Somerset, Exmoor and Cornwall
A photo story of a short trip to the southwest of England
In the last sunny weekend of August I had a chance to go for a short break and visit some places in Somerset, Exmoor National Park and Cornwall. This story shares some of the highlights from this trip.
Summer Bank Holiday plans
The 25th of August was a public holiday in England (the Summer Bank Holiday) and was a perfect opportunity for a short getaway.
Initially, I wanted to visit Newcastle, but upon checking the journey times and routes, I realized that a trip to the north would take way too much time just driving (train tickets were prohibitively expensive).
So instead I’ve decided to look for places in the southwest of England, which is much closer to London.
Luckily, even though majority of places were fully booked, I managed to find some places to stay in Somerset and Cornwall and that’s how the plan was set.
Somerset and Exmoor National Park
Our first destination was Minehead in Somerset. It’s a small coastal town on the Bristol Channel, serving as a gateway to Exmoor National Park.
We departed from London Gatwick Airport around 10:30 AM and after a good couple of hours of driving, arrived in Minehead.
Honestly, there wasn’t that much to see in Minehead itself, but it was a nice place to stay for a night and be on the doorstep of Exmoor National Park.
Selworthy Beacon and Bossington Hill
After check-in and a short rest at our accommodation at The Duke of Wellington we decided to explore the area a bit more.
Above the Minehead rises a hill / Marilyn - Selworthy Beacon, and a little further west Bossington Hill, both offering stunning views of the surrounding area.
A short drive through Minehead Higher Town towards Bossington Hill took only a few minutes and we were soon at a remote area surrounded by dry pastures and colourful shrubs.
Late afternoon sun cast warm light over the landscapes. Yellow and violet hues of the blooming heather flowers created beautiful summer scenery.
At the Bossington Hill car park we stayed for a little longer, admiring the views and waiting for the sunset which didn’t disappoint.
The car park at Bossington Hill offered a perfect vantage point for the sunset. I think it would be also great for stargazing at night. But for us, shortly after the sun disappeared under the horizon, it was time to head back to the town for the pub dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Next day, on Sunday morning we left Minehead and headed west to reach our next destination: Port Isaac in Cornwall. But before that we’ve planned couple of stops along the way to explore Exmoor National Park a bit more.
Bossington Beach
Our first stop was Bossington Beach, a beautiful pebble beach located just a short drive from Minehead. The beach is backed by stunning cliffs and offers views of the Bristol Channel.
The beach can be reached from a National Trust - Bossington car park. The Bossington village also offers few charming cottages to admire (or book if you fancy staying overnight).
We spent some time walking along the beach, admiring views and exploring ruins of old fortifications overlooking the Porlock Bay.
Exmoor to Cornwall
After our visit to Bossington Beach, we continued our journey towards Port Isaac which was the place to stay for the next night. But before reaching Cornwall we had whole day with couple stops planned in Exmoor National Park.
We took a detour through Porlock Scenic Toll Road - a picturesque route that winds through few narrow lanes and offers some views of the surrounding countryside. To be honest, it wasn’t that scenic, but still worth a try for a few quids and half an hour of driving.
On the way, we also stopped near Countisbury and went for a short walk in nearby hills admiring the views and the blooming heather flowers.
Lynmouth & Lynton
After that we headed to Lynmouth, a small village on the coast, probably most known for the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway - a funicular railway connecting the two villages.
The village was quite busy with tourists, and there was a bit of a wait to get on the cliff railway, but it was worth it for its unique experience and the views from the top.
After reaching the top in Lynton, we stopped for a cake and coffee break followed by a short but steep, zig-zag walk down the hill from Lynton to Lynmouth, taking in the views of the coastline and some magnificent houses nestled below.
Valley of the Rocks
Not too far from Lynton is another interesting place to visit - Valley of the Rocks, a dry valley with impressive rock formations and stunning views of the coastline.
This place was quite surprising, as I didn’t expect to see such dramatic landscapes in this part of England.
There is a path that goes at the edge of the cliffs, offering amazing views of the sea and the surrounding area.
We spent some time walking around, flying the drone and admiring the views.
Port Isaac
After our visit to Exmoor National Park, we continued our journey towards Port Isaac in Cornwall, a small, traditional fishing village in North Cornwall, where we were going to stay for the next night.
Our stay was in The Old School Hotel, small hotel located in the heart of the village. It was really an old school building, converted into a accommodation with cozy rooms and a lovely garden. Highly recommended.
The village itself has its charm, with narrow streets, traditional cottages and a harbour. During low tide, it’s possible to walk a little further out to the sea, exploring some of the rocks, views of caves and small pools.
Port Isaac was the last stop on our trip. On late Monday morning we departed from Cornwall and headed back to London, anticipating the traffic on the way back.
Overall, it was a great trip and I definitely scouted some new places to visit in the future.
