Selworthy Green (National Trust), Porlock, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: cottage on Selworthy Green]
Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Selworthy is a popular National Trust village in Exmoor National Park. The main attraction is Selworthy Green. Wander up past the National Trust shop and you'll come to a beautiful village green fringed by thatched cottages.
Location of Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Selworthy village is in the north eastern section of Exmoor National Park on the southern flank of Bossington Hill between Porlock and Minehead.
Selworthy Green is at the heart of the village.
We’ve Selworthy Green on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Selworthy Green (National Trust)
The A39 cuts across Exmoor close to the coast. Follow this road from Minehead (heading west) or Porlock (heading east) and you’ll come to signs for Selworthy. Take one of the narrow country lanes to Selworthy.
There’s parking by Selworthy All Saints Church.
Wander across to Selworthy Green.
Selworthy Green (National Trust)
The main attraction in the National Trust village is Selworthy Green. Wander up past the National Trust shop and you'll come to a beautiful village green fringed by thatched cottages.
‘Welcome to Selworthy, part of the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate. From here you can enjoy the spectacular views over the Vale of Porlock, which Sir Thomas Dyke Acland described as ‘the Happy Valley’. When you’ve explored the village, why not follow one of the lovely walks that start from here.
Step back in time. The landscape of hedged fields, small woods and scattered farm buildings has changed little over the centuries. The National Trust is preserving this timeless rural landscape by restoring hedges, replacing unsightly wire fences and grazing the farmland with Exmoor horn sheep. Most of the buildings are owned by the National Trust, enabling us to maintain them using traditional methods.
Wonderful wildflower meadow. In spring and summer, don’t miss a walk down to the wildflower meadow [just south of the village]. We are managing it for nature conservation, so no artificial chemicals are used. It is filled with the colour and scent of wildflowers, and resounds with birdsong and the humming of insects.
A walk around the village. There has been a village here since medieval times, but the current cottages were designed by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland in 1828 to create attractive homes for estate pensioners. Beyond the church (14th century), you'll find the village green, surrounded by warm yellow thatched cottages. Notice the tall chimneys which helped to draw the fire and carry sparks away from the thatch.
Walks from here. The path behind the church leads to Bury Castle, and Iron Age enclosure (quarter of a mile away). You can still see its circular banks and ditch. Piles Mill, which is open to visitors, is about three quarters of a mile away. It was once used for grinding corn and for crushing apples to make cider. The National Trust has recently restored a nearby orchard by planting old varieties of cider apple trees.' (Source: information board at Selworthy.)
Historical and cultural attractions near near Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Allerford Museum West Somerset Rural Life Museum and Victorian School.
Rowbarrows west of Dunkery Beacon. Explore some of Exmoor’s rich prehistory.
Further away, visit:
Minehead Harbour. Harbour in stunning location at the western end of Minehead Beach under North Hill. ‘There has been a harbour at Minehead since the late 1300s.’ (Source: Minehead Harbour website.)
Dunster Castle (National Trust). Impressive National Trust property dominating the beautiful village of Dunster.
Dunster Yarn Market, Butter Cross and Gallox Bridge (English Heritage). English Heritage properties in Dunster.
Cleeve Abbey (English Heritage). Wonderful English Heritage property just east of Exmoor National Park.
The Ancient Mariner Sculpture in Watchet. The Watchet and Quantock Hills National Landscape area inspired Samuel Taylor Coleridge to write ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’.
Coleridge Cottage (National Trust). Visit the cottage in which Coleridge lived and wrote some of his most famous poetry. William Wordsworth lived, briefly, nearby.
Doone Valley/Doone Country. Richard Doddridge Blackmore's famous novel 'Lorna Doone' is set on Exmoor. Roughly speaking, Doone Valley/Doone Country runs south of Malmsmead and Oare along Badgworhty Water. It’s surrounded by high moor. Great walking.
Gardens near Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Selworthy Green (National Trust). 'There has been a village here since medieval times, but the current cottages were designed by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland in 1828 to create attractive homes for estate pensioners. Beyond the church (14th century), you'll find the village green, surrounded by warm yellow thatched cottages. Notice the tall chimneys which helped to draw the fire and carry sparks away from the thatch.' (Source: information board at Selworthy.)
Further away, visit:
Minehead Blenheim Gardens. Popular gardens behind the Esplanade and North Road at the western end of Minehead Beach.
Dunster Gardens, Dovecote and Tithe Barn. Gardens in the centre of Dunster village.
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.
Knightshayes (National Trust). Impressive gardens just off the A396 between Exmoor National Park and Tiverton.
Cothay Manor. Again, gardens outside the national park near Wellington and the M5.
Hestercombe House & Gardens. Gardens located just south of the Quantock Hills National Landscape near Taunton and the M5.
If you don’t mind the drive, RHS Garden Rosemoor by Great Torrington south west of Exmoor National Park is magnificent.
Other attractions near Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Bossington Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the eastern end of Porlock Bay.
Porlock Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the western end of Porlock Bay.
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Porlock Weir Harbour. Beautiful harbour with pub and hotel.
West Somerset Railway. Heritage railway running between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard.
Dunster Estate (The Crown Estate). Home to England’s tallest tree. Great for walks and views. Wander up to Conygar Tower.
Dunster Beach. Massive low tide sand and stone beach.
Villages and towns near Selworthy Green (National Trust)
Bossington. Village by Bossington Beach below Bossington Hill.
Allerford village. Beautiful village further inland known for its packhorse bridge.
Selworthy village. One of the West Country’s prettiest villages, Selworthy is famous for its thatched cottages and village green. Enjoy a cream tea at the Periwinkle Tea Room.
Horner village. Another beautiful Exmoor village at the bottom of Horner Wood by Horner Water. Enjoy a cream tea at Horner Tea Gardens.
Luccombe. Village not far from the viewpoint and large car park at Webber’s Post with thatched cottages like those at Selworthy.
Porlock. Famous West Country village in Porlock Vale.
Porlock Weir. Amazing coastal village with harbour, pub, hotel and beach.
Minehead. Popular West Country resort town with huge beach and harbour. The start/end of the South West Coast Path.
Dunster. Essential visiting. Beautiful village dominated by Dunster Castle (National Trust) with English Heritage properties, Dunster National Park Visitor Centre and plenty of shops and places to eat and drink. Park of Dunster Estate (Crown Estate) with England’s tallest tree and super walk and views.
Photo Gallery
