We are the Dorset 4050 Ramblers. We are a friendly, mixed-age group of walkers.
This moderate, circular walk begins near Dulverton, c 45 minutes’ drive from Porlock on the south side of Exmoor. It begins later to allow those arriving on day 1 from Dorset (allow min. 2 ¾ hours from Bournemouth) a chance to make it without waking up the larks!
We leave the high car park with immediate views of the lake, making our way down to the lakeside path, following the shore contours through heath, woodland and open grassland. On generally solid and mostly level paths after a couple of hours we’ll reach our northernmost point on the lake, crossing at Bessom Bridge and will find a lunch spot soon after. Leaving the western shore, we break away for a short climb before meeting two river runs - the little Pulham River and the more substantial River Haddeo, which we track along Hartford Bottom. There’s a significant sting in this tail, as on leaving the waterways we then make a very long and steady ascent, rewarded by an excellent viewpoint at Hadborough and an easy return to the car park.
Booking link: please book - and if necessary cancel - a place on this walk on the weblink below.
Toilets: available at the meet point and an activity centre roughly halfway.
Parking: Exmoor National Park authority, a large car park costing £5 per day, accepting card and cash.
Post walk refreshments: on our return to Porlock.
Haddon Hill Car Park (Exmoor Park Authority), Haddon Lane
