Somerset

Walking in Exmoor: Day one

Part one of a two-day walk on the Holnicote Estate, tried and tested by environment and travel journalist, Mark Rowe. The 8-mile walk takes you north of Allerford, through the village of Selworthy and into Selworthy woods. You'll then head up to Selworthy Beacon before dropping steeply down to Bossington's pebble beach.

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Total steps: 3

Start point

Allerford, grid ref: SS905468

Step 1

Start at Allerford and follow contour paths up to Selworthy church and signposts to Selworthy Beacon.

The village shop at Selworthy, Holnicote Estate, Somerset — The village shop at Selworthy, Somerset | © National Trust Images/Richard Martin Scott

Step 2

Head for Bossington Hill and drop down via the coast path and Hurlstone Point, to Bossington beach.

Bossington beach

This pebble beach is the centre of an amphitheatre of cliffs. A storm in 1996 breached the shingle ridge here and conventional wisdom suggested reinforcing the beach; instead, the Trust advised that, in the context of sea level rises and climate change, it made more sense to let the area become saltmarsh. The result is a valuable habitat that attracts little egrets, lapwing and oystercatchers.

The pebble beach showing the old weathered groynes part of the old sea defences at Bossington, Somerset. — The pebble beach at Bossington, Somerset. | © National Trust Images/Ross Hoddinott

Step 3

Walk along the beach to cross the River Aller and return to Allerford via Bossington.

Selworthy Woods

Selworthy Woods features oak, sycamore, sweet chestnut and silver birch trees. Stop to hear green woodpeckers as they drill to make a new home during the spring and summer months. The woods here are something of a curiosity. While they may look ancient, they were actually planted after 1815 by the estate owner. Thomas Dyke Acland decided to commemorate the birth of each of his eight children by planting trees.

End point

Allerford, grid ref: SS905468

Trail map

A visitor and their dog walk through woods from Selworthy Beacon, Somerset

Trail

Selworthy and Bury Castle circular walk

This three-mile circular walk takes in some of the very best views on Exmoor. Along the way, you'll get to explore an Iron Age enclosure known as Bury Castle.

on Exmoor, near Minehead, Somerset

01643862452

selworthy@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Walking in Exmoor: Day one

Total steps: 3