Nether Stowey to Porlock
58km/36 miles
Signed
Southwest England
A walk linking the Quantock and Brendon hills, Exmoor national park and the Somerset coast through a landscape that inspired the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), who wrote some of his most celebrated works while living at Nether Stowey.
The route follows the northern fringes of the Quantocks and continues through the little-known Brendon hills and the remote moorland fringes of the national park to reach Porlock on the South West Coast Path. Along the way it passes through numerous villages including Holford, West Quantoxhead, Bicknoller, Monksilver, Roadwater, Luxborough, Wheddon Cross and Horner, many with attractive pubs and tea rooms.
The Way was launched in 2005 as a partnership between the Exmoor national park, Quantock Hills AONB, local and regional authorities and Somerset arts and culture project ARTlife. It is the first major route in Britain to be promoted primarily via the internet in its initial stages.
Public Transport
There are regular buses to Nether Stowey and West Quantoxhead from Bridgwater railway station, to Wheddon Cross from Minehead; and to Porlock from Taunton station. Porlock also has bus links to Bicknoller; to Minehead for the private West Somerset Railway to Bishops Lydeard; and in summer to Wheddon Cross. More details on the website below, from the national park and tourist information centres, or from national contacts.
Maps
Publications
- Free overview leaflet from Porlock visitor centre (below).
- Detailed route description and maps on websites below.
Connecting routes
Parks and countryside
Holiday Providers & Services
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