PORLOCK SUMMIT-TO-SEA, EXMOOR
DISTANCE 30.8KM (19.1 MILES) CLIMBING 1,260M (4,133FT) TIME 3HRS TO 5HRS
The route: This route delivers some challenging riding, with both big hills and rough terrain throughout, to provide a fun and scenic adventure on the wild North Devon coast
Start: Porlock central car park (postcode TA24 8PH, grid ref SS 885/469) 1
Head east on the main road, turning right to Doverhay just before leaving the village. Keep left, climb steeply, then join a bridleway (to Horner) just after Crawter Hill on the right. Cross the footbridge and go right on the tarmac, past the tearoom. After it starts climbing, bear right on a bridleway.
2
Follow the permissive bridleway signs, which deliver you to the viewpoint and car park by Webber’s Post. Head south/right on the road, soon crossing left, to and over another road. Join the Dunster Path bridleway. Keep ahead on this main track to a junction in the trees and head right, ascending on the Macmillan Way West to Dunkery Beacon.
3
Descend the far side but quickly turn right on an unmarked bridleway. Descend, watching out for ditches. Go left on a wide track at the bottom, drop, cross a stream and climb to the road. Bear right, then left to Stoke Pero. As you descend, head right through the farm, then bear left in the field, to a gate. Descend through the woods.
4
Cross a footbridge and go left along the bottom/stream to a road. Turn right, climb steeply and keep ahead at the top for 0.5km, then take a rough track to the left and quickly make another left on tarmac. Continue towards Woodcocks Ley Farm, but turn right off-road on a bridleway, downhill, following the wall into the woods. Keep left. 5
Descend over a footbridge and go left on the rough track to climb Hawk Combe for 1.5km, then ascend to the right, either up a steep bridleway or a more gradual track shortly afterwards. Go left on the A39, over a cattle grid and right on a bridleway. After it bears left, make a right on another bridleway, crossing the toll road three times, to a junction just before West Porlock (close to exiting the woods).
6
Turn left on the Coleridge Way bridleway and follow it along the foot of the hillside, keeping left past a hut. Ascend. When the track bears sharply left, keep ahead on a bridleway, then take a right, steeply downhill to a road. Go right on the tarmac, then quickly left to drop to Porlock Weir. Turn left, continue past the pub and shops and keep ahead. The route becomes a rough track leading to the stony beach.
7
Go back through Porlock Weir and keep ahead. Head left along the road back to Porlock. The car park is on your left as you arrive.
THE LOCATION
Exmoor National Park is 693km² of hilly moorland, 71 per cent of which is in Somerset, and 29 per cent in Devon. Much of the best singletrack is found in the deep wooded valleys/combes.
GETTING THERE
Porlock is on the A39, west of Minehead. The car park is by Porlock Visitor Centre, off the B3225.
USEFUL INFO
Ordnance Survey Landranger 181: Minehead & Brendon Hills. Mountain Bike Rides in & Around Exmoor & Dartmoor by Max Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).
FACILITIES
There are campsites at Burrowhayes (01643 862463), Sparkhays (01643 862470) and Pool Bridge, which is on the route (01643 862502). For pubs, try the Ship Inn in Porlock (01643 862507) and another Ship Inn in Porlock Weir (01643 863288). There are refreshments on offer in Porlock and tearooms in Horner. Porlock Pedals (07773 377735) offer bike hire and repairs.