Car Free Ideas

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Car Free - Care Free Exmoor

Enjoying time spent without the car is one of the best ways to discover Exmoor.

Enjoying Exmoor on foot gives you access to some of the most stunning views around, whether a circular walk, or when using public transport - take a look at our suggested car free walks for inspiration. You don't have to be a keen walker to enjoy Exmoor without the car, and we've listed some great ideas for car free days out. Take a look at our suggested ideas below, if there isn't anything for your area it doesn't mean you can't enjoy some car free moments - National Park Centres and your hosts will be happy to provide some ideas.

Ride and walks

Ride and walks are linear walking routes, utilising public transport to get you from A to B. It provides you with a sense of journey, which you don't always get on a circular walk, allowing you to cover a greater length, allowing you to explore more of the Exmoor National Park.

Using public transport to facilitate such a walk rids you of the hassle of running shuttle cars at either end of the walk. The outward journey on public transport will whet your appetite and give you a sense of direction for your return on foot. The walks below all start with a ride on public transport, before a walk back. We recommend you follow these walks that way around so you have no pressures to walk back to meet a bus at a certain time, providing you with a freedom seldom found.

Walk (click for full walk details and directions in PDF)	Distance	Time	Height gained / lost	Highlights
Combe Martin Bus from Combe Martin to Parracombe, return on foot.	9 miles	5.5hours	1362m	Ancient byways, moorland, South West Coast Path, Great Hangman, Combe Martin bay.
Dulverton Bus from Dulverton to Bridgetown, return on foot.	4.5miles	3hours	292m ascent, 337m descent	Ancient woodlands and hedged boundary banks, Exmoor farmsteads, old byways, Dulverton town.
Dunster Walk from Dunster village to Dunster station, take a ride on the steam railway to Washford and return to Dunster village on foot.	7.4miles	5-6hours	358m	Dunster station, racehorse stables, opportunity to see Red Deer, views from Withycombe Hill, Gallox Bridge, Dunster Castle.
Dunster Bus ride from Dunster to Timberscombe, return on foot.	6.4miles	4 hours	394m	Panoramic views, St Leonards Well, Dunster Dovecot, Tithe Barn, Dunster church.
Lynmouth Coastal bus ride to County Gate, return on foot.	5.2miles	3hours	132m ascent, 433m descent	Coastal scenery, moorland, Countisbury church, South West Coast Path.
Minehead Bus ride to Allerford, return on foot.	6.8miles	4-4.5hours	414m	Pack horse bridge, views over Porlock Vale, South West Coast Path, Selworthy Beacon.
Porlock Bus ride to top of Porlock Hill, return on foot.	2.7miles	1.5hours	351m	Opportunities to see Red Deer and Exmoor ponies, classic sessile oak woods, hunting lodge, Porlock village and church.
Wheddon Cross Bus ride to Exford, return on foot.	7.1miles	3hours	293m ascent, 263m descent	Upper reaches of River Exe, ancient hedged boundary banks, Exmoor farmsteads, old byways.

Circular walks

Circular walks do exactly as they say - starting and finishing at the same point meaning you don't have to use your car at all. Using the information within this site all of the walks below are accessible by public transport allowing you to forget about the car and simply experience the best of Exmoor on foot.

Walk (click for PDF of route description and directions)	Distance	Time (excluding breaks)	Height gained / lost	Highlights
Combe Martin	5.4miles	3.5hours	428m	Combe Martin bay and church, Silver Mine pack horse cuttings, Great Hangman and Little Hangman points, coastal views.
Dulverton	3.3miles	2hours	238m	Ancient woodlands, Marsh Bridge, ancient byways, Dulverton Church.
Dunster	4.3miles	2hours	260m	Yarn Market, Dunster Castle, Working Watermill, panoramic views over Exmoor and Bristol Channel, Bats Castle, Tithe Barn.
Exford	3.8miles	2.25hrs	180m	Exford village, River Exe, opportunity to see buzzards, open views.
Lynmouth & Lynton	6miles	3hours	478m	Cliff railway, Valley of Rocks, Lee Abbey, Views across Lee Bay, Flood Disaster cemetary,Poets shelter, views from Hollerday Hill, stunning coastal scenery.
Minehead	5.9miles	3.5hours	324m	West Somerset Railway, Minehead Harbour, mosses and lichen in woodland, panoramic Exmoor and coastal views, Minehead Parks walk.
Porlock	5.6miles	3.25hours	176m	St Dubricius church, Bossington village, shingle ridge, South West Coast Path, Porlock Marsh, wading birds, Porlock Weir harbour, stunning views.
Wheddon Cross	3miles (with seasonal 0.5mile extension)	1.5hours (2hours with seasonal extension)	154metres	Avill Valley woodland, far reaching views, Snowdrop Valley (spring).

Car Free Ideas

Car Free - Care Free Exmoor

Ride and walks

Circular walks

Combe Martin

Dulverton

Dunster

Exford

Lynmouth and Lynton

Minehead

Porlock

Wheddon Cross

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