The start of my 2023 walking year has been slightly hampered due to illness. Last October I went down with Covid and it laid me low for a couple of days. Then a few weeks later I caught a heavy cold which took a while to shake off. Given I avoided any colds or flu like bugs for a couple of years I had thought a couple of infections would build up my immunity.
However, in early January I picked up a flu like virus that knocked me out for the best part of three weeks. It was not Covid, but affected me far worse than when I did have it. Any plans of getting away for a few days walking were put on hold. Fortunately I am back to full health and consequently have booked a short trip to Minehead CAMC to do some walking on Exmoor.
Minehead is one of my favourite winter locations for a trip on my own, Lynnie is not so keen on winter caravanning and is happy for Crosby and I to disappear for a few days together.
It doesn’t take long to set up on site and then I am lacing the boots up and heading out. My stock walk when arriving on this site is a loop around the town to the harbour. But today the light is good enough for me to do a loop up around Hopcott and Alcombe Commons.
Leaving the site I turn left and walk uphill along the pavement beside the A39, Hopcott Road. On reaching The Hopcott I turn left to follow the narrow tarmac lane as it heads steadily uphill passing Higher Hopcott and then reaching woodland.
I ignore footpaths leading off from the road until I reach an information board for Dunster Woods.
I take the uphill path to the right of the information board on the route of the Macmillan Way West. I ignore a path on the right soon after leaving the car park and then where the Macmillan Way meets a crossing of tracks I continue straight on, staying on the route of the long distance path. The path now goes around the head of Long Combe, this is a cracking spot with stunning Beech trees lining the path.
Leaving the trees the path continues through a section of open land with dead bracken and gorse. On reaching a junction of tracks I turn left heading towards Dunster.
I now stay with this track heading east to reach Holes Corner. Out to my left are views of Minehead and over the Bristol Channel to the South Wales coast.
At Holes Corner there is a convergence of tracks and paths. I take the broad track heading east towards trees in the distance. This route is signposted towards Dunster.
I ignore a couple of footpaths leading off to the left and stay with the track I am on until I reach trees, here I turn left to reach a crossing of paths where I turn left again to take a path heading towards Alcombe.
The path steadily descends through an area of gorse and at every junction I follow the way-markers to Alcombe.
At a junction of paths close to the Youth Hostel I turn right on the path which is signed to Alcombe. This descends steadily to reach a tarmac lane where I turn right and follow it into Alcombe.
At the junction by the Britannia Inn I turn left into Church Street and then on reaching the main A39 turn left and walk on the pavement back to the caravan site.
This little circuit has covered just over four and a half miles and has been a good stretch of the legs after my earlier journey. It is now time to plan my walking for the next couple of days.
You can view this 4.6 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 – Exmoor
5th February 2023
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2023)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.