Porlock

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.

Get in

Porlock can be reached by car on the A39 from Minehead

By bus

The Exmoor Coaster open top double deaker bus runs from Lynmouth to Watchet via Minehead along the A39 with magnificent coastal views.

See

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. (updated May 2022)

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. (updated Apr 2022)

3 Bury Castle (east of the village). An Iron Age hill fort that is a National Trust property. (updated Apr 2022)

• 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

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 862 816, exmoorowlsbookings@gmail.com. Owl and hawk flying displays. A riding stable offering holidays too. (updated Jun 2022)

Eat

Porlock Weir

1 Ziangs On The Weir, 6 Harbour Studios, Lane Head, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 863 215. Takeaway (updated Jun 2022)

Drink

Royal Oak in High St.

1 Royal Oak, High St, TA24 8PS, ☏ +44 1643 862 798. 11:30AM- (closed M). (updated Jun 2022)

2 The Ship Inn, High St, TA24 8QD, ☏ +44 1643 862 507. Su–Th 9AM–11PM, F Sa 9AM–11:30PM. 13th-century coaching inn (updated May 2022)

Porlock Weir

3 The Bottom Ship, Anchor road, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 863288, enquiries@shipinnporlockweir.co.uk. (updated Apr 2022)

Sleep

1 The Gables B&B, The Drang, Doverhay, TA24 8LG. (updated Jun 2022)

Porlock Weir

2 Porlock Weir Hotel, B3225, TA24 8PB, ☏ +44 1643 800 400. (updated Jun 2022)

Go next

• 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.