Independent Trails: Fact File.NDEV2
Trail Facts
Total distance:
87 miles (140km)
Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking (hiking)
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 9 miles (14.5km)/15½
miles (25km)
Average daily distance: 12½ miles (20km)
Waymarking: The route is very clearly waymarked with South
West Coast Path National Trail acorn waymarks and is very easy to follow.
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Minehead
End of holiday: Westward Ho!
Code : NDEV2
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Minehead, where your first nights accommodation has been booked.
Day 2: Minehead
to Porlock Weir. 10 miles (16km)
From the bustling little resort of Minehead, the trail wanders across Exmoor
past Selworthy Beacon and Bossington Hill, which provide glorious views over
the moors and across the Bristol Channel to the distant Welsh Hills, before
descending through the picturesque hamlet of Bossington to the village of Porlock.
After exploring the village with its pretty thatch-and-cob cottages, ancient
inn, absorbing museum and St Dubricus' Church with its fine effigy monuments,
the trail continues through delightful woodland to the tiny harbour of Porlock
Weir.
Day 3:
Porlock Weir to Lynmouth. 13 miles (21km)
From the harbour the path winds up through woodland with occasional glimpses
of the sea far below, to Culbone church. Built as a monastic retreat in the
eremitic tradition of the Celtic saints, St Beuno's is the smallest complete
parish church in England and has many interesting features including ancient
oak pews, a window through which lepers could observe the offices and a Saxon
window featuring the 'green man'. On the hillside above the church stands Ash
Farm where Coleridge wrote his renowned fragment Kubla Khan, until interrupted
by the infamous 'person from Porlock', after whose visit the muse had fled,
taking with it the unwritten portion of his poem. From the church, the path
continues through beautiful cliff top woodland to Foreland Point and then descends
to the delightful twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. A water-powered cliff
railway links the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. The Victorian resort
of Lynton is perched on the cliff, with fine views out to sea. Lynmouth nestles
at its foot where the lovely East Lyn River flows down to meet the sea at the
charming little harbour.
Day 4:
Lynmouth to Combe Martin. 13 miles (21km).
From the harbour the Coast path follows the North Walk to the Valley of Rocks
with its spectacular rock formations. From here the path follows the rugged
cliff side to the deep gorge of Heddon's Mouth, where once coal and limestone
were landed by day and contraband by night. The trail then continues along the
cliff tops to the summit of Great Hangman, which provides breathtaking views
of the coast, before descending to Combe Martin
Day 5: Combe
Martin to Woolacombe. 13 miles (21km)
After Combe Martin cliff top paths wind around a succession of little headlands
and coves to the Iron Age fort at Hillsborough, which provides fine views of
Ilfracombe's harbour and Lundy Island. A fishing port since medieval times,
with a splendid natural harbour, Ilfracombe became established as an exclusive
resort in Edwardian and Victorian times. The attractive harbour, overlooked
by Lantern hill with its ancient chapel is well worth exploring. From the harbour
the path returns to the top of the rocky cliffs and continues around Morte Point
to Woolacombe. Many ships have come to grief on the reefs of Morte or 'Death'
Point - especially during the 18th century when wreckers tied lanterns to the
horns of cattle on the headland to confuse mariners into believing they were
the lights of Ilfracombe.
Day 6:
Woolacombe to Braunton. 15½ miles (25km)
From Woolacombe the coast path crosses Woolacombe Sands to Putsborough; then
follows cliff paths around Baggy Point to Croyde Bay, before meandering between
the dunes of Braunton Burrows Nature Reserve and Braunton Marshes to the mouth
of the Taw Estuary. From here the path turns inland and follows the shores of
the estuary to the village of Braunton.
Day 7:
Braunton to Instow. 11½ miles (18.5km)
After Braunton, the path continues along the shores of the estuary to Barnstaple,
crosses the River Taw and heads downstream along the shores of the estuary to
the attractive village of Instow near the confluence of the Torridge and Tar
Estuaries.
Day 8:
Instow to Westward Ho!. 11 miles (17.5km)
From the quay at Instow a ferry crosses the Torridge Estuary to the village
of Appledore. Situated on the shores of the Taw and Torridge Estuaries, Appledore
is a delightful village with a long history of shipbuilding and was the last
place in England to make its living by sail. Leaving Appledore the path continues
along the shores of the Taw Estuary to meet the sea and then wanders along the
beach to Westward Ho!, a pleasant resort named after the seafaring novel by
Charles Kingsley.
Day 9:
Depart from Westward Ho! after breakfast.
Extra nights/Rest days
An extra night gives you a chance to explore some of the towns and villages
along the trail or relax and give those weary legs a rest. Porlock Weir is an
excellent place to linger and relax. Lynmouth is another place to consider,
the walk to Watersmeet, where the East and West Lyn Rivers meet is delightful.
If you would like to visit Lundy Island, consider having an extra night in Westward
Ho! There are frequent ferries to the island (2 hours 15 minutes) from Bideford,
which is easily reached by bus from Westward Ho!
What's included
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on
how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent
to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient International airport: London
Outward journey from London to Minehead: Train from London
Paddington to Taunton (2 hours). From Taunton there is a regular bus service
to Minehead or during the summer months you can catch one of the steam trains
to Minehead.
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Bus or
taxi to Barnstaple. There is a frequent train service from Barnstaple to London
Paddington (4 hours).