Porlock Vale, Porlock, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: Porlock Bay and Porlock Vale]
Porlock Vale
Cambridge Dictionary defines a vale as a valley or a ‘stretch of flat, low land between hills or mountains, usually drained by a river or its tributaries’. Porlock Vale is the flat, low land running inland from the rock and pebble beaches and pebble/shingle ridge lining Porlock Bay to Porlock and then Wootton Courtenay. High moor rises to the west and south west. The Brendon Hill rise to the south east. The whaleback Bossington Hill and then North Hill rise to the east.
Location of Porlock Vale
Porlock Vale is located in the north eastern section of Exmoor National Park and runs inland from Porlock Bay on the north coast to the Wootton Courtenay area.
We’ve positioned Porlock Vale on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Porlock Vale
The A39 cuts across Porlock Vale. Follow this road.
You can also drop down from the A396 to Wootton Courtenay at the south east end of the vale.
There are plenty of car parks within Porlock Vale. We’d recommend browsing the attractions and points of interest listed below and then looking on Ordnance Survey mapping for detail.
Porlock Vale
Here are some of the attractions and points of interest within Porlock Vale.
Porlock Bay. Beautiful and much visited bay on the north coast of Exmoor National Park.
Bossington Beach. Bossington Beach is a rock and pebble beach at the eastern end of Porlock Bay and its famous pebble/shingle ridge. The beach is located at the eastern end of the Exmoor coastline near some of the National Park's prettiest villages. It takes its name from nearby Bosssington. Hurlstone Point overlooks the beach. Bossington Hill rises to the east. Porlock Beach and Porlock Weir are to the west.
Porlock Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the western end of Porlock Bay.
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI. Site of Special Scientific Interest covering the pebble.shingle ridge and the marshland behind it. Extraordinary place. Walk across it on the South West Coast Path.
Porlock Weir Harbour. Beautiful harbour with pub and hotel.
Porlock. Famous West Country village in Porlock Vale.
Bossington. Village by Bossington Beach below Bossington Hill.
Bossington Hill is part of the huge whaleback hill that rises to the east of Bossington. Walk to the top to enjoy magnificent views of the area including a classic Exmoor coastal view.
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. 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.
Wootton Courtenay. Village at the south east end of Porlock Vale.
Culbone. Hamlet located on the heavily wooded coast of Exmoor. Famous for its church which is said to be the smallest parish church in England.
Dunkery Hill. Exmoor National Park’s highest point at Dunkery Beacon.
Historical and cultural attractions near near Porlock Vale
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 Porlock Vale
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 Porlock Vale
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 Porlock Vale
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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