Porlock is a coastal village in Somerset in Exmoor National Park with a population of 1,440 in 2011. Following West End Lane takes you to West Porlock and then Porlock Weir with its harbour.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]Porlock can be reached by car on the A39 from Minehead
By bus
[edit]The Exmoor Coaster[dead link] open top double deaker bus runs from Lynmouth to Watchet via Minehead along the A39 with magnificent coastal views.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Porlock
See
[edit]- 1 Dovery Manor Museum, Doverhay, Porlock TA24 8PY, ☏ +44 1643 863083. M-Sa 10:30AM-4:30PM; Su 10AM-4PM 1st May to 30th Sep. Museum of local artefacts, photographs and pictures. Free.
- 2 The Church of St Dubricius. The church dates from the 13th century. The spire was damaged in a storm of 1703. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building. Within the church is a 15th-century tomb of John Harrington who fought alongside Henry V in France in 1417.
- 3 Bury Castle (east of the village). An Iron Age hill fort that is a National Trust property.
- On Porlock Hill, there is the prehistoric Porlock Stone Circle.
- Culbone Church is said to be the smallest church in England. The main structure is frim the 12th century. Services are still held there, despite the lack of road access – Culbone is a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) walk from Porlock Weir, and some 4 mi (6.4 km) from Porlock.
- The village adjoins the Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh nature reserve, created from the lowland behind a high shingle embankment which was breached by the sea in the 1990s, which has now been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Copses of white dead trees remind the visitor of when this was freshwater pasture.
- At low tide the remains of a submerged forest can be seen on Porlock Beach. The area was several miles inland until the sea level in the Bristol Channel rose about 7000 to 8000 years ago.
Do
[edit]The South West Coast Path goes through Porlock, many walkers stopping rather than continuing the long walk to Lynton. There is also a 'Coleridge Way' walk.
- 1 Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre, West Lynch Farm, Allerford, TA24 8HJ, ☏ +44 1643 862816, exmoorowlsbookings@gmail.com. Owl and hawk flying displays. A riding stable offering holidays too.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Porlock Weir
[edit]- 1 Ziangs On The Weir, 6 Harbour Studios, Lane Head, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 863215. Takeaway
Drink
[edit]
- 1 Royal Oak, High St, TA24 8PS, ☏ +44 1643 862798. 11:30AM- (closed M).
- 2 The Ship Inn, High St, TA24 8QD, ☏ +44 1643 862507. Su–Th 9AM–11PM, F Sa 9AM–11:30PM. 13th-century coaching inn
Porlock Weir
[edit]- 3 The Bottom Ship, Anchor road, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 863288, enquiries@shipinnporlockweir.co.uk.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Gables B&B, The Drang, Doverhay, TA24 8LG.
Porlock Weir
[edit]- 2 Porlock Weir Hotel, B3225, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 800400.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- East to Lynton and Lynmouth 13.8 mi (22.2 km) on the A39 after climbing Porlock Hill into Exmoor.
- West to Minehead 5.6 mi (9.0 km) on the A39.