Distance 24 miles (38.6km)
Classification Challenging
Duration 10 hours over two days
Begins Allerford
OS grid reference SS905468
Walk in a nutshell
A walk of two loops which begin and end in the photogenic village of Allerford and explore the 12,000-acre Holnicote Estate. The first 8-mile circuit takes in Selworthy Beacon with views across the Bristol Channel to Wales. The second day is rather more demanding, doubling the distance and heading through Horner Wood, one of Britain's largest ancient oak forests, before taking on Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor.
Why it's special
This is a little-visited corner of Exmoor, so you may well have the beautiful surroundings all to yourself. The hikes up the beacons are strenuous but give a lot of panoramic bang for your calf muscles' buck.
Keep your eyes peeled for
The salt-marsh at Bossington beach is a habitat for little egrets, lapwings and oystercatchers. Green woodpeckers can be heard in Selworthy Woods, while Horner Wood plays host to 15 of the UK's 17 species of bat. On a clear day, from the summit of Dunkery Beacon you'll be able to see the sea to your north, as well as Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, the Brecon Beacons, and all the way to Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire. Closer at hand, look out for heath fritillary butterflies in Halse Combe.
Stay overnight at
West Lynch Farm near Bossington, which doubles as a hawk and owl centre.
Recover afterwards
In Allerford's Crosslane House, a new restaurant with a simple menu of locally sourced ingredients.
If it's tipping down
Shelter in the Allerford Museum, where you'll find rustic local artefacts and a Victorian schoolroom.
How to get there
Take a train to Taunton, then the 18 or 28 bus, or the West Somerset Railway to Minehead, then the 39 bus to Allerford.
Step by step
Day one
1 Start at Allerford and follow contour paths up to Selworthy church and signposts to Selworthy Beacon.
2 Head for Bossington Hill and drop down via the coast path and Hurlstone Point to Bossington beach.
3 Walk along the beach to cross the river Aller and return to Allerford via Bossington.
Day two
1 From Allerford, head for the National Trust Holnicote Estate. Follow field paths and lanes to Horner, and then follow Horner Water into Horner Wood.
2 Take the first footbridge on the left and follow Tucker's Path, zigzagging out of the wood to Webbers Post, Jubilee Hut and the car park viewpoint.
3 Follow the contours round to Dunkery Beacon and then head south-west across moorland to Porlock Post (SS861411).
4 Follow the road north across Wilmersham Common and take the track on the left (SS861413), past the quarry along Embercome Water, and follow Nutscale Water down to the ford. Follow the wide track out of the combe.
5 Turn right on to the main track and take left path into Dady Combe, dropping down Lang Combe into Horner Wood.
6 Later, follow Granny's Ride and Flora's Ride on to Ley Hill. Drop down Halse Combe to West Luccombe and return to Allerford via Piles Mill.
