15th May 2016 Dunkery Hill

Having not been walking together for some time, due to injury and absence, we decided it was high time we went out as a family group. Today’s walk started from the small village of Timberscombe and took in Wooton Courtenay, Webber’s Post and Dunkery Hill. It was quite a trek, there being a definite need to shake out the cobwebs. We deliberately had no pub stop planned as we were overdue a few days of temperance.

The route was approximately 12.5 miles and very hilly. We went anti-clockwise.

We parked next to the green in Timberscombe. There was plenty of space to park and there didn't appear to be any specified parking in the village. So once again it was free. We set off along a public footpath which lead over a winding stream and across some lamb filled green pastures. In the beaming sunshine, the surrounding hills presented a quintessentially English country vista.

The rolling hills.

Yet more stereotypical Englandry was on show in Wooton Courtenay. If Disney made an image of the perfect English village this would be it. The only thing missing was a cricket pitch in the middle. Little thatch cottages, small brooks babbling and climbing flowers, it was picture book stuff. A little way up the road the path went across a field, through a hedge and past the aforementioned missing cricket pitch. Stereotype complete.

Picture book cottages.

We walked through a field with an electric fence running through the middle which had kindly been wrapped in a thin layer of electrical tape. Not trusting the insulating qualities of said tape, we cautiously crossed the wire. I have been zapped by a fence before. It hurts, big time. We carried on up a steep hill and walked onto the moor. The path gets a little confusing as it passes through a small wood but is obvious once you have gone the correct way.

The sea poking through the end of the valley.

This is a steady climb of around two miles. As the path climbs, a view of the sea rolls into view between the crests of the valley ahead. At the top is Webber’s Post, a small National Trust car park with a very nice view of Dunkery Hill and its surroundings. We stopped here for lunch. If you did want to park and walk from here it costs just a pound. It’s a cracking picnic spot.

Our view whilst eating lunch.

The next leg took us through the deep valley we had overlooked during lunch. It was a steep climb down to a pretty clearing with a bridge crossing a stream. The climb out the other side was also very steep and at the top we were again treated to some fantastic coastal views. We broke track onto the road where we greeted by pack of about five spaniels belonging to a B&B there. We let Chuck off the lead as dogs seem to interact much better this way. Much chasing ensued and fun was had by all.

Obligatory photo at the top of Dunkery Beacon.

The road wound down into another valley and to yet another stream. The large amount of water was a godsend to Chuck who was finding the warm weather quite tough. He is in the process of ditching his winter coat on our carpet. We climbed up a track through a twisty wood and back onto the moor. After a very long climb we reached the top of Dunkery Hill, the highest point on our walk at 519m.

Dog cooling system.

Time was cracking on and we were still a long way from the car. We took a few obligatory victory photos and carried on down the hill. The route took us across some pretty pasture land dotted with generic prickly moor bush, (latin: bushus pricklius bastard) and into a river valley. There were still more climbs though and more fantastic scenery. The last few miles were done on road but even this had pleasant views along a high sided valley.

The road back to the car. 

We made a judgement call that it was too late to cook so we decided we’d eat out. There were plenty of signs advertising the pub in Timberscombe. However, when we arrived eager for scran we were greeted with for sale signs and boarded up windows. So on the way back we stopped in at Rest and Be Thankful Inn for tea. But that’s for another post. This was probably one of my favourite walks that I have done on Exmoor. There are so many changes of scenery, admittedly it was because it was a long walk but even so there was lots of variation, all beautiful and spectacular. Even splitting this down into two shorter walks would be well worth it. Let us know in the comments below what your favourite local walk is.