Somerset Selworthy Beacon & Porlock Bay
1 Start/Finish
Car park at Whitstone Post on A39 west of Porlock GR: SS856462 Cross A39 and take path SE above Shillett Combe to enter Hawkcombe Woods National Nature Reserve and continue ahead to track. Turn sharp R, walk downhill for 350m and turn L by stream in wooded valley.
2 Follow broad path through valley and keep ahead in Hawk Combe via gate and two footbridges. Continue to join lane into Porlock.
3 Turn R by church at junction with A39, pass through village and fork L on lane to Bossington. Continue ahead for 1km, fork R and go R at junction by green.
4 Turn L at West Lynch after 300m and take lane, then track, to gate in wood. Walk uphill through Lynch Combe and veer R on path once out of the trees. Continue E for 1.3km (choice of paths) to Selworthy Beacon.
5 Go W from large cairn, join coast path, cross Bossington Hill and fork R into Hurlstone Combe. Descend to Hurlstone Point and turn L – look for stile on R with path down to beach.
6 Cross pebbles for 1km and then take right of way above beach. Go through gate and continue past salt marsh on L (Note: the large breach requires an inland diversion along the route of the coast path – this can be avoided at low tide by dropping onto the beach but don’t attempt to cross the site of the breach.) Continue past low cliffs to steps at Porlock Weir.
7 Turn L on lane for 800m. Take path on R at houses in West Porlock and climb through steep woodland. Cross the Porlock toll road three times and reach start of open moorland. Veer SW, then W, to return to car park.