Welcome to the Dorset 4050 Walkers group. Despite our group name, we really don’t mind what age you are! If you like walking with a welcoming, relaxed, easy going group of people who occasionally socialise, why not give us a try - we encourage people to join us on a walk to see if the group is for them before making any commitment to us or the Ramblers.
Our aim is to provide a wide range of walks, at various grades and ranging between 8 and 15 miles in length. Typically, we'll walk at a moderate, sometimes brisk pace. We walk just about every weekend, usually on a Sunday and usually (but not always!) somewhere in Dorset. We also arrange a number of walking weekends throughout the year away from Dorset.
Porlock Walking Experience 2025: our four walks for this year's Porlock trip are described in brief below to allow you to plan and book your place on your choice of walks, but please note the full details for each walk will published in the usual Ramblers format from the start of April – it is important to check for key information after that date such as parking; meet/start points; travel logistics, pace and fitness info! Any queries, please contact Andy on 07786 377101.
New for 2025 – we’ll be organising a group meal out in Porlock for those feeling social after all that walking, further details to follow. And for those who want to try something different, take a look at Exmoor Adventures for e-biking, kayaking, tree climbing and more. Please contact them direct if you're interested.
Find out more about Exmoor here: https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/
Walk 1: Exmoor-Lynmouth Circular
Date: Thursday 26th June, 2025
Start time: 11:00 with estimated finish time: 17:00
Mileage: Moderate 11.2 miles
Start point: near Shilstone Hill/Dry Bridge.
Grid reference: SS758456; Nearest postcode: not useful - please use What3words: trace.stance.gosh
Description: A circular walk that begins on Exmoor which, although remote, should be quicker to reach for those arriving from the Dorset area.
From the moor, we drop down to river level, joining the lovely wooded East Lyn river at Rockford, then following its path along the well-defined Coleridge Way down into the seaside town of Lynmouth for lunch and a brief stop. You should also note that the second half of the walk demands a steep (quite strenuous) climb out of Lynmouth on a zigzag path back up to moor level. This is followed by a variety of drops and rises (albeit gentler) thereafter on the way back to the start point, accompanied by continuing beautiful river and woodland views as we go.
Booking essential, priority will be given to 4050 members. Use this link to book your provisional place:
https://buytickets.at/walksfordorset4050ramblers/1522703
You’ll receive confirmation of your place from Andy within ten days if not before.
Walk 2: SWCP (linear) from Hele Bay to Hunters Inn
Date: Friday 27th June, 2025
Mileage: Moderate 11.5 miles
Meet time from Porlock: 09:00, estimated return time to Porlock: 18:00
Meet point in Porlock: Porlock Village Hall car park, 30m up road from The Ship pub
Walk start point: car park above Hele Bay (approx. 10:15)
Grid reference: SS538479; Nearest postcode: EX34 9RS; What3words: frizz.shall.excellent
Description: This is a linear walk of a stretching section of the SWCP, which also includes the highest point on the entire path at Great Hangman (318 metres) via Watermouth Castle, Combe Martin Bay and Heddon’s Mouth, before turning briefly inland to our planned end point at the Hunters Inn up the Heddon valley.
Travel Logistics
From Porlock’s meet point we have a 40 min drive (via shared transport) to drop vehicles at Hunters Inn) and then a 30 min drive on to our start point at Hele Bay on the SWCP. We begin our walk just above Hele, returning ultimately to Hunters Inn. Note: there is currently no timely public transport to complete this route – summer timetables may change this but is also likely to change the timings and extend the walk.
We will also explore a minibus option, but if unavailable will need volunteer drivers from Porlock (at an appropriate agreed cost for passengers) to ferry participants to our start point at Hele Bay. Sufficient vehicles drop off first at Hunters Inn (NT Car Park), before the rest take those drivers/passengers on to our start point. After completing the walk some will need to get drivers back to Hele Bay to pick up the remaining vehicles and return to Porlock.
Booking essential, priority given to 4050 members. Use this link to book your provisional place:
https://buytickets.at/walksfordorset4050ramblers/1522715
You’ll receive confirmation of your place from Andy within ten days if not before.
Walk 3: Exford-Dunkery Beacon Circular
Date: Saturday 28th June, 2025
Start time: 10:00 with estimated finish time: 16:00
Mileage: Moderate 13 miles
Start point: Exford car park
Grid reference: SS854383; Nearest postcode: TA24 7QJ; What3words: crinkled.witless.lungs
Description: A circular walk that begins in the quaint village of Exford, 22 minutes’ drive from Porlock. As it suggests, the village sits astride the River Exe, and our walk mostly follows its south-easterly flow early on, leaving this only as we turn north, beginning our climb to Luckwell Bridge along path, road, field and woodland trail, crossing the River Avill as we go. We will find a lunch spot before passing through Dunkery Gate en route to the Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point, where we pause to take in the beautiful views inward across the moor, and seaward to Porlock Bay and (on a fine day) the coast of South Wales. From there we slide gradually westward off the moor’s high points before a steep drop off through Exford Common and back to our start.
Booking essential, priority given to 4050 members. Use this link to book your provisional place:
https://buytickets.at/walksfordorset4050ramblers/1518541
You’ll receive confirmation of your place from Andy within ten days if not before.
Walk 4: Porlock-Bossi-Ley Circular
Date: Sunday 29th June, 2025
Start time: 09:45 with estimated finish time: 15:00
Mileage: Moderate 10 miles
Start point: Outside St Dubricious Church, Porlock High St
Grid reference: SS886467; Nearest postcode: TA24 8PU; What3words: dizzy.album.oxidation
Description: A final shortish walk to allow a reasonably early getaway for those who need it, but still with plenty of ups and downs. We begin in Porlock, showing off its fine coastal position by heading out to the low-lying marshes that are a key feature of the bay here, taking an unusual route all the way along the beach of large loose stones to the foot of Hurlstone Point for our first climb of the day. This takes us to the upper path that leads up to the old tower at the Point itself for great views of the Bristol Channel. We then stay high and level for a while, tracing contours along Bossington Hill through a beautiful long stretch of varied woodland, wending our way along the forest tracks before a second long climb lifts us to the viewpoint near Selworthy Beacon. We drop off swiftly from here, crossing the wide valley floor through the grounds of Holnicote House to Horner, before a final steep climb up the other side to Ley Hill. We track high above Hawkcombe briefly before the final easy descent to our start point.
Booking essential, priority given to 4050 members. Use this link to book your provisional place:
https://buytickets.at/walksfordorset4050ramblers/1522721
You’ll receive confirmation of your place from Andy within ten days if not before.
And finally, Accommodation. Please book your own accommodation in the area well in advance, it’s a popular place to be in June!
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