Exmoor Day Trip

Exmoor is an ideal destination for a short break and a great place to go for those wishing to hire a sports car.

It is one of the most diverse regions in the UK, being one of only 14 areas designated as a National Park, covering 267 square miles and comprising open moorland, massive sea cliffs, wooded combes and quaint villages.

The scenery has inspired poets and authors including Samuel Taylor Coleridge who wrote the Rime of the Ancient Mariner after visiting the area in 1797.

Check out www.exmoor-visitor.info for further details and events listings.

Why not try our Experience Tour that takes in Exmoor while you experience 3 different TVR cars on the way.

Suggested Route

Take the A358 Minehead road out of Taunton following the vale north west between the Quantock Hills on your right and the Brendon Hills on your left.

The main road becomes the A39 when you turn left at the roundabout in Williton

At Washford you can stop off to visit the magnificent Cleve Abbey.

You can also admire the lovely old steam locomotives at the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Museum in Washford.

Continue on the A358 until Dunster, you will see the castle up on the left of the main road. Both the marvelous Castle and the medieval village are well worth a closer look.

Close by is Minehead, still a perennial favourite with the bucket and spade brigade, yet still retaining an old fashioned charm, especially around Quay Street and the harbour area and Higher Town.

Just off the main road at Allerford is Exmoor Falconry where you can see a range of raptors at close hand.

Staying on the A39 you arrive at Porlock, which was awarded Best large village in Somerset award in 2003.

A worthwhile diversion from here is the short drive out to the peace and tranquility of Porlock Weir.

Head back to the A39 and continue on to Lynmouth up the steep hill for which Porlock is famous.

Passing through Lorna Doone country you arrive at Lynmouth. Much of this town had been reconstructed since the flood of 1952 which destroyed buildings all along the river frontage as detailed in the local museum.

Close by is the Valley of the Rocks, where the rocks have been eroded into fantastic shapes and there are superb sea views. As well as walking Active Exmoor can arrange climbing too.

Heading along the A39 outside Lynmouth, take the B3223 towards Simonsbath for a blast back across the moorland, mind the sheep and the Exmoor ponies. The ponies are a rare breed that has grazed the moor for over 100,000 years and are one of Exmoor's most famous sights.

Continue on the B3223 and, time allowing, divert off at Liscombe to the Tarr Steps. This is the largest clapper bridge in Britain and, whilst the structure has been re-built after heavy floods, no one actually knows how old these are, although 3,000 years is one guess.

Back on the B3223 to Dulverton, another characterful country town on the fringes of the moor. There is an Exmoor National Park Centre in Fore Street.

Follow the B3222 along the River Barle until picking up the A396 at Exebridge.

Turn off towards Bampton on the B3227 and follow the road back to Taunton.