Our favourite short, more accessible routes to experience the best of Exmoor.
Exmoor Strolls
Exmoor strolls are our favourite short, more accessible routes (from a third of a mile to 2½ miles). They enable people with a range of abilities, and of all ages, to experience the moors, valleys, and coast of Exmoor.
All the routes are step and stile free, and some are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Each is graded using the Miles without Stiles classification of Access for 'all', 'many' or 'some' - find out more here.
Tough water and tear resistant booklets featuring all the Exmoor Stroll route guides with illustrated mapping and points of interest can be purchased online or from Exmoor National Park Centres at Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth.
For digital users we recommend the OS App from Ordnance Survey to use with these routes (it's free - although you can pay for content as well).
1 - Bossington Hill
A walk through a wood to the Acland memorial hut, and a second walk across moorland with spectacular views across Porlock Bay.
Woodland walk: 0.5 miles, Access for all. Ordnance Survey digital map
Moorland Walk: 0.75 miles, Access for many. Ordnance Survey digital map
Route guide download (PDF).
2 - Chargot Wood Mineral Trails
Two short walks along forest tracks to visit the remains of the Bearland Iron mine.
Engine House walk: 0.3 miles, Access for many. Ordnance Survey digital map
Chimney View walk:0.75 miles, Access for some.Ordnance Survey digital map
Route guide download (PDF)
3 - Countisbury Common and Barna Barrow
A walk across high moorland grazed by Exmoor ponies to the summit of Butter Hill, with amazing views across to Wales and along the coast to Lynmouth and beyond.
From Barna Barrow 0.8mile, Access for many. Ordnance Survey digital map
From Contisbury Common, 1.75 miles, Access for some. Ordnance Survey digital map
Route guide download (PDF).
4 - Dunkery Beacon
A walk along a stony track gently climbing to the summit of Dunkery Beacon - at 1705 feet (502 metres) the highest point on Exmoor.
1.5 miles, Access for some.
Route guide download (PDF). Ordnance Survey digital map
5 - Horner Woods
A walk along a track running through a beautiful oak forest and National Nature Reserve beside a cascading stream.
2.5 miles, Access for some.
Route guide download (PDF)..Ordnance Survey digital map
6 - Lyndale & Woodside
A relatively level walk beside the cascading East Lyn River.
0.8 miles, Access for all.
Route guide download (PDF). Ordnance Survey digital map
7 - Marsh Bridge
A walk on a forest track through woodland alongside the picturesque River Barle.
0.75 miles, Access for many.
Route guide download (PDF). Ordnance Survey digital map
8 - North Hill
A choice of walks along high moorland just outside Minehead, with fantastic views down to the sea far below and across to Wales with the option to visit the remains of a WW2 tank training site.
1 mile, Access for some / many.
Route guide download (PDF) Ordnance Survey digital map
9 - Tall Trees Trail
A walk through a forest alongside a babbling stream to the foot of England’s Tallest Tree.
0.6 miles, Access for all.
Route guide download (PDF) Ordnance Survey digital map
10 - Valley of Rocks
A walk through the iconic Valley of Rocks with dramatic scenery and feral goats.
1 mile, Access for some.
Route guide download (PDF) Ordnance Survey digital map
11 - Webbers Post
A level walk through open woodland with great views across the valley to Dunkery Beacon and beyond.
0.5 miles, Access for all.
Route guide download (PDF) Ordnance Survey digital map
12 - Wimbleball Lake
A walk alongside the Wimbleball Lake to the impressively high dam across the Haddeo valley.
2.5 miles, Access for many.