Pompy's Cycles Minehead Exmoor

Start & Finish:
Lucott Cross, Porlock Hill ST845432

Estimated Distance: 13 miles
DOONE VALLEY
Famous for the romantic novel Lorna Doone
by Richard Doddridge Blackmore

This ride starts and finishes at Lucott Cross ST 845432 on the top of Porlock Hill in the heart of Exmoor. We strongly recommend that you use an Ordnance Survey Map if you are unfamiliar with this area. To get to the start take the A39 from Porlock to Lynmouth. At Whitstone Post ST 855463 turn Left across Porlock Common.

This brings you to the start at Lucott Cross ST 845432 where there are only a small amount of places to park a vehicle. At Lucott Cross turn Right on the road towards Alderman's Barrow. Just before the cattle grid ST 835423 turn Right through a small gate. Follow the Bridleway across open moorland along a bumpy trail to a five bar gate. Go through the gate and turn Right slightly downhill to another five bargate and then continue to follow a wide track along the contours through several more gates passing the Larkbarrow Ruins.

This wide track comes to (guess what?) a five bar gate after which the wide track peters out to a single track and climbs slightly upwards onto Great Tom's Hill. This is not a very well defined track and runs across several boggy areas heading west until you come to a boundary wall with a small gate. Go through the gate bearing slightly left along a collection of rutted tracks which gradually descend into a more defined track which slowlys bears right. This then steepens downwards to a little stream crossing with a steep climb on the other side. Once at the top of this hill continue along at a steady descent to begin with and this then leads to a steep, stony difficult descent to the footbridge that crosses Badgworthy Water.

You need to cross this river and go through the five-bar gate (lateral thinking is required if you want to keep your feet dry!). Continue down the valley with the river on your right hand side. This trail is made up of a varied terrain with grass tracks, stone slabs and boggy patches. This will bring you to a little stream crossing with a single plank footbridge (if required) though you can ride this river. On the other side of the stream is yet another five bar gate. After the gate go straight up a grassy track which is the site of a medieval village, after a hundred yards, take the first Right turn. Follow the Bridleway down Badgworthy Water (Doone Country) famous for the romantic novel Lorna Doone by Richard Doddridge Blackmore.

This trail has some interesting obstacles comprising of drop offs, stone slab crossings and tricky stoney sections. You come to a footbridge across a rocky stream.

There is a lovely water cascade if you have the time to stop and walk a few yards up the river. Go over the footbridge and continue to follow the main river as the track now starts to widen out into a grassy area. Continue on through the wooded area down the valley to Cloud Farm ST 793466 where there is a very nice tea room and campsite.

To continue on the ride you need to stay on the left hand side of the river, the track now bears Left slightly uphill away from the river and through a gate. This leads into a sunken track which takes you slightly uphill and then down a stoney track, which widens and meets the road after a sharp right hand corner. Go down the road and turn Right at the T junction heading towards Malmsmead ST 792478.

At the bridge and ford there is another good tea stop where they also serve beer. This is a good place to stop before the long haul back up through Oare Valley. From Malmsmead go through the ford or over the bridge and follow the road to Oare then Oareford.

When you reach Robbers Bridge ST 820465 go over the bridge and turn Left on to the Bridleway which leads up to the A39 and the Culbone Inn. You can once again replenish with food and beer. From here turn Right along the A39 towards Porlock. When you get to Pittcombe Head ST 842463, where there is an AA box, turn Right onto a Bridleway which is a rough wide track. At the other end it meets the road, go straight on towards Lucott Cross where the ride started.

Estimated Distance: 15 miles

All downhills require care

Lower Hopcott, Minehead is on the top road towards Porlock. Look for a group of flats/houses called The Hopcott. Turn left up the hill on a tarmac road, after about two hundred yards you will pass Higher Hopcott on the right hand side, keep on going all the way up to the end of the tarmac road. Here go straight ahead following the bridleway (not right on the RUPP). Follow the bridleway up until you fork left to rejoin the RUPP and continue up the RUPP until you reach the crossroads and picnic benches. Go right marked bridleway Selworthy/Wootton Courtenay up a wide double track for 3/4 of a mile.

Just before the Trig point go left through a wide gap in the wall marked bridleway on the other side. Turn right following the top of the hill.

As you begin to descend, fork right down a long, straight and wide bridleway (Roadway Lane) to Wootton Courtenay, which becomes narrow, stony and twisty the further you go down. (caution this track is frequently used by horses)

You will come out on to the road by the village hall and the sign for Dunkery Beacon Hotel. Go right and then branch off left towards Ford and Brockwell. Carry on this road to Brockwell Farm where the road then hairpins round a short steep left hand corner.

Look for a bridleway on the right through a wall sign posted to Dunkery. Ride up through the combe and at the crossroads turn right which is signed to Webbers Post along (Dunster Path, which has recently been cleared).

Continue along, remembering to turn down right towards the end of this track as signed for Webbers Post. When you reach the road, go straight over, keep following signs for Webbers Post/Horner and cross second road. You are now at Webbers Post which has spectacular views across Cloutsham Ball, Stoke Pero and Horner Wood. Look for an information board under the trees and follow the sign post for Horner (but before the next down hill there are some unusual large wood carvings over to your right in the wood which are worth a look),

after about two hundred yards turn left down Priestway/Stoke Pero bridleway, which is a good down hill with some interesting sections.

At the bottom, go right following the valley down through a ford

and then over a wooden bridge after which you need to go slightly left, then right down Horner Combe to a fivebar gate and the road. If you want a tea stop you can either follow the signs into Porlock where there are pubs serving good ales and food, or in the summer visit the Horner Tea Rooms.

At the bottom of Horner Combe turn left at the road travelling down over a hump back bridge. After West Luccombe Farm look for a wooden footbridge on the right marked Allerford (Piles Mill). Go over the bridge and through the five-bar gate. Follow along lane (don't turn up to Piles Mill). At the other end is the A39 Porlock to Minehead road. Turn right on to the main road, then left for Allerford. Go straight ahead over the Packhorse Bridge and up the hill bearing right.

Follow the road along to a thatched cottage, go straight ahead on to a dirt track which gradually climbs following signs for Selworthy. After about 1/2 mile you will go through a farmyard and meet the village road.

Turn up left through the village and on a right hand corner, just before the Church go through the five-bar gate marked Selworthy Beacon. Follow this track up and fork left at the Y junction which dips slightly and takes you over a wide stone bridge. This track follows a tiny stream on your left as you go up this steep hill. When you meet the road go straight over to the top of the Beacon. From here you can enjoy the scenic views whilst getting your breath back. Go left just before the Beacon down a wide track which flattens out. After about 200 yards turn right along the Coast Path following the signs and keeping the sea on your left.

At the next two Y junctions keep left on the Coast Path which gradually narrows to a single track leading through a couple of small gates along the way. When you come to a multi-junction on a grassy patch with a bench, go straight on following the sign for Higher Town this track widens out. At the end of the wide track take the middle track on to the concrete carpark. Turn left taking a little single track with a wall on your right hand side. Follow the wall round to the right at the small crossroads so the sea is once again on your left hand side. At the next cross roads go left and then right at the T junction. Carry on down a twisty fast track to a five-bar gate. (Caution this track is frequently used by walkers) Go straight ahead after the gate down a fast winding lane which widens in places, you pass a high wall on your right hand side round a sweeping left hand corner. At the two metal bollards hairpin left back on yourself then hairpin right on to a farm drive. Carry on along this driveway until it meets the road at which point you need to hairpin left past a pole gate. Follow the lower track watching out for the off-cambered imbedded stones, which are tricky when wet. Take the next right turn to bring you out on to the seafront.

Cycle Routes