The Exmoor South West Coast Path
Experience the entire Exmoor Coast Path on a professionally guided four-day walking holiday, with expert leadership, engaging local insights, and excellent hospitality throughout.
Departure:
- 21-26 June 2027
Key info:
- £895 per person
- 5 nights
- No Single Supplement
Highlights:
- Experience remarkable coastal vistas, tranquil woodlands, and picturesque fishing villages along the Exmoor section of the South West Coast Path.
- Explore England’s smallest church, situated discreetly within a secluded valley.
- Experience the impressive scenery of the twin villages of Lynmouth and Lynton, which are connected by a distinctive funicular cliff railway.
- Discover the Valley of the Rocks, whose dramatic scenery inspired poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge.
- Traverse the tallest sea cliffs and the most extensive expanse of Atlantic rainforest found in England and Wales.
- Relax each evening at the Yarn Market Hotel, which offers comfortable and welcoming accommodation in the picturesque medieval village of Dunster.
What's included >
What's not included >
What's included >
- Half board en-suite accommodation
- All dinners included (at our hotel)
- All transport to/ from trailheads included
- Services of a professional guide throughout
What's not included >
- Picnic lunches
- Personal expenses, e.g. drinks
- Parking in Dunster
Exmoor and the South West Coast Path
The United Kingdom features 17 National Trails, among which the South West Coast Path is notable for its considerable length of 630 miles, extending from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. This itinerary concentrates on the portion within Exmoor National Park, commencing at Minehead and encompassing the initial 36 miles to Combe Martin over a four-day period.
Designated in 1954, Exmoor is one of the UK’s smaller National Parks, known for its varied landscapes and unique features. Its coastline boasts Britain’s tallest sea cliffs, England and Wales’s longest coastal woodlands, and borders the Bristol Channel with the world’s second highest tides. This walking route passes harbours and inlets, allowing us to spot wildlife and explore local history along the coast.
As we traverse this dramatic stretch of the English coastline, each day reveals new wonders—rugged headlands tumbling into turquoise waters, quaint villages perched above hidden coves, and moorland paths carpeted with wildflowers. The air is tinged with the scent of salt and heather, and the cries of seabirds echo from the cliffs. Along the way, there will be moments to pause at ancient stone churches, linger by tumbling streams, and marvel at panoramic views that stretch across the Bristol Channel toward Wales.
Evenings in Dunster offer their own kind of magic: stroll the cobbled streets beneath the shadow of the historic castle, savour hearty evening meals and unwind in the cosy comfort of our hotel. Whether you’re seeking adventure, tranquillity, or a chance to reconnect with nature, this journey along the South West Coast Path promises memories as enduring as the timeless landscape itself.
Join me in 2026 for the first stage of the South West Coast Path in Exmoor, one of England’s most scenic National Parks.
Daily Itinerary:
Here is the day-by-day itinerary, click on the day to learn more.
Independent travel to ‘The Yarn Market’ hotel (YMH) in Dunster.
Check-in is from 15:00pm.
At 18:30 we will gather for a briefing about our adventure together before dinner.
The Official Start
After breakfast, participants will be transported by private vehicle to the official starting point of the South West Coast Path in Minehead, located approximately ten minutes away. The route proceeds along a well-maintained path through scenic woodland leading to North Hill, before emerging from the trees onto a trail that offers elevated views above the sea cliffs. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in the coastal scenery, before descending towards Porlock Bay. The final segment passes through the picturesque village of Bossington, continues across a salt marsh, and follows the bay to its most westerly point, the hamlet of Porlock Weir. Here, guests may choose to relax with a refreshment at a local pub prior to being transported back to the hotel.
Distance: 16 km (10 miles)
Total Ascent/Descent: 650 m (2,132 ft)
A tougher day.
Resuming at Porlock Weir, the route continues through wooded areas leading to Culbone, which features England's smallest parish church that is only reachable on foot. The path follows a higher elevation offering views of Wales and Exmoor, then descends and crosses into Devon. The walk passes streams and clifftop meadows before reaching Foreland Point, the northernmost part of Devon. The day ends in Countisbury, going through the churchyard and stopping at the Blue Ball Inn, before returning to Dunster.
Distance: 17km/ 10.6 miles
Total Ascent/ descent: 950m/ 3116ft
The Valley of the Rocks
The walk commences at the previous day's endpoint on Countisbury Hill. From this point, the route descends toward Lynmouth, which marks the terminus of another great trail, the Coast-to-Coast ‘Two Moors Way.’ Walkers can then proceed to the twin village of Lynton via either the famous Cliff Railway or the coast path, according to preference. After a scheduled coffee break in Lynton, the journey continues along Holliday Hill and traverses the Valley of the Rocks—an area renowned for its wild goats and impressive scenery—where lunch is typically enjoyed. The walk progresses past the picturesque Woody Bay before concluding on to Hunters Inn, deep in the heart of the secluded Heddon Valley.
Distance: 15.2km/ 9.4 miles.
Total Ascent/ descent: 700m/ 2296ft
A clifftop adventure
We embark on the final segment of the Exmoor South West Coast Path, commencing at Hunters Inn, an establishment that has served beverages since 1823. The route ascends steeply along the western side of Heddon Valley, traversing high cliffs and sweeping moorlands. There may be an opportunity to observe ancient Bronze Age ruins prior to the scheduled lunch break. The journey proceeds to Great Hangman, which, at 1,043 feet (318 metres), stands as both the highest point on the South West Coast Path and the tallest sea cliff in England, featuring a cliff face measuring 800 feet (244 metres). The descent continues past Little Hangman before reaching our final destination and the end point of the Exmoor National Park, the sandy beach at Combe Martin. It may be possible to swim before returning for the farewell supper.
Distance: 13.5km/ 8.5 miles.
Total Ascent/ descent: 750m/ 2463ft
Today is departure day and check-out is by 11.00.
After breakfast we can check-out.
If you would like to extend your stay in Dunster, please speak to the hotel.
Please note that if weather conditions are bad, or conditions change locally then it may be necessary to diverge from a part of the programme at short notice. Every effort however will be made to keep to the advertised programme.
Daily milage and ascents/ descents are appoximate.
Our Accommodation:
Yarn Market Hotel: High Street, Dunster, Exmoor National Park, Somerset. TA24 6SF
Located in the heart of medieval Dunster village and immediately adjacent to the Yarn Market building, our hotel is full of character and charm. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of a long days walk.
Our hotel is particularly suited for group walking, its comfortable, quiet and serves good honest locally sourced food. Each evening we will meet for a briefing before sitting down to a three-course dinner.
Meals and Transport included:
5 dinners – Monday to Friday, all at our hotel
5 breakfasts – Tuesday to Saturday
Transport included to and from the trail throughout
Our rooms:
The holiday is priced on a per person basis, with no supplemental charges for single occupancy rooms.
All rooms are Sole Occupancy of a ‘Standard Double’ or ‘Twin’ room at the advertised price of £775 per person. There is no single supplement.
(A room upgrade may be available, please ask if you would like to know more).
Dunster:
Dunster was recorded in the Doomsday book of 1086 as having 15 households and is perhaps the best-preserved medieval settlement in England. Today’s Dunster is a bustling small town but retains one the UK’s best examples of medieval town layout.
The castle, originally a Norman fort built out of wood but later built from stone dominates the main street that still retains the main shape of the original borough town today.
The wool trade became a key contributor to local income and in Dunster you can still see the wonderfully preserved Yarn Market built in 1609, just outside our hotel.
Additional Information:
This is not an exhaustive list but highlights the main requirements.
Please note, some of the tracks can be muddy after prolonged rain.
Essential Items
- Waterproof walking-boots. Properly worn in and which provide good grip
- Waterproof jacket and over trousers
- Rucksack
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Water bottle – 1 ltr
- Sunscreen and sun hat
- Several layers of clothing – which can be added or removed as required
Recommended items
- Personal first aid kit
- Sit Mat
- Specialist walking socks
Optional items
- Gaiters – these can be useful after rain
- Blister kit
- Flask for hot drinks
- Walking poles (can be useful)
You can get to Dunster:
By car: Dunster is in Somerset and lies just 2-minutes south off the A39 before the seaside town of Minehead.
By train: Using the Great Western Railway from London Paddington it is possible to get to the town of Taunton in Somerset. From here, the number 28 bus runs regularly between Taunton Railway station South Side to Minehead. The closest stop to our hotel is DUNSTER STEEP on the A39, we can arrange to collect you from there free of change.
PLEASE NOTE: Many mobile networks do not have a phone signal on much of the bus route including Dunster Steep. Please call 01643 821425 on departure from Taunton if you want a lift from Dunster Steep.
There is on street parking in the village, which apart from two spaces outside the shop 'Five Quarters' is free and unlimited.
In addition, there is a Pay and Display car park on the entrance to the village near to the Exmoor Visitors Centre. This is run by the local council, and you can pay at the machine in the car park or you can access the website and pay online for single or multiple days or weeks. Parking costs are not included in holiday cost.
The Website is www.paybyphone.co.uk and you will need the numerical code 801874 which is the code for Dunster car park.
One map covers our Exmoor Coast Path tour. I have a copy of this map to show you each evening at our briefings.
1:25:000. OS Explorer Map OL9 for Exmoor: covering Barnstable, Lynton, Minehead and Dulverton.