Walking on Exmoor
Exmoor is a friendly place
for the walker - if you stay on public rights of way it has few dangers and
offers more rewards for less effort than is usually necessary in Britain's
National Parks. Apart from the Chains (see article opposite) nowhere on Exmoor is far from a
road or track.
The Two Moors Way
and the South West Coast Path both pass through the Park. There are 680
miles of official footpaths and bridleways, across high wild moorland,
steeply wooded combes, ancient oak forests and gentle hill country.
There are long routes and short routes, for every ability.
Maps
There are several Ordnance Survey maps covering Exmoor - see map
guide
Riverside walks
There
are lots of beautiful rivers and valleys or "combes" on Exmoor
and many have riverside paths. Here are just a few of the popular
ones:-
|
1. Lynmouth-Hillsford
Bridge via Watersmeet
2. Withypool-Dulverton via Tarr Steps.
3. Simonsbath-Withypool via Cow Castle
4. Along the River Exe south of Exford below Room Hill
|
Short Walks
There are a number of "Easy Access routes" around the
moor. These paths have been specially surfaced so that buggies and
wheelchairs can use them. They are all in very beautiful,
picturesque settings. Click here for
details.
Walking Holidays
Richard Medland at the South Molton
Tourist Information Centre will take you on a days walk to see
whatever countryside takes your fancy. He finds out what you want
to see and what kind of day you prefer in advance, makes all the
arrangements and takes you there. Accommodation and local
transport can be arranged through his office. Half days, full days
and more.
Contact him on (01769)574122 or email him: southmoltontic@visit.org.uk
Westcountry Walks
provide tailor made, personalised walking breaks for individuals or
groups: www.northdevon.co.uk/wcw
Guide
Books, Leaflets etc.
| The
Exmoor
Paths
Partnership is a group which maintains, repairs and improves paths in the
National Park and is funded by EU grant and local fundraising on a 50/50
basis. The work they do is vital and they are always looking for more
funds. They operate from within the National Park headquarters in
Dulverton.
Exmoor
Paths Partnership - leaflets
to borrow
These feature specific routes with notes on the features and history of the
locations. They are available from
Visitor centres and
Tourist Information
centres and in the foyers of
hotels, attractions etc. They are waterproof A4-folded format. They
are available 'On Loan' :- a donation towards the work of the
Paths Partnership entitles you to borrow the leaflet for a day.
|
|
|
THE
CHAINS
*The Chains
is an
area which contains some of the highest and loneliest moorland on Exmoor.
Roughly within a triangle -Simonsbath/Challacombe/Lynton- the Chains can be quite
dangerous: It has a massive annual rainfall and is always sodden.
The bogs are numerous and famous. There are few paths, no roads and a
complete absence of distinguishing features (beautiful on a cloudless summer day
but potentially lethal when the cloud descends (as it often
does)!). Most visitors satisfy
themselves with the walk up to Pinkery Pond from the Simonsbath-Challacombe road
(see Simonsbath Village guide page for the
history of the 'Pond')
|
|
NORDIC WALKING SOMERSET
Use nordic walking as a FUN way to explore Exmoor in comfort. Do it gently, as a means to walk more easily in greater comfort and with less effort, or, nordic walk more energetically to keep fit and strengthen your arms and back, burning more calories in an all-over out of doors workout. It’s great for easing creaky knees down the hills. It’s the most enormous help powering you up the hills and over the moor. It’s exhilarating. For all ages and levels of fitness.
Come and easily learn the basics in a one-off introductory session near Dulverton (nordic walking poles provided) or try a Nordic Day Out on Exmoor.
|
|
www.nordicwalkingsomerset.co.uk |
|
|
EXMOOR
INTERNET WALKING LINKS
Pictorial walk-River Barle
South West Coast Path
Two
Moors Way
Some
typical popular walks
Some more popular walks
SWParks.com-Exmoor
Hiking
|
|
GUIDED
WALKING
The Exmoor National
Park Authority (ENPA) , the National Trust and the local Ramblers Groups all
organise guided and themed walks throughout the year (mainly Apr-Oct).
ENPA guided walks diary
Ramblers
Associations Local Groups:
North Devon Ramblers Group
West Somerset Ramblers Group Diary |
|
|
'A DOONE
COUNTRY WALK'
'COASTAL
WALKS (INCLUDES THE COAST
PATH)'
'EXMOOR RANGER
FAVOURITE WALKS'
'EXMOOR WALKS
FROM MINEHEAD'
5
circular and 7 linear routes
'TWO MOORS WAY
'(Dartmoor
to Exmoor)
'OS SOUTH WEST
COAST PATH' (Minehead
to Padstow)
|
'EXMOOR AND THE QUANTOCKS'
Ordnance Survey
Pathfinder Guide
Jarrold Publishing ISBN 0-7117-0459-7
Features:
- Coloured Ordnance
Survey mapping
- Colour photographs
- 28 walk routes,
including places of interest
- Walks colour coded
in ascending order of difficulty
- Information on local
parking, refreshments and local contacts.
Walks listed:
| Miles
Walk (Start point) |
5
Porlock Weir and Culbone (Porlock Weir)
6.5 Hurlstone and Selworthy Beacon (Bossington)
6 Exford and Room Hill (Exford)
6 Wills Neck and Triscombe Combe (Lydeard
Hill, West Bagborough)
6 Lynmouth and Watersmeet (Lynmouth)
5.5 Brendon Forest (Luxborough)
5 Little and Great Hangman (Combe
Martin)
4 Pittcombe Head and Robber's
Bridge (Pittcombe Head ENP car park)
5 Roadwater and Nettlecombe (Roadwater)
5.5 Dunster Park and Withycombe Hill (Gallox Bridge
car park, Dunster)
6 Hawkridge and Anstey Common (Hawkridge)
5.5 Lynton and Valley of Rocks (Lynton Church)
8.5 Quantock Combes and Ridge (Holford)
4 Dulverton (ENPA headquarters)
4.5 Hunter's Inn and Woody Bay (Hunter's Inn)
5 North Hill (Minehead Harbour)
9.5 Withypool and Tarr Steps (Withypool)
7.5 Simonsbath and the River Barle
(Simonsbath)
9 County Gate, Brendon and
Malmsmead Hill (County Gate)
7 The Foreland and Countisbury
Common (Countisbury)
8 Lorna Doone Country (Malmsmead)
7.5 Dunkery Beacon (Webber's Post)
8.5 Parracombe and Challacombe Commons (St.Petrock's
Church)
6.5 Haddon Hill and Wimbleball Lake (Haddon Hill)
3 East Quantoxhead and Kilve (Kilve
Pill)
7 Winsford Hill (Winsford)
11 The Chains (Goat Hill Bridge, near the
Pinkery Outdoor Centre)
7.5 Porlock, Horner Wood and Stoke Pero (Porlock)
|
|
|
