Porlock

Porlock is a coastal village in Somerset in Exmoor National Park with a population of 1,440 in 2011. Following West End Lane takes you to West Porlock and then Porlock Weir with its harbour.

Get in
Porlock can be reached by car on the A39 from Minehead

By bus
The Exmoor Coaster open top double deaker bus runs from Lynmouth to Watchet via Minehead along the A39 with magnificent coastal views.

See

 * On Porlock Hill, there is the prehistoric Porlock Stone Circle.
 * Culbone Church is said to be the smallest church in England. The main structure is frim the 12th century. Services are still held there, despite the lack of road access – Culbone is a walk from Porlock Weir, and some  from Porlock.
 * The village adjoins the Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh nature reserve, created from the lowland behind a high shingle embankment which was breached by the sea in the 1990s, which has now been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Copses of white dead trees remind the visitor of when this was freshwater pasture.
 * At low tide the remains of a submerged forest can be seen on Porlock Beach. The area was several miles inland until the sea level in the Bristol Channel rose about 7000 to 8000 years ago.

Do
The South West Coast Path goes through Porlock, many walkers stopping rather than continuing the long walk to Lynton. There is also a 'Coleridge Way' walk.

Go next

 * East to Lynton and Lynmouth on the A39 after climbing Porlock Hill into Exmoor.
 * West to Minehead on the A39.