Selworthy Wood (National Trust), Porlock, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: the Memorial Hut in Selworthy Wood]
Selworthy Wood (National Trust)
Selworthy Wood is beautiful woodland covering the flank of the steep hill that rises to Selworthy Beacon. Paths climb through the wood to the high ground at the beacon and Bossington Hill from where you can enjoy amazing views of Exmoor National Park and the wider area.
Location of Selworthy Wood (National Trust)
Selworthy Wood is in the north east section of Exmoor National Park above Selworthy village.
We’ve positioned Selworthy Wood on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Selworthy Wood (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 where you can pick up the main path that climbs through Selworthy Wood to the high ground.
Selworthy Wood (National Trust)
There's a great walk from Selworthy village up through Selworthy Wood to Selworthy Beacon. The main path is clearly marked on Ordnance Survey mapping and takes you up to Bossington Hill.
Stop to see the Memorial Hut (as marked on the Ordnance Survey mapping 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.
Continue to Bossington Hill and Selworthy Beacon to explore this whaleback hill.
We'd recommend wandering past Bury Castle Settlement on your way down. Again, this is marked on Ordnance Survey mapping.
Historical and cultural attractions near near Selworthy Wood (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 Wood (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 Wood (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 Wood (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
