Exmoor Family Walking Adventure

Distance: 4.5 miles (7.5km)

Ascent: 600ft (180m)

We’ll follow the Coleridge Way from Porlock to Porlock Weir where you’ll spot fishing boats and yachts bobbing up and down in the harbour. Our return journey takes us past Porlock Marsh, home to lots of birdlife, including oystercatchers, curlews, and lapwings.  

Distance: 5.5 miles (8.5km)

Ascent: 750ft (230m)

We’ll enjoy a relaxed circular walk across fields and minor roads to visit Porlock, circling back along the coast through the charming villages of Bossington and Allerford, home to a photo-worthy packhorse bridge.

Distance: 8 miles (13km)

Ascent: 1,050ft (320m)

We’ll head through Hawkcombe Woods nature reserve on our way to the village of Porlock. Next will be the spectacular Hurlstone Point for wow-worthy coastal views before heading inland and back to the house.

Distance: 9½ miles (15km)

Ascent: 1300ft (400m)

Follow a meandering route from Porlock Hill to Holnicote House. We'll take in the beautiful wooded valleys of Shillett Combe and Horner Water, as well the heather-clad moorland above.

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

Ascent: 100ft (30m)

Starting high on the cliffs at Barna Barrow, we’ll descend through woodland to Watersmeet with its National Trust tea room and shop. There’s plenty to do here – stop to play hide and seek or paddle in the stream. We’ll then follow the East Lyn River into Lynmouth.

Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km)

Ascent: 1,500ft (460m)

Today’s walk has two distinct sections. First, we'll descend from Countisbury into the wooded valley at Watersmeet to then follow East Lyn River to Lynmouth. We'll then take the Victorian cliff railway, which uses water power to lift you 500ft so that we can explore Lynton and the Valley of Rocks.

Distance: 8.5 miles (13.5km)

Ascent: 1,800ft (540m)

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

Distance: 11 miles (17.5km)

Ascent: 3,200ft (980m)

We’ll follow the glorious 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.

Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)

Ascent: 55ft (180m)

We’ll set off on a circular walk taking in the picture-postcard villages of Allerford and Bossington before returning to the house. On the way we’ll be treated to far-reaching views from the side of Selworthy Beacon over the villages and along the coastline of Porlock Bay.

Distance: 6 miles (10km)

Ascent: 1,550ft (460m)

We’ll walk to the charming villages of Allerford and Bossington, before continuing to the coast at Hurlstone Point. Our return route traverses the wooded slopes to Selworthy village where you’ll have time to explore. You can wander through the once extensive Holnicote Estate to the model village of Selworthy, with its collection of chocolate box thatched cottages.

Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)

Ascent: 1,350ft (420m)

We’ll climb through the woods to the Iron Age hillfort and glorious viewpoint of Selworthy Beacon – the Bristol Channel and Exmoor hills will soon come into view once we’re at the top. After a hilltop walk, we'll descend through the fields to Selworthy village.

Distance: 10 miles (16km)

Ascent: 2,050ft (620m)

We’ll head through the woods to Hurlstone Point and along the rugged coastal path that meanders along the northern slopes of Selworthy Beacon.  This section of the coast path has a real away-from-it-all feel as we traverse around three deep combes above the sea. We'll then ascend onto the summit and return via Selworthy village.

Distance: 3 miles (5km)

Ascent: 400ft (120m)

We’ll ride the steam train from Minehead to Blue Anchor Bay to take in some of Britain’s most scenic coastline. A short walk takes us across fields to the medieval village of Dunster where you’ll have plenty of time to explore.  

Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)

Ascent: 700ft (220m)

Today we’ll enjoy a steady climb and ridge walk through the woods of Wootton Common before a steady descent all the way down to Dunster Castle. Dunster Castle was the home of the Luttrell family for over 600 years and is now managed by the National Trust.

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. Look out for red deer across the broad ridge line - 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)

We’ll walk from Holnicote House to historic Dunster where you’ll have time to visit the castle. Our route will then take us through the woods to the viewpoint at Webber's Post to soak up fine views as we follow the ridge over Wootton Common. 

Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)

Ascent: 400ft (120m)

Local estate roads and lanes will lead us to the pretty village of Luccombe followed by 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. 

Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)

Ascent: 1,000ft (300m)

We’ll leave the house and make our way to the pretty village of Horner, Horner Wood, and Horner Hill, before heading back.

Distance: 9 miles (14km)

Ascent: 1,950ft (600m)

This circular walk sees us visiting the highest point in Exmoor and Somerset. We’ll walk through woodland and moorland to Dunkery Beacon and return on a meandering path alongside the delightful River Horner.

Distance: 11 miles (17.5km)

Ascent: 2,050ft (620m)

We’ll visit the highest point in Exmoor and Somerset. The descent will take us past the tiny Stoke Pero Church, also the highest church in Exmoor, and back through Horner Woods alongside River Horner.