Somerset Walks - An Occasional Series. No 1. Selworthy Beacon. 01.11.15.
One of the great joys of living in Somerset is the ability to walk from the front door on to footpaths that take us across the Levels and along the River Tone.
If driving we are less than an hour from both north and south coasts and within easy reach of the Quantocks, the Mendip Hills and Exmoor. All good walking country.
The first weekend of November the weather was wonderful -sunny and very mild, although misty in the mornings.
The walk starts from the village of Bossington, west of Minehead on the edge of Exmoor National Park. It heads out along the S.W. Coastal Path towards Hurlstone Point overlooking the Bristol Channel and then inland to Selworthy Beacon before dropping down to the village of Selworthy, on to Allerford and then back to Bossington. About 6.5 miles.
From the car park at Bossington there are glimpses of the hills above. It's always good to start with the climb at the beginning of the walk when the legs are fresh and then you know it will be downhill to the car at the end!
The path went gently up through woods
Then opened out looking up towards Hurlstone Point - which was lost in the mist that morning.
Turning round the view was towards Porlock Weir across the Bristol Channel with mist over the sea.
From here the path heads inland and upwards towards Selworthy Beacon.
Exmoor ponies on route.
Heading towards the summit of Selworthy Beacon.
Near the summit, looking over Exmoor towards Dunkery Beacon with mist still lingering in the valley.
Selworthy Beacon is 1012ft (308m) above sea level and the views from here across Exmoor are spectacular. Looking in the opposite direction you would usually be able to see the coast of South Wales but the mist hid it today.
The path begins to descend through wooded Selwothy Combe where, for the first time, we lost the sun and walked through mist.
Arriving at the village of Selworthy we explored the church, a 14th & 15th Century building, unusually limewashed to protect the stone from the weather.
The attractive thatched cottages that comprise the village of Selworthy were built by the Acland family in the 19th Century for their retired tenants and estate workers.
Although the sun was shining the mist was never far away
From Selworthy we walked across fields to Allerford - which has a ford!! and an old pack-horse bridge.
Allerford Forge looked worth a return visit when it was open
The walk winds back to through woods and downhill to Bossington -
and they were still open for cream teas!
If driving we are less than an hour from both north and south coasts and within easy reach of the Quantocks, the Mendip Hills and Exmoor. All good walking country.
The first weekend of November the weather was wonderful -sunny and very mild, although misty in the mornings.
The walk starts from the village of Bossington, west of Minehead on the edge of Exmoor National Park. It heads out along the S.W. Coastal Path towards Hurlstone Point overlooking the Bristol Channel and then inland to Selworthy Beacon before dropping down to the village of Selworthy, on to Allerford and then back to Bossington. About 6.5 miles.
From the car park at Bossington there are glimpses of the hills above. It's always good to start with the climb at the beginning of the walk when the legs are fresh and then you know it will be downhill to the car at the end!
The path went gently up through woods
Then opened out looking up towards Hurlstone Point - which was lost in the mist that morning.
Turning round the view was towards Porlock Weir across the Bristol Channel with mist over the sea.
From here the path heads inland and upwards towards Selworthy Beacon.
Exmoor ponies on route.
The path begins to descend through wooded Selwothy Combe where, for the first time, we lost the sun and walked through mist.
Arriving at the village of Selworthy we explored the church, a 14th & 15th Century building, unusually limewashed to protect the stone from the weather.
Ornately carved pew ends.
and a door that didn't reach the floor.
The walk is all within the Holnicote Estate in Exmoor National Park. Holnicote was part of a donation to the National Trust by the Acland family in 1944. This was one of the largest estates ever donated to the Trust covering over 20 square milesThe attractive thatched cottages that comprise the village of Selworthy were built by the Acland family in the 19th Century for their retired tenants and estate workers.
Although the sun was shining the mist was never far away
From Selworthy we walked across fields to Allerford - which has a ford!! and an old pack-horse bridge.
Allerford Forge looked worth a return visit when it was open
The walk winds back to through woods and downhill to Bossington -
Loved the church and thatched cottages. Long walk... ,
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