Holnicote Estate (National Trust), Porlock, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: Holnicote Estate information board on site]
Holnicote Estate in a huge countryside National Trust property
Holnicote Estate is a huge countryside National Trust property in the north eastern section of Exmoor National Park that runs from the coast to heavily wooded valleys to high moor. It’s home to many beautiful villages.
Location of Holnicote Estate (National Trust)
Holnicote Estate is located in the north eastern section of Exmoor National Park.
Roughly speaking, it runs from the whaleback hill above Minehead across to the east side of Porlock Vale and then up to Horner Wood and Dunkery Beacon beyond. See the main photo for this listing for a map of Holnicote Estate.
More specifically, moving from north east to south west, Holnicote Estate includes Selworthy Beacon, Hurlstone Point, Bossington Beach, Bossington village, Allerford village, Selworthy village, Horner village, Luccombe village, Horner Wood, Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve, Webber’s Post, Dunkery Hill and Dunkery Beacon.
We’ve positioned Holnicote Estate (National Trust) on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Holnicote Estate (National Trust)
Because Holnicote Estate (National Trust) is so large, there are many villages, wooded valleys, moorland viewpoints and other attractions to enjoy. The A39 cuts across the estate.
There are many car parks in Holnicote Estate (National Trust). These are clearly marked on Ordnance Survey mapping.
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.)
Selworthy Beacon. Highest point on the whaleback hill that consists of Bossington Hill (to the west) and North Hill (to the east). Amazing views of the Bristol Channel, Exmoor coastline and high moor.
Hurlstone Point. The eastern end of Bossington Beach and Porlock Bay below Bossington Hill. A short detour off the South West Coast Path.
Bossington Beach. Rock and pebble beach. East section of the famous pebble ridge (or shingle ridge) at Porlock Bay. Park at Bossington village and follow the path to the coast.
Bossington. Pretty village a short walk from the beach.
Allerford village. Head a little further inland and you’ll come to Allerford village known for its stunning packhorse bridge.
Selworthy village. Beautiful and much photographed Exmoor village with green and tea room.
Selworthy Wood. There's a great walk from Selworthy village up through Selworthy Wood to Selworthy Beacon. Stop to see the Memorial Hut (as marked on the Ordnance Survey map but called the Wind and Weather Hut on site). There's a great view point just west of the hut on the open ground at the top of the hill. We'd recommend wandering past Bury Castle Settlement on your way down.
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. Village not far from the viewpoint and large car park at Webber’s Post with thatched cottages like those at Selworthy.
Horner Wood. Extraordinary, large woods which are part of Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. Explore from Webber’s Post.
Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. One of the largest National Nature Reserves in England covering heavily wooded valleys and high moor.
Webber’s Post. Super viewpoint and large car park offering access to Horner Wood and Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve.
Dunkery Hill and Dunkery Beacon. 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.
Red deer and the Holnicote Estate (National Trust)
The estate is known for its red deer. We usually see large herds of deer on the estate’s high ground between Webber’s Post and Dunkery Beacon/Rowbarrows.
Drop down to Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve for amazing trees, lichen and mosses. 'The nature reserve supports a wealth of wildlife including rare and endangered species. The red deer is the largest of Britain's native animals. Listen for the roaring and clashing of stags during the autumn rut. If you are lucky, you might glimpse a merlin, our smallest bird of prey - up to three pairs breed here. Curlews breed on the wet areas, and fill the air with haunting cries. In early June, watch for the heath fritillary, one of Britain's rarest butterflies.' (Source: information board on site.)
Walking and the Holnicote Estate (National Trust)
South West Coast Path. The South West Coast Path runs across Bossington Hill and drops down to the marshes behind Bossington Beach. It’s a great walk to Porlock Weir.
Horner Wood. Big woods with many circular trails marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. We’d recommend a loop from Webber’s Post to Cloutsham Ball, Prickslade Combe (footbridge at bottom) and then Horner Wood before returning over a second footbridge to Webber’s Post. Again, paths are marked on Ordnance Survey mapping.
Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. 'The nature reserve supports a wealth of wildlife including rare and endangered species. The red deer is the largest of Britain's native animals. Listen for the roaring and clashing of stags during the autumn rut. If you are lucky, you might glimpse a merlin, our smallest bird of prey - up to three pairs breed here. Curlews breed on the wet areas, and fill the air with haunting cries. In early June, watch for the heath fritillary, one of Britain's rarest butterflies.' (Source: information board on site.) Paths runs from the heavily wooded valleys up to the high moor and Dunkery Beacon.
Dunkery Beacon and Exmoor’s high moor. A moorland road cuts across Dunkery Hill. There are plenty of car parking areas along this. Walk up to Dunkery Beacon. It’s particularly impressive in August when the heather is out.
Historical and cultural attractions near near Holnicote Estate (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 Holnicote Estate (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 Holnicote Estate (National Trust)
Porlock Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the western end of Porlock Bay.
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 Holnicote Estate (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.
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