Exmoor with Jack

Exmoor with Jack Personal account of walks across Exmoor with my dog Jack - also
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A familiar hedge line in the sun
12/04/2026

A familiar hedge line in the sun

Check out the Spring issue of Exmoor Magazine- out now! Features Jack and his pals on 5 shorter walks on Exmoor.
11/02/2026

Check out the Spring issue of Exmoor Magazine- out now! Features Jack and his pals on 5 shorter walks on Exmoor.

Marsh Bridge, Dulverton Circular 4 ish miles From Marsh Bridge cross both roads and head up into the woods on an ancient...
23/01/2026

Marsh Bridge, Dulverton Circular 4 ish miles

From Marsh Bridge cross both roads and head up into the woods on an ancient byway towards Court Down. This is a long steady climb but ignore paths to the right until you reach a T-junction where you will see a sign marked as a permitted path for Dulverton. Turn right along this wide stony track, which is level and easy walking and then descends into Dulverton, passing the Old School House to arrive behind the church. There is a narrow tarmac footpath at the end of the church wall, which passes through the Church Yard and brings you out into the town centre.

There are lots of places for refreshment in Dulverton. We chose the Copper Kettle today.

Walk through the town to cross the bridge over the river Barle and take the first right turn into Oldberry Lane. You will walk up between the cottages to see purple-tipped sign. This footpath through Burridge Woods is extremely pretty and undulates beside the river, before passing through Kennel Farm and returning to the road at Marsh Bridge.

Doone Valley, Manor Allotment and Oare Church. 8 miles From car park at Malmsmead (charges apply) walk up the lane towar...
21/11/2025

Doone Valley, Manor Allotment and Oare Church. 8 miles

From car park at Malmsmead (charges apply) walk up the lane towards Tippacott and turn onto the bridlepath at the first bend.

This path leads to Cloud Farm. Passing cloud stay beside the river and continue walking. Pass through a gate and continue beside the river to cross the footbridge at the base of Lankcombe. The water slide featured in the novel Lorna Doone is just above this bridge.

Once over the bridge our path narrows but continues beside the river. As the ground rises we reach a fingerpost for Brendon Common or Manor Allotment. We follow the yellow marked sign to drop
Down across Hoccombe Water over a small plank bridge. The path continue to your left and curves around the hill to stay beside Badgeworthy water until it opens out we reach a second footbridge, through a pedestrian gate to cross Badgeworthy Water.

Cross here up onto Tom’s Hill. Over a small stream, the path climbs parallel with the wall to reach a pedestrian gate.

Through the gate turn sharp left following beside the wall to reach another gate where you return back through the wall further up (there are tracks both sides of the wall but this one is usually drier)

From this gate our path heads towards Oare. It can be wet and difficult to navigate in bad weather. The OS app doesn’t clearly follow the track on the ground at this stage. We are heading for a gate in the fence to improved ground of South Common. The well worn path doesn’t actually lead to this gate so you will need to come back along the fence once you see it.

Passing through the gate into the field, our path runs parallel to the fence but stay at least 20m from the fence to avoid boggy reed area. Our path is straight ahead to reach a gate into another field over the horizon.

Here we turn left aiming to right end of beech hedge to follow beside the hedge from this corner on our footpath to Oare.

We go back onto moorland briefly at Turf Allotment then return to fields. Here stay beside the right hedge and follow signs. (The path has been diverted here but is well signposted) You will walk beside the fence to drop down to a track behind Oare Church. Follow the track out onto the road beside the church.
The remainder of the walk is along the road back to Malmsmead.

Brendon 2 Gates, Hoar Oak Cottage circular. 6 miles rough terrain in places Park in the lay-by on Simonsbath side of cat...
06/11/2025

Brendon 2 Gates, Hoar Oak Cottage circular. 6 miles rough terrain in places

Park in the lay-by on Simonsbath side of cattle grid and walk through the gate onto Brendon Common. Turn left and walk beside the wall (wall is now in your left)

Continue beside the wall and you will reach Farley Water, you can cross in the reeds here as it’s narrow enough to jump across even in wet conditions. You can now either use diagonal path up onto Cheriton Ridge and then return to wall or go straight up the steep slope beside the wall.

Once up the hill carry on beside the wall to descend again and reach a pedestrian gate through the wall adjacent to the Hoar Oak Tree. Cross the footbridge and once up the short slope after the bridge turn right on the track to Hoar Oak Cottage. There is a small stream to cross before reaching the cottage.

Our path continues past the front of the cottage out into fields, continue straight ahead for the beech hedge bank and cross two fields to reach a third hedge, which had an old fence beside it. Go through the gap
In the hedge and walk beside the hedge, keeping it on your right to descend to the river once again (Hoar Oak Water) once through the gate there is a ford but this can be deep, there is a shallower we crossing place slightly upstream to your right.

Once across the river (I did get wet feet here) follow the track from the ford uphill but when it curves left continue straight up until you cross the two moors way, which is a wide path along length of ridge. You can now choose your route but I like to pass through the stone circle and then cross to the path which runs along the top of Farley Valley. You will need to cross back over Farley Water so there is a diagonal path down into Clannon Ball or as my route map shows a direct, very steep descent. Once across the river follow the path up Clannon Ball back towards the main road. You will reach the road about 100m from the cattle grid and your start point.

Sherracombe circular - 4 miles Park in lane behind Poltimore Arms at Yarde Down. Follow this wide track down to the rive...
04/11/2025

Sherracombe circular - 4 miles

Park in lane behind Poltimore Arms at Yarde Down. Follow this wide track down to the river where a sign directs you up hill for Whitefield and Kedworthy.

At the top of the hill pass through a gate and follow the track beside the fence into a second field. Here the path actually turns right along the fence line but there is a track around the outside of the field which in today’s wet conditions offered better walking.

You will join this track anyway at the brow of the hill to lead up to the Moles Chamber road.

At the road turn right to reach the old road to 5 barrows cross. This is a beautiful old road with spectacular views on a clear day. At the main road it’s a right again for short walk down the hill to your start.

Hawkcombe Head and Shillet Combe Circular - 3.4 miles.Starting from the road at Hawkcombe head, follow sign for Porlock ...
03/11/2025

Hawkcombe Head and Shillet Combe Circular - 3.4 miles.

Starting from the road at Hawkcombe head, follow sign for Porlock down into the woods. A fairly steady descent but stones can make it slippery.

Once in the woods you'll follow beside the stream to enter Hawkcombe Nature Reserve through a wooden gate. There are a couple of fords to cross by they are shallow enough for good walking boots.

After second ford you will join a track and see a further fingerpost sign for Porlock. Follow this until the path reaches a T-junction. To create this shorter loop turn left for Shillet Combe. The path forks and you will take the right fork to join a forestry track that double back and heads uphill to the top of the woods on your right.

Ahead you will see a cattle grid, but don't cross. Take a narrow path to the left that follows along the top of the woods by the field boundary. You will soon reach a pedestrian gate out of the woods. Continue ahead until the path arrives amongst some low hawthorn trees. Through these you will be at the junction of A39 and Exford Road. Turn left along the Exford road to return to your start point. Wonderful views along most of the higher sections of this walk.

Fabulous walk from Malmsmead today. A couple of very big hills leading to spectacular Exmoor vistas over wonderful smell...
10/08/2025

Fabulous walk from Malmsmead today. A couple of very big hills leading to spectacular Exmoor vistas over wonderful smelling heather. 9 miles in all, route to follow

An amazing cream tea at The Buttery cafe, Malmsmead was a just reward

Bossington - Hurlstone short circular -2.5 miles Fabulous little walk from Bossington and out to Hurlstone Point and ba...
28/07/2025

Bossington - Hurlstone short circular -2.5 miles

Fabulous little walk from Bossington and out to Hurlstone Point and back along through the cool Holm Oak wood. Finished off with a cream tea Kitnors Tea Garden of course.

Route:
Parking in NT car park in Bossington (charges apply or free for members) leave by the back of carpark and cross the footbridge over the stream.

From here turn left, taking South West Coast path for Hurlstone Point. A wide path, shady to start and then as it climbs gently offers increasingly beautiful views of the bay. Continue to the stone marker and then take the middle path for the lookout tower at Hurlstone Point. (Optional) return to the stone marker on the higher path and take the middle path again for Lynch Combe.

Continue as the path enters the shady Holm Oak woods, ignoring the first sign back to Bossington. Carry on along the path to go out of the woods through a gate. Turn right here downhill on a wide but stony path until you see a gate into meadows on your right. Cross the first field and then after the next gate turn left down the hedge for a pedestrian gate into the corner. Some steep steps return you to a path beside the river and back to the start point and footbridge for car park.

Woody Bay - Highveer Rock circular, 3.3 miles This is a shortened version of the Woodybay to Heddons Mouth circular. Par...
22/07/2025

Woody Bay - Highveer Rock circular, 3.3 miles

This is a shortened version of the Woodybay to Heddons Mouth circular.

Parking in car Park on road down to Woody Bay, the route can be walked in either direction. I started by going up hill from car park to the beginning of the Carriage Track. This beautiful wide path does take you all the way to Heddon, but today I only walked as far as Highveer Rock and then descended to the lower and narrower South West coast path for the return journey. This is possible at the point where you pass two benches together and you will see a path joining the two which is a smooth and grassy descent.

Malmsmead- Yealscombe Wood circular 3.2 miles From car park (charges apply or free for NT members:alternatively begin wa...
20/07/2025

Malmsmead- Yealscombe Wood circular 3.2 miles

From car park (charges apply or free for NT members:alternatively begin walk at Southern Ball Gate)
Walk up the road to cross the cattle grid, shortly after the grid you will notice a grassy path going into the dip to the left of the road. This path is wide and easy to follow as it undulates along the curves of Cloud Hill before meeting another path and dipping into the stunned Oak trees of Yealscombe wood.
The path descends down to the river and the main path beside Badgeworthy Water.

Turn left along the riverside path, passing the monument for RD Blackmore before arriving at the footbridge for Cloud Farm. From here keep left and follow the bridlepath through the left hand gate to return to the road.

Turn right down hill back into Malmsmead where you can enjoy refreshment from the tea room or a browse in the gift shop/gallery

Simonsbath to Flex Barrow Return- 2.9 miles.You may have noticed that Jack has not featured very much lately. This is be...
12/05/2025

Simonsbath to Flex Barrow Return- 2.9 miles.

You may have noticed that Jack has not featured very much lately. This is because the arthritis in his elbow has caused a permanent limp. After much trial and error of medications etc it seems this is more due to restricted mobility of the joint rather than pain. As a result and to keep his weight down he is starting to enjoy some short outings again. This one is perfect and one of our favourites.

I think he’s happy to be back 🥰

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