This is a circular walk with a choice of starting place. There are two car parks on a tarmac road and you can start from either. This walk begins at Dunkery Bridge goes to Dunkery Beacon along the ridge and back down the tarmac road in a circular route. The alternative would be a linear walk. Park in the top Dunkery Hill car park and walk to the Beacon along the top of the hill and back again. The walk there and back from the top car park is the most level as you walk along the ridge line. The first car park is beside Dunkery Bridge. There are small car parks either side of the bridge once you cross the cattle grid. The second car park is half way up the road near the top of Dunkery Hill. Use OS Map OL9 Exmoor. From Dunkery Bridge leave the tarmac road turn left follow a very rough gravel path with erosion gulley and a steep slope. Reaching the top of the hill turn right along the ridgeline to Dunkery Beacon and cairn. Follow the main path past the beacon. This is a broad path and a more gentle slope as it follows the top of the ridge. Re-join the road. Walk downhill from the Dunkery Hill car park to Dunkery Bridge car park. There are no seats, and no barriers and no toilets. The path is very rugged. The path from Dunkery Hill car park to the Beacon is less steep. Views from Dunkery Beacon to the Bristol Chanel and Wales are spectacular. There are excellent views of Exmoor and it is possible to see deer and ponies.

Surveyed by: Exmoor National Park Authority Volunteer, May 2013 (Spring)
Accessibility Rating: 4
Distance: 5.5 km

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Gravel car park at Dunkery Bridge

Dunkery Bridge

National Trust sign at start of trail going to the left of the road.

Gravel path. Path 2m wide. Gradient 3%

Gravel path, rough surface. Slope varies. Gradient 18% over 1m

Typical path with gravel, wide 2m, clear to follow. Many erosion gullies go across path.

Typical view across Exmoor from the path.

View of path, wide rough ground with stones, water erosion along path. Two walkers give view of going uphill from Dunkery Bridge car park.

Water erosion created very difficult surface at this point. Deep sided gulley but only 1.5M wide. 19% gradient on gulley side.

View shows that some specialist outdoor mobility scooters such as TGA (seen on Top gear) or Tramper can cope with tough terrain.

Change of Direction. having come uphill from the Dunkery Bridge car park now turn right along the top of the ridge to Dunkery Beacon and Trig point.

View across Exmoor from the ridge line.

Typical path along top of ridge towards beacon and cairn.

Typical path along ridgeline. 2m wide, more level, less water erosion.

Dunkery Beacon, a high stone cairn. You can walk around the Beacon. This view shows path direction change to go around Beacon.

The stone trig point just below Dunkery Beacon. Note there are no seats at the top. You sit on the grass.

View showing Dunkery beacon and trig point close together.

Typical path leading down from Beacon towards road.

The TGA mobility scooter made it to the top but used nearly 50% of power due to steep incline and rough path.

View of path with stone surface but more level. Downhill gradient 4%.

Superb views from Beacon to Porlock, Bristol Chanel, the islands of Flat Holme and Steep Holme and South Wales.

Typical gravel path.

Path surface changes, more gravel more big stones.

Barrier at end of path where the path joins the road. There are two spaces to walk around the barrier easily. The spaces are wide enough for a mobility scooter.

Walking (& scooting) space around sides of barrier onto tarmac road.

Tarmac road going across Exmoor. Footpaths connect with road.

Gravel car park at the top of Dunkery Hill.

Tarmac road leading from Dunkery Hill car park at top of hill down to Dunkery Bridge car park at bottom of hill. Gradient 6%.

Tarmac road between the two car parks.

View looking down towards Dunkery Bridge car park.