I have walked to North Hill numerous times and on most occasions have enjoyed good views, except when I met “Dan Walks the Coast” up there a few days ago when low cloud made it impossible to see the Bristol Channel. The only other time visibility was poor was when I walked there with Lynnie. So today we are revisiting in the hope we will be able to see across to South Wales.
Much of the route follows the paths I took a few days ago, but with a different return into Minehead from the top of North Hill.
On leaving the site we turn left and walk uphill besides the A39, Hopcott Road. On reaching the Hopcott we turn left to follow the narrow tarmac lane as it heads steadily uphill passing Higher Hopcott. The road then enters woodland with a steep final ascent to reach a small car park.
A network of paths lead from here, we take the route of the Macmillan Way West still heading uphill. We ignore a path on the right soon after the car park and then where the Macmillan Way forks to the left we take the right fork following a footpath along a track.
It is a steep ascent before the path starts to level slightly on leaving the trees to enter an area covered in gorse. At a crossing of paths we turn right to follow the route towards Tivington.
We are back on the Macmillan Way heading west to reach another crossing of paths. Here the Macmillan Way turns left towards Wootton Courtney, however, we keep straight ahead soon reaching an Ordnance Survey trig point tucked to the left of the track on a high bank. This is the first time Lynnie and Dexter have visited this trig so they pose for a photograph.
At the next crossing of footpaths we continue straight on to pass the National Trust plaque and enter Holnicote.
Within a short distance the track forks and we go right towards Headon Cross.
This path goes through an attractive area of woodland before descending steeply to reach the minor road where we turn right to cross the A39.
We now follow the minor road opposite as it climbs steadily, as the road sweeps to the right we continue straight on along a track towards East Lynch. The visibility is much better today and there are clear views of the attractive hamlet of Tivington Heights. Apparently for a number of years until 1942 there was an isolation hospital located there for people suffering from Typhoid, Scarlet Fever and other infectious diseases.
Approaching a farm we take a footpath on the right, which runs behind a fine old barn, we stay on the wide grassy track as it sweeps by farm cottages, ignoring a footpath on the left and continuing uphill.
On reaching a minor road at Dean’s Cross we turn right and then left to take a track, Dean’s Lane, heading uphill once more. The visibility here today is much better.
Reaching a gate we go through to follow the track above Selworthy Combe. At a minor road, Hill Road, we cross and then turn right along a track running parallel to the road. From here we can see across the Bristol Channel, it is not the clearest of days, but at least we have a view!
Through a couple of gates the path sweeps to the left towards a car park. There are a network of paths back to Minehead from here.
We continue to the east heading towards trees in the distance. On reaching the trees we turn to the right to cross the road and then take a footpath on the left running parallel to the road and heading downhill through gorse bushes.
This track joins the road by a cattle grid and the route is then downhill along the road until we reach a footpath on the right. This path soon goes through a kissing gate to continue downhill through a paddock to reach a gate to enter the driveway of a house and then onto Moor Road. We turn right and wander through Higher Town in old Minehead.
This is a very attractive part of the town, where the original fisherman’s cottages and other homes grew around the harbour. It is far removed from the Holiday Camp image that is so often portraited of this town.
From the centre of Minehead we wander through the residential streets to return to the caravan. Our walk has covered nine and a half miles, a good test for Dexter but he has trotted along quite happily today so hopefully his medication is having a positive effect.
To view this 9.5 mile walk on OS Maps Click Here
To follow our walk you will need Ordnance Survey Outdoor Explorer OL9 – Exmoor
31st March 2019
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2019)