Walking on Exmoor and the Quantock Hills

Menu Home About the site News and updates Exmoor and the Quantocks Introduction to the walks ► The Exmoor coast: west ► The Exmoor coast: east ► Western Exmoor ► Central Exmoor: north ► Central Exmoor: south ► The Brendons to the coast ► Bampton and the lakes ► The Quantock Hills ► Further afield Useful links Index of places and themes GPX files About the author Madeira Contact

Central Exmoor: north of Winsford This page covers the area between Exford and Winsford north to Porlock and Dunster, including Dunkery Beacon and the area around Wheddon Cross. This is an area of high hills and deep wooded combes, including the extensive woods of the Holnicote estate around Horner. Wheddon Cross marks a double crossing-point, the watershed between the north-flowing River Avill and the southgoing Quarme, as well as the boundary between high Exmoor to the west and the Brendon Hills to the east. Walking is varied, and routes can be relatively easy or as strenuous you want to make them. Click the walk name to download the route. Read the walk safety information, and click for a key to the symbols used on the sketch maps in the instructions.  47 Dunster to Porlock via Luccombe and Horner ♦♦♦ 9 mile linear, bus connection 48 Horner, the Dunster Path and Luccombe ♦♦ 6.5 mile circular 49 Horner, Stoke Pero and Dunkery Beacon ♦♦ 8.2 mile circular 50 Exford to Dunster via Dunkery Beacon ♦♦♦ 11.5 mile linear, bus connection 51 Exford to Winsford via the River Exe ♦ 5.5 mile linear, bus connection or return using walk 52 52 Winsford to Exford via Bye Hill and Room Hill ♦♦ 5.4 mile linear, bus connection or return using walk 51 53 Around Wheddon Cross ♦♦ 7.2 mile circular 54 Wheddon Cross and Dunkery Beacon ♦♦♦ 10.6 mile circular 55 Wheddon Cross to Porlock ♦♦ 8 mile linear, bus connection 56 Wheddon Cross to Dunster via Clicket ♦♦♦ 9.6 mile linear, bus connection 57 Wheddon Cross to Dulverton ♦♦♦ 10.5 mile linear, bus connection 58 Exford to Dulverton via Withypool and Hawkridge ♦♦♦ 13 mile linear, bus connection The Herepath - some information about the Exmoor Herepath (Saxon military road) and two suggested walking routes. There are some long-term path closures and diversions in the Horner Woods and Selworthy area, where the National Trust is managing trees affected by ash dieback. Please check the NT ash dieback web page for details. More walks from Exford in ‘Western Exmoor’, from Winsford in ‘Central Exmoor-South’, and from Wheddon Cross in ‘the Brendons to the coast’. All text, photographs and maps © Stan Lester 2023