton. 7 miles with 500 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Barna Barrow – with amazing views from the 1,000 feet high cliffs – we walk to Watersmeet and on to Lynton. We climb to a panoramic viewpoint above the Valley of Rocks before zig-zagging down the valley to Lynton and Lynmouth. 8½ miles with 1,100 feet of ascent and 2,225 feet of descent.

Harder Walk: Walking a similar route to the other walkers but taking in the Valley of Rocks and the beach of Lee Bay before returning to Lynton via a high level path, and heading over the Cleaves to Watersmeet. 11 miles with 2,000 feet of ascent.

Friday: From the turnpike road to Holnicote House

Easier Walk: Taking inland paths from AA Box 137, one of England’s smallest listed buildings, we continue through woods and valleys and around Halse Combe with the chance to see red deer on our way back to Holnicote House. 7 miles with 675 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Taking a broadly similar route to the easier walk, we walk through woods and valleys and around Halse Combe, with the chance to see red deer on our way back to Holnicote House. 9¼ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Walking from Culbone Stables Inn, one of Exmoor’s highest pubs, we follow a route taking in Robber’s Bridge, Oareford and the long-ruined farmhouses of Tom’s Hill and Larkbarrow.  We return to Holnicote House via Halse Combe. 12½ miles with 2,250 feet of ascent.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at our Country House, Holnicote House. On other days you’ll be transported to other parts of Exmoor. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an evening activity created specifically for all the family - enjoy a quiz, a game of rounders or outdoor treasure hunt or use the Country House facilities - the kids will love the adult-free play zone.