Minehead Harbour, Minehead, Exmoor National Park

[Main photo: Minehead Harbour below North Hill]

Minehead Harbour

Pretty harbour at the western end of Minehead Beach and at the start/end of the South West Coast Path. The harbour is located below North Hill. The Old Ship Aground is great for a pint.

Location of Minehead Harbour

Minehead Harbour is at the western end of Minehead Beach below North Hill which is part of the huge whaleback hill at the eastern end of Exmoor National Park’s coastline.

We’ve positioned Minehead Harbour on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.

Directions to, and parking at, Minehead Harbour

Walk the Esplanade and then Quay Street in the direction of Minehead Harbour. You’ll see The Quay Inn on the left and the large South West Coast Path Start/End Sculpture on the right. The harbour is visible in front of you.

There’s street parking along the Esplanade and Quay Street. There are various car parks in town. Try Station Car Park, North Road Car Park, Clanville Car Park, Summerland Car Park and Alexandra Car Park. There are lots of car parks by Butlin’s Minehead if you’re staying there.

You can also park at Quay West Car Park by Minehead Harbour.

Minehead Harbour

‘Minehead Harbour is located on the Somerset coast between Porlock Weir and Watchet marina. There has been a harbour at Minehead since the late 1300s and it is now home to a busy charter boat fleet and has an active leisure boat community.’ (Source: Minehead Harbour website.)

There’s an excellent history of the harbour on the Minehead Harbour website which includes old photos and a description of the harbour from the later 14th century to the 18th century.

The Old Ship Aground by Minehead Harbour.

Other harbours on the Exmoor coast include Porlcok Weir Harbour and Lynmouth Harbour.

There are disused harbours along the coast including one at Woody Bay.

Heading east of Minehead, Watchet Harbour and Wathcet Marina are superb.

Heading west of Exmoor, Ilfracombe Harbour is super popular. Many boat trips leave from here. We’d recommend Lundy Island.

Historical and cultural attractions near near Minehead Harbour

This section of West Somerset and Exmoor National Park is full of historical and cultural attractions. These include:

Dunster Castle (National Trust)

Dunster Yarn Market, Butter Cross and Gallox Bridge (English Heritage)

Cleeve Abbey (English Heritage)

The Ancient Mariner Sculpture in Watchet

Coleridge Cottage (National Trust)

Allerford Museum West Somerset Rural Life Museum and Victorian School

Gardens near Minehead Harbour

Minehead Blenheim Gardens

Dunster Gardens, Dovecote and Tithe Barn

Dunster Castle (National Trust). The castle is surrounded by many gardens and heavily wooded walkways. The Keep Garden tops the hill on which the castle sits. Lawn’s Bridge, Marshall’s Bridge and Lovers’ Bridge span the River Avill on the eastern side of the castle.

Selworthy Green (National Trust)

Knightshayes (National Trust)

Cothay Manor

Hestercombe House & Gardens

Other attractions near Minehead Harbour

West Somerset Railway

Dunster Estate (The Crown Estate)

Conygar Tower

The tallest tree in England

Dunster Beach

Holnicote Estate (National Trust). Holnicote Estate is 'one of the largest and most diverse countryside properties owned and managed by the National Trust. The 5026 hectare estate gives you the opportunity to discover picturesque villages, woodland, farmland, moorland coastline, archaeological sites and a wide array of wildlife, including many species that are rare in the UK. Most of the estate can be explored using more that 240km of bridleways and footpaths.' (Source: information board at Selworthy). We'd recommend following the moorland road that climbs to Webber's Post and Dunkery Hill. Walk to Dunkery Beacon which is the highest point in Exmoor National Park. There are huge panoramic views. It's particularly impressive in late summer when the heather's out.

Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve

Dunkery Beacon (National Trust)

Villages and towns near Minehead Harbour

Dunster

Washford

Watchet

Selworthy

Allerford

Bossington

Porlock

Porlock Weir

Wheddon Cross