Route Guide
WHEDDON CROSS TO PORLOCK - 8.9 miles
Initially down hill through woods with a tricky steep descent into Mansley Combe. Then a steep climb onto open moorland. Generally fairly level walking across moor apart from one short sharp descent and climb in and out of Hanny Combe. From Webbers Post it is down hill for 2.5 miles to Porlock.
NB. the weather can often be changeable across the Dunkery moorland and may be different from your starting point.
- Start point: – Wheddon Cross
- Toilets: in car park at Wheddon Cross; Horner car park: Porlock.
- Places to Eat & Drink: Pub and shops at Wheddon Cross; tea gardens at Horner, various places in Porlock.
- Maps: You are advised to carry with you OS Explorer Maps
- 140 Quantock Hills & Bridgwater
- OL9 Exmoor
- Waymarking: The route is waymarked with a distinctive quill waymark.
SS 928 391 WHEDDON CROSS 27.1 miles
If starting from Wheddon Cross: from the village crossroads walk along the road signed to Dunster, take first road R at war memorial and then bear L at the school. On reaching houses at R hand bend you return to the Coleridge Way at gate on L signed to Dunkery Hill Gate. Go through gate and walk along R hand edge of fields to gate bordering the A396. This is a busy and bendy road and should be crossed quickly with extreme care to the tarmac drive directly opposite signed to Dunkery . Go down this track, signed to Dunkery Gate and, after ignoring first bridleway on R, take 2nd bridleway on R signposted to Dunkery.
SS 923 390
This initially follows tarmac drive and, after cattle grids, forks R, signed to Dunkery, down to a gate into woodland to the right of Ralegh Manor. Shortly after where the Manor fencing on the left ends, turn L up steps onto Tom's Path. This rises and then bends R through woodland. Keep on this path to reach road. Cross road and take bridleway opposite, signed to Blagdon Wood. This crosses a small open field and goes down across a small stream to a gate before re-entering woodland. Keep to main track, waymarked blue, and where a main track comes in from the R keep straight ahead to reach a fingerpost sign at a junction of paths.
SS 910 400
***Turn sharp R down gulley, signed to Dunkery. Take care down this narrow gulley, which goes down hill steeply to meet a river valley. At the bottom Turn L, signed to Dunkery Gate, with the stream on your R. Cross a small side stream and continue with main stream on R. Ignore R turn signed to Dunkery Hill and Brockwell and continue on path signed to Dunkery Gate. Cross another stream and turn R to reach another fingerpost. Turn R signposted to Spangate crossing a ford.
SS 909 404
Take the stony path uphill. This bends R to reach a junction of paths. Turn sharp L uphill. This goes steeply uphill to reach a gate. Go through gate and continue steeply uphill close to field boundary on R to reach the open moorland of Dunkery at the top of the hill.
SS 919 423
The next section of the walk is across open moorland and should not be attempted when visibility is poor. Some of the route is on permitted routes over this area of open access National Trust land and therefore will not be shown as rights of way on the OS Map. Therefore you should follow this detailed route description. At the top of the hill turn right signed to Brockwell, keeping the fence on your R, along a well defined track for 400 yards, ignoring gates on R, to reach a signed crossroads of paths.
SS 913 410 29.9 miles
Go straight ahead (north east) signposted to Brockwell. Initially this path is close to the boundary on the R but after a short distance take the L hand well defined track diagonally L. Initially this path is quite level but then begins to descend. After around half a mile (where a path comes in from the R) turn left steeply downhill to Hanny Combe, signposted Brockwell, (this can be very muddy). At the bottom the path turns R across the stream.
SS 919 419
Keep on path uphill and as the fence line comes into view from the R, turn L uphill keeping fence close on R. At the top of the hill follow track round to R. Immediately after you are faced by 2 paths. Take R hand one. At the next fork take the L hand track away from the boundary signposted Micks Path, Brockwell. This path descends into woodland to reach a fingerpost.
SS 924 428
Take path into woods signed to Brockwell and in woods keep to L hand path to reach another fingerpost. Turn L on path signposted to Webbers Post. This rises and eventually turns R (Dunster Path). Follow this path, with good views over Porlock Vale, for around one mile ignoring any turns off to the L or R until you reach a signed path to Webbers Post on R. Take this path, and on reaching the road cross diagonally L to follow sign to Webbers Post and Horner. This takes you across another road into the main Webbers Post car park. In the main Webbers Post car park locate the three way signpost immediately past the “Easy Access Trail Information Board’”. (A)
(A) To the left of the car park are fine views, seats and information boards. Wood carvings around easy access trail.
SS 902 439 WEBBER'S POST 33.2 miles
Take path signed to Horner which goes through woodland parallel to an easy access trail. The path passes a stone seat on the R dedicated to the Acland family. At a signpost, keep ahead. Where the easy access trail bears right at a seat, go straight on bridleway into woodland, taking main track to the L.
This path emerges from the wood to reach a wooden shelter and seats. Keep straight on and descend through woodland ignoring minor paths on R. Where a path comes in from the L fork R signed to Horner. Turn R into the woods and keep straight on this path, ignoring first L turn signposted to Horner and the next cross roads of tracks. You eventually reach a major crossroads of tracks. Turn L and take main track downhill signed to Horner (Judges Ride). This rocky path descends quite steeply to reach a high gate onto the road at Horner.
SS 898 453 HORNER 34.4 miles
Turn L on road and pass Horner Mill on L. There is shortly a path on R to the Horner car park and toilets and there are also seasonal Tea Gardens in the village. Continue on road round R hand bend and just past picnic area on L take path on L signed to Porlock over a packhorse bridge (B). This bears R and then continues on the edge of woodland with river on R, signed to Luckbarrow and then Porlock. After sign to “Porlock 3/4 mile“ take L fork uphill away from fence and continue until reaching the road just outside Porlock.
(B) Late medieval packhorse bridge with single arch, also known as Hacketty Way Bridge.
SS 893 461
Turn L onto road and take road signed to Porlock downhill over cattle grid. Walk downhill on road, exercising extreme care as this road is narrow. Ignore L turn to Hawkcombe. As you reach the cottages of Porlock look out for The Gables on L and turn L into a narrow lane (no through road) called The Drang. This lane bears left after Marley Row and then R along a walled lane towards the Church. On reaching the High Street turn L. Go along High Street and where road forks R to Porlock Weir (West End) you reach the end of the Coleridge Way at the Porlock Visitor Centre, which is on the R hand side.
SS 884 468 PORLOCK 36 miles
If the Porlock Visitor Centre is open please go in and record and comment on your walk in our Coleridge Way visitors book. You will always get a friendly welcome and they will happily take your photo and present you with a certificate.
You should also visit the Coleridge Garden at the back of the Visitor Centre with its artwork based on Kubla Khan
01/08/07