It’s as if time has stood still in pretty Porlock Weir, a small harbour village dating from the 15th century. Thatched cottages overlook small boats bobbing in the inlet, a pebbled beach stretches to its side leading onto marshlands and up into the village of Porlock.
The village views are stunning, looking out to the Bristol Channel and it’s well-placed for plenty of walkies, whether along the Southwest coastal path, or high up onto the moors.
We spent a couple of days there with Hugo and here’s what we got up to:
Porlock Weir
Our cottage was just minutes from the harbour, enjoying those excellent sea-views, and on the evening we arrived, we wandered down to the small but perfectly-formed village to enjoy a walk and meal at the dog-friendly Bottom Ship Inn. It served a nice selction of real ales and hearty pub grub and there are plenty of tables to sit outside and enjoy the sound and sight of the sea.
Circular walk from Porlock Weir to Porlock and back
Next day, a pleasant walk from Porlock Weir took us along the beach and shingle ridges past salt marshes and on to Porlock town. Keep an eye out en route for the memorial stone honouring the American airman who lost his life in 1942 when a B24D Liberator bomber crashed during World War II.
Porlock
This small coastal town has plenty of pubs, tearooms, independent shops and galleries to stop off at. Our walk back to Porlock Weir took us upwards into a delightful quiet stretch of coastal woodland then back down to Prolock Weir where we stopped off for some delicious Porlock Bay Oysters in their delightful Kitchen restaurant, washed down with a cool Crémant. Our waitress gave Hugo his own blanket to chill out on, plus some special biscuits to keep him happy – and away from the oysters!
Selworthy walk
We headed to Selworthy, a rural idyll where thatched cottages nestle in the vale of the National Trust Holnicote Estate. And we were lucky enough to catch some traditional thatching going on as one of the cottages enjoyed a patch-up.
A pretty walk in the elevated woodland brought us back downhill to the National Trust Periwinkle Cottage Tea Rooms where we sat with coffee, cake, and a quaint, quiet and calming countryside view.
We did Dunkery Hill…and spotted red deer en route
Next day, we hiked up the 519 metres of Dunkery Hill up to Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor.
En route, we were rewarded with stunning countryside and channel views, winding waterfalls and windswept heather moorland, meeting wild ponies and even spotting a herd of red deer (you might have to zoom into the picture to see them!)
Lynton and Lynmouth
The picturesque coatsal twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth are just a half hour’s drive away – home to the Victorian cliff railway, powered by water, that links them. We opted to walk the steep hill from Lynmouth up to Lynton – helping us realise just why the railway was built in the first place.
Both small towns have plenty of little lanes to explore, independent shops and galleries to browse and cafes to stop off at.
WHERE TO STAY IN EXMOOR
We stayed with the excellent holiday cottage company The Best of Exmoor, experts in the area and with plenty of dog-friendly cottages on their books to put up you and your pooch perfectly. We’ve included a small selection below:
Only a stone’s throw from the harbour at Porlock Weir, The Coach House is a fabulous base for walking, sightseeing and relaxing holidays.
The Stable Block cottage boasts a fabulous bedroom from where you admire the wonderful views of the terrace, garden and Porlock Bay from the juliette balcony.
St. Anthony’s Cottage offers luxurious accommodation, a garden and fantastic views.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a booking we may receive a small commission from the provider