Porlock Weir South West Coast Path Walk, Porlock, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: The South West Coast Path on Porlock Beach sending walkers across Porlock Marsh (National Trust) / Sparkhayes Marsh (National Trust) owing to the breach in Porlock Shingle Ridge]
Porlock Weir South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is one of the UK’s most famous long distance walking routes. It passes through Porlock Weir. Head east and it takes you across Porlock Marsh (National Trust) / Sparkhayes Marsh (National Trust) and Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest to Bossington, Bossington Hill, North Hill and Minehead (the start/end of the South West Coast Path). Head west and you walk along heavily wooded coastline to Foreland Point and then Lynmouth and Lynton.
Location of Porlock Weir South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path runs from Minehead along the Exmoor coastline to Combe Martin and then the North Devon National Landscape.
We’ve positioned the South West Coast Path at Porlock Weir on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Porlock Weir South West Coast Path
Follow the A39 to Porlock and the B3225 for Porlock Weir.
There’s a reasonably large car park at Porlock Weir by The Bottom Ship Inn, Porlock Weir Harbour and Porlock Weir Hotel. The South West Coast Path runs past the car park, pub and hotel.
It’s well signposted.
The South West Coast Path at Porlock Weir
‘The 630 mile long South West Coast Path National Trail passes through Porlock Weir, and provides excellent walking both west towards Culbone with its woods and tiny church and eastwards past Porlock Marsh towards the beautiful village of Bossington, much of which is owned by the National Trust.’ (Source: information board at Porlock Weir car park.)
Head east and it takes you across Porlock Marsh (National Trust) / Sparkhayes Marsh (National Trust) and Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest to Bossington and then Bossington Hill. The path continues on this high ground to North Hill and then descends to Minehead and the South West Coast Path Start/End Sculpture.
Head west and you walk along the heavily wooded Exmoor coastline to Culbone, Glenthorne, Desolation Point, Foreland Point and then Lynmouth and Lynton.
Walking the South West Coast Path east from Porlock Weir to Minehead
Start at Porlock Weir. Walk along the back of Porlock Beach by the Submarine Forest and then follow South West Coast Path signs that take you across Porlock Marsh (National Trust) / Sparkhayes Marsh (National Trust) and Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Note that you cannot walk along the shingle ridge to Bossington owing to a sea breach. According to the Exmoor National Park Authority, it is permanently closed. 'Porlock Shingle Ridge is impassable due to the breach. Do not attempt to cross, even at low water. Follow signs from Bossington to Porlock Weir.' (Source: Exmoor National Park Authority website.)
You’ll come to the pretty village Bossington with Kitnors Tea Room and Garden. Continue on the South West Coast Path towards Hurlstone Point and then yomp up Hurlstone Combe to Bossington Hill.
The South West Coast Path runs across the whaleback hill and splits/joins on Bossington Hill and North Hill. One section of the South West Coast Path runs along the steep coast. The other section runs along the top of the whaleback hill and passes by Selworthy Beacon. At 308 metres above sea level, Selworthy Beacon is the highest point. See Ordnance Survey mapping for detail. If you’re walking the South West Coast Path here, you have a choice between coast and high ground.
Continue to North Hill. On a clear day, North Hill provides amazing views of Minehead, Minehead Beach, the West Somerset coast and the Bristol Channel. Exmoor’s highest point, Dunkery Beacon on Dunkery Hill, is to the south west. Porlock Vale and the extraordinary Exmoor coastline are to the west.
Drop down through woods to Minehead Harbour and walk to the South West Coast Path Start/End Sculpture. The sculpture is across the road from The Quay Inn.
Walking the South West Coast Path west from Porlock Weir to Lynmouth
Start at Porlock Weir. Walk past the pub, hotel and harbour to Worthy behind The Gore and Gore Point. Continue on the South West Coast Path along heavily wooded coastline to Culbone. Stop to see Culbone Church/Culbone St Beuno Church which is said to be the smallest parish church in England. ‘Culbone St Beuno. With its unusual dedication, to a 6th century saint from north Wales, this is usually considered to be the smallest church in England, set in a secluded wooded combe.’ (Source: National Churches Trust website.)
At Culbone, the South West Coast Path splits. A higher route runs above the heavily wooded coastline before rejoining the coastal route at Glenthorne Beach. A section of this higher route joins the Coleridge Way.
The South West Coast Path then continues through heavily wooded coastline past the wonderfully named Desolation Point on its way to Foreland Point. The views back along the Exmoor coast to Porlock Bay, Bossington Hill and Hurlstone Point are superb.
The path climbs and then crosses The Foreland. Note that there’s a path that runs around The Foreland but it’s super steep so avoid and stick to the South West Coast Path.
You then skirt The Foreland in the direction of Countisbury. The views across to Lynmouth and Lynton and down the Exmoor coastline are remarkable here.
The path then runs alongside/along the A39 on your descent into Lynmouth.
Walking the South West Coast Path west from Lynmouth to Combe Martin
This section takes you along the highest sea cliffs in England.* There are many very steep valleys here so the walking is tiring.
Highlights include the Exmoor beauty spot The Valley of Rocks, the wonderful Woody Bay area and the steep cliffs to Highveer Point.
The views from the high ground at Trentishoe Down and Great Hangman are superb.
*[Depending on definitions, ‘Exmoor has the highest sea cliffs on the British mainland. Exmoor has the highest coastline on the British mainland. It reaches a height of 314 metres (1350 feet) at Culbone Hill. However, here the crest of the coastal ridge of hills is more than a mile from the sea. If a cliff is defined as having a slope greater than 60 degrees, the highest cliff on mainland Britain is on Great Hangman near Combe Martin. The coastal hill is 318 metres (1043 feet) high with a cliff face of 250 metres (800 feet). (Source: Exmoor Bunkbarn website.)]
Walking the South West Coast Path west from Combe Martin to Woolacombe
The South West Coast Path leaves Exmoor National Park at Combe Martin and enters the North Devon National Landscape. It’s a super walk to Woolacombe.
Highlights include the view down to Broadsands Beach, also referred to as Broad Strand Beach, the much photographed Watermouth Cove (Beach) and the isolated and magnificent Lee Bay Beach near Bull Point at the north west tip of North Devon.
South West Coast Path Bossington Hill loop from Porlock Weir
For a circular walk from Porlock Weir incorporating the South West Coast Path, follow the directions above to Bossington Hill and North Hill. The view from Bossington Hill down to Porlock Bay and up the coastline is an Exmoor classic.
Walk the South West Coast Path along the coastline on Bossington Hill and North Hill and then loop back on the upper South West Coast Path route past Selworthy Beacon and return on the South West Coast Path. We’d recommend a detour to Bossington Beach and a cream tea at Kitnors Tea Room and Garden.
South West Coast Path and Dunkery Hill loop from Porlock Weir
If you’re very fit, this is a super walk.
Follow the South West Coast Path east to Porlock Marsh (National Trust) / Sparkhayes Marsh (National Trust) and Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Leave the South West Coast Path at Sparkhayes Lane and wander up to Porlock.
From Porlock, yomp up to the amazing Horner Wood National Nature Reserve.
Continue your ascent to Dunkery Beacon which is the highest point in Exmoor National Park.
Retrace your steps.
The South West Coast Path and the West Somerset Coast Path
Note that, from Minehead, you can also head east on the West Somerset Coast Path.
The West Somerset Coast Path is a 25 mile long distance walking route that passes through Watchet. It's this area's version of Exmoor's South West Coast Path. Highly recommended.
'The West Somerset Coast Path runs from the hamlet of Steart to the coastal resort of Minehead and passes through the Quantock Hills National Landscape (former Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or AONB). The Coast Path links the River Parrett Trail to the South West Coast Path National Trail. The path also joins the Coleridge Way and Quantock Greenway just south of the A39 near East Quantoxhead.' (Source: West Somerset Coast Path leaflet.)
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