7 Night Exmoor Family Walking Adventure

Distance: 4.5 miles (7.5km)

Ascent: 600ft (180m)

Today we walk through woods and over streams from the village of Porlock to Porlock Weir. Here we’ll be able to spot fishing boats and yachts bobbing up and down in the harbour. The second half of our day takes us past Porlock Marsh, home to lots of birdlife, including oystercatchers, curlews, and lapwings.   

What your kids will love: Spotting lots of different birds on Porlock Marsh. Listen out for oystercatchers - they’re a very noisy wading bird with a loud call.

Distance: 5.5 miles (8.5km)

Ascent: 750ft (230m)

We’ll set off on a circular walk from the house, visiting the village of Porlock and the coastal hamlet of Bossington. There are thatched cottages to spot, Saxon history to discover, and even a tale about Danish Pirates.  

What your kids will love: Stopping for a quick game of Poohsticks at the packhorse bridge near Allerford. 

Distance: 8 miles (13km)

Ascent: 1,050ft (320m)

From a starting place high on the moors, we’ll make our way through Hawkcombe Woods Nature Reserve to the village of Porlock. Next, we’ll walk to Hurlstone Point to check out the old Coastguard station and take in the views, before finally heading inland and back to the house so you can share stories of your adventure with your friends. 

What your kids will love: Once you catch your breath at Hurlstone Point, you might just be able to spot Wales across the Bristol Channel.

Distance: 9½ miles (15km)

Ascent: 1300ft (400m)

From high on the heather-clad moorland we’ll meander through woods and over fields as we make our way back to Holnicote House. Keep your eyes peeled for red deer, there are approximately 3,000 living on Exmoor.  

What your kids will love: The ancient oak trees in Horner Wood. Fun fact: some trees are 500 years old, which means they were standing when Henry VIII was also alive.  

Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5km)

Ascent: 400ft (120m)

We’ll start high on the cliffs overlooking Lynmouth Bay at Barna Barrow before descending through woodland to the old fishing lodge at Watersmeet. There’s plenty to do here – grab some refreshments at the National Trust café, stop to play hide and seek, or paddle in the stream. We’ll then follow the East Lyn River into Lynmouth with ample time to explore the village before heading back to the house.  

What your kids will love: Searching for wildflowers and finding the purple-blue Devil’s-bit scabious flower. The origins of its name are fascinating - the devil was so angry that this plant could cure all types of illnesses (including the plague), he bit away part of the roots.  

Distance: 7 miles (11km)

Ascent: 1,100ft (340m)

The first section of today’s route follows the option 1 walk to Lynmouth. From here we’ll take a ride on the funicular cliff railway, ascending 500ft to explore Lynton and the Valley of Rocks.   

What your kids will love: Riding the world’s steepest and highest water-powered railway. 

Distance: 8.5 miles (13.5km)

Ascent: 1,800ft (540m)

We’ll take the zig-zag path down from Countisbury Hill to Watersmeet before continuing along the hillside to the Victorian town of Lynton. We’ll climb to a panoramic viewpoint above the Valley of Rocks, a local beauty spot with its own herd of wild goats who roam the hillsides. 

What your kids will love: Looking out for the wild goats roaming freely (and often hair-raisingly) on the cliff edges.

Distance: 11 miles (17.5km)

Ascent: 3,200ft (980m)

We’ll follow the magnificent coastal path down Countisbury Hill to Lynmouth, then on to the Valley of Rocks and Lee Bay. We’ll return along an elevated path to Lynton and Watersmeet. 

What your kids will love: The bragging rights of being tough enough to take on the challenge. Although this is our longest walking option of the day, there’ll be plenty of fun, excitement, and adventure along the way. 

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

Ascent: 700ft (220m)

Today we’ll embark on a delightful circular walk exploring the charming villages of Allerford and Selworthy. There'll be streams, woods, an ancient packhorse bridge and a church with great views of Exmoor.

What your kids will love: Stopping off at the thatch-roofed Periwinkle Tearooms in Selworthy for a well-earned cake.

Distance: 6 miles (10km)

Ascent: 1,550ft (460m)

We’ll walk to the enchanting villages of Allerford and Bossington, then continue to the coast at Hurlstone Point. Return via the wooded slopes to Selworthy village. Explore the Holnicote Estate and the charming, thatched cottages of Selworthy. 

What your kids will love: Searching for sea thrift (Armeria Maritima), a pink clover-like flower which can be found around Hurlstone Point. 

Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)

Ascent: 1,350ft (420m)

Today we’ll climb through the woods to the Iron Age hillfort and the wonderful viewpoint of Selworthy Beacon. We’ll soak up the views of the Bristol Channel and Exmoor hills before descending through fields to Selworthy village. 

What your kids will love: Resting your legs at a scenic pitstop located at the ‘Wind and Weather’ Hut near Selworthy Beacon summit. Built in 1878 as a memorial to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, this memorial has seats on all sides, offering a chance to take in the views and enjoy a bite to eat.

Distance: 10 miles (16km)

Ascent: 2,050ft (620m)

Today’s walk takes us through woods and along coastal paths as we meander our way to the top of Selworthy Beacon. This section of the coast path has a real away-from-it-all feel as we traverse around three deep combes (valleys) above the sea.  

What your kids will love: Enjoying the great views from the top of Selworthy Beacon - on a clear day you can see across the Bristol Channel to the Brecon Beacons. 

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

Ascent: 400ft (120m)

We’ll ride an old-fashioned train from Minehead to Blue Anchor Bay to take in some of Britain’s wonderful coastline. A short walk across fields leads us to the medieval village of Dunster where there’s plenty of time to explore.  

What your kids will love: Imagining the Norman lords who built the original castle, and the Royalists who defended it in the Civil War. 

Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)

Ascent: 700ft (220m)

We’ll embark on a steady climb and ridge walk through the woods of Wootton Common before descending down to the Saxon village of Dunster, home to a magnificent castle.   

What your kids will love: Looking for wildlife down by the River Avill in Dunster – it’s home to golden-ringed dragonflies, sand martins, bullhead fish, and otters. 

Distance: 7 miles (11km)

Ascent: 1,200ft (360m)

Heading straight out from Holnicote House, we’ll follow the track and road to Headon Cross where we’ll see the pretty colours of Tivington Heights hamlet. 

We’ll then head up through a mixed broadleaf wood onto the ridge line of Wootton Common before going down Grabbist Hill to the medieval village of Dunster.  

What your kids will love: Looking out for red deer across the broad ridge line on Wootton Common. Although illusive, you may hear the loud barking call of the stags, especially during rutting season. 

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)
Ascent: 1,650ft (500m)

Today’s walk takes us from Holnicote House to the village of Dunster where we’ll have time to visit the castle and other attractions. Our route takes us through Horner woods to a superb viewpoint, before following the same route as option 2 and 3 along the ridge over Wootton Common.  

What your kids will love: Playing ‘I spy’ from the viewpoint at Webber’s Post. 

Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)

Ascent: 550ft (180m)

Local estate roads and lanes will lead us to the pretty villages of Luccombe and Horner with its tea gardens. We’ll return to Holnicote House after visiting Piles Mill, an old 17th century corn mill, with plenty of time to relax when we return to the house.  

What your kids will love: Practicing your best snoring. The name Horner comes from the Saxon ‘hwrnwr’ or Hernola’, meaning snorer.

Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)

Ascent: 1,000ft (300m)

A circular walk from the house takes us to the pretty village of Horner before  

ascending to the viewpoint of Webber’s Post. From here we snake our way down through Horner woods before crossing fields back to Holnicote House.  

What your kids will love: Keep an eye out for Yogi and Grills as we walk back to the house. They’re a pair of adult Eurasian beavers who live in The Paddock woods, a stone’s throw from the house.  

Distance: 9 miles (14km)

Ascent: 1,950ft (600m)

We’ll climb to the highest point on Exmoor – Dunkery Beacon. We’ll walk through woodland and moorland to reach the summit, returning on a meandering path alongside the delightful River Horner. 

What your kids will love: Stopping for an ice cream at Horner’s lovely tea gardens.

Distance: 11 miles (17.5km)

Ascent: 2,050ft (620m)

We’ll head for Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point. We’ll follow a similar route to the option 3 walk, however, return over Stoke Pero Common and past the tiny Stoke Pero Church, also the highest church in Exmoor, which dates back to the 13th century. 

What your kids will love: Being the highest people in Somerset, even if it’s for just a brief moment.