Thursday
About Porlock
Porlock is a historic village on the edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset, known for its coastal views, surrounding countryside, and traditional architecture. Set near Porlock Bay and close to Porlock Weir, it has long attracted visitors interested in walking, nature, and local heritage. The village features a mix of independent shops, cafes, and galleries, and serves as a useful base for exploring Exmoor, the South West Coast Path, and nearby attractions like Dunkery Beacon and the ancient woods of Horner.
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Porlock from Dunster
Porlock is about a 20 minute drive from Dunster, on the other side of Minehead. On arrival, we took a stroll through its narrow streets. Shops and cafes are mostly independent.
We visited the Tourist information centre where we were recommended a walk of just over 4 miles. The circular walk from Porlock to Porlock Weir offers a varied route through open salt marsh, pebble beach, and shaded woodland—perfect for a half-day outing with a mix of scenery and a touch of sea air.
Beach and woodland walk
Starting from the centre of Porlock, we headed west along the signed footpath leading toward the coast. The path opens out onto the Porlock Marsh, a striking landscape shaped by the sea’s gradual reclamation of low-lying farmland. With the shingle ridge of Porlock Bay in the distance and Exmoor rising behind, the marsh feels both wild and strangely peaceful. Sea thrift, samphire, and birdlife add to the atmosphere, especially on a quiet morning.
We continued along the shingle bank, following the coast to Porlock Weir—a small harbour village with boats bobbing in the tide and a handful of places to stop for a drink or snack.
We decided on lunch at the Ship Inn, or the Bottom Ship as it is known. It transpires that there is Ship Inn in both Porlock Weir and Porlock, and to differentiate they are known locally as the Bottom Ship and the Top Ship.
For the return leg, we took the woodland path back toward Porlock, climbing gently into the trees just inland of the coast road. This section of the walk runs through ancient oak woodland, cool and green, with occasional glimpses back over the marsh and sea. The contrast with the open marshland is striking, and the woodland trail eventually loops back to Porlock, completing the circuit.
Overall, it’s an easy to moderate walk with a lot of variety—and just enough up and down to feel like you’ve earned a pint at the Top Ship which we passed on our way back to the car. After all, no-one likes to pass ships in the afternoon.
Our walk and lunch took about 4 hours, and by the time we returned to Dunster, our devices told us we had done 16,000 steps. Exhausted, we had a quiet evening in as I settled in to watch Spurs thrash Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the semi finals of the Europa League.
