Last year when staying at Minehead I walked over to Selworthy to meet up with a Twitter buddy, Sarah, at Periwinkle Cottage Tea Rooms. My meeting someone I met on social media didn’t concern Lynnie, however, going to a tea room without her was frowned upon. So today I am putting things right and we will stop for tea and scones at this excellent tea room.
Leaving the site we turn left and walk uphill along the pavement 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 and then reaching woodland.
We ignore footpaths leading off from the road until we reach an information board for Dunster Woods. Now we take the uphill path to the right of the information board on the route of the Macmillan Way West. We ignore a path on the right soon after leaving the car park and then where the Macmillan Way meets a crossing of tracks we 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 we turn right still on the route of the Macmillan Way West heading towards Tivington across the top of Hopcott Common.
At a fork in the track we go left to keep with the Macmillan Way West. There are good views from here back along the coastline towards Blue Anchor.
We continue to head west to another crossing of paths. The Macmillan Way turns left towards Wootton Courtney, however, we keep going straight ahead soon reaching an Ordnance Survey trig point tucked to the left of the track on a high bank. This trig on Periton Hill is one which I have bagged a number of times.
At the next crossing of footpaths we continue straight on through an attractive area of trees.
On reaching another junction of paths we follow the way-marker towards Headon Cross and soon pass a National Trust plaque and enter Holnicote Estate.
Within a short distance the track forks and we go right continuing towards Headon Cross with the path leading through the cracking woodland of Tivington Common.
Our route descends gradually, but as we near Headon Cross there is a short steep descent to reach a minor road. Turning right on the road we reach Headon Cross and go straight over to take the minor road opposite. This climbs steadily, as the road sweeps to the right we continue straight on along a track towards East Lynch. From here there is a good view of Dunkery Hill.
Approaching East Lynch Farm we take a footpath on the right, this 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 Deans Cross we turn left and follow the road downhill into Selworthy for Lynnie’s long awaited tea and scones.
Refreshed we head back up through the gardens of the tea room to the War Memorial and then take the footpath on the left, soon heading into the attractive Selworthy Combe. Where the track forks we go left to go over a bridge and follow the path as it heads uphill through the trees. Our route continues steadily uphill on an attractive path through the trees. Nearing the minor road at the top of the hill we turn left along a grassy track.
We follow the path to reach the Memorial Hut, erected in 1878 by John Barton Arundel Acland the youngest son of Thomas Dyke Acland (1787 -1871). One of the inscriptions inside reads “In remembrance of the father who during more than fifty years took Sunday walks up this Combe with his Children and Grandchildren training them in the love of nature and of Christian poetry this Wind and Weather hut was built”.
From the hut we walk uphill to a minor road and cross to follow a track leading uphill to Selworthy Beacon.
From the trig point we take a path heading east on a track running close to the road.
After going through a gate near a cattle grid we continue through an area of pasture.
The path continues close to the road to reach another gate, now we keep going east to reach another parking area and then keep going to another car park close to woodland. Here we veer to the left and take a path going east through trees and passing concrete bases that housed Nissen huts during World War II. Apparently the American Forces had a NAAFI in one of the huts on this hill.
We carry on until we reach a fork in the path, we go to the left and descend towards a gate continuing steadily downhill on the path.
There are multiple paths in the trees that descend towards the seafront. We stay with one that goes straight on to reach a tarmac lane and turn left, soon joining the Zig Zag path, enjoying views of the sea as we descend to the seafront.
At the bottom of the path we turn left and pass cottages to reach the seafront by the sculpture marking the start, or end, of the south west coast path. From here we turn right and wander through the streets of Minehead to get back to the caravan site.
You can view this 12 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
To follow my walk, you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 – Exmoor
26th October 2021
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2021)
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.