Two Dogs and an Awning

Tag: Alcombe

  • A Circuit to Long Combe

    A Circuit to Long Combe

    It is the time of year when I always like to get away for a few days walking on Exmoor.  There is something exhilarating about being out in the sort of weather that keeps most people tucked up inside.  So when the opportunity arises to hitch up the caravan and head to Minehead for a week I jump at it.  

    Lynnie is not so keen on winter walking and has opted to stay at home.  Unfortunately Crosby is getting old and the walking I have planned is beyond his old joints so he is staying at home too.

    I am a frequent visitor to Minehead CAMC site so it doesn’t take long to set up and then I am lacing my boots up and heading out for a walk before it gets too dark.  Leaving the site I turn left and walk uphill along the pavement beside the A39, Hopcott Road.  On reaching The Hopcott I turn left to follow the narrow tarmac lane as it heads steadily uphill passing Higher Hopcott and then reaching woodland.

    I ignore footpaths leading off from the road until I reach an information board for Dunster Woods. 

    I take the track to the left of the information board and continue uphill to what is usually a parking area but it is currently closed because of forestry work going on in the woods.

    I keep with this track as it turns left and starts to descend into Long Combe.  When I last walked here the track was surrounded by trees but now there are far reaching views.

    Ignoring a footpath to the right I continue heading downhill on this steep track and I’m soon in an area where the trees have not been cleared.

    At a five way junction of tracks and paths I take the first footpath on the right and head downhill to the bottom of the combe and then turn left and pass a metal gate.

    I now cross the stream running through the combe and follow a track heading towards Alcombe.

    From here the route is very straightforward.  The track soon becomes Manor Road and enters the outskirts of Alcombe.  On reaching the Britannia Inn I turn left into Church Street.

    Church Street leads to the A39 where I turn left and walk the short distance back to the caravan site.   This little circuit has covered just over three and a half miles and has been a good stretch of the legs after my earlier journey.  It is now time to plan my walking for the next couple of days.

    You can view this 3 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 – Exmoor

    5th December 2023

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2023)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Hopcott Common and Alcombe Common

    Hopcott Common and Alcombe Common

    The start of my 2023 walking year has been slightly hampered due to illness.  Last October I went down with Covid and it laid me low for a couple of days. Then a few weeks later I caught a heavy cold which took a while to shake off.  Given I avoided any colds or flu like bugs for a couple of years I had thought a couple of infections would build up my immunity.  

    However, in early January I picked up a flu like virus that knocked me out for the best part of three weeks.  It was not Covid, but affected me far worse than when I did have it.  Any plans of getting away for a few days walking were put on hold.  Fortunately I am back to full health and consequently have booked a short trip to Minehead CAMC to do some walking on Exmoor.

    Minehead is one of my favourite  winter locations for a trip on my own, Lynnie is not so keen on winter caravanning and is happy for Crosby and I to disappear for a few days together.  

    It doesn’t take long to set up on site and then I am lacing the boots up and heading out.  My stock walk when arriving on this site is a loop around the town to the harbour.  But today the light is good enough for me to do a loop up around Hopcott and Alcombe Commons.

    Leaving the site I turn left and walk uphill along the pavement beside the A39, Hopcott Road.  On reaching The Hopcott I turn left to follow the narrow tarmac lane as it heads steadily uphill passing Higher Hopcott and then reaching woodland.

    I ignore footpaths leading off from the road until I reach an information board for Dunster Woods. 

    I take the uphill path to the right of the information board on the route of the Macmillan Way West. I ignore a path on the right soon after leaving the car park and then where the Macmillan Way meets a crossing of tracks I continue straight on, staying on the route of the long distance path.  The path now goes around the head of Long Combe, this is a cracking spot with stunning Beech trees lining the path.

    Leaving the trees the path continues through a section of open land with dead bracken and gorse.  On reaching a junction of tracks I turn left heading towards Dunster.

    I now stay with this track heading east to reach Holes Corner.  Out to my left are views of Minehead and over the Bristol Channel to the South Wales coast.

    At Holes Corner there is a convergence of tracks and paths.  I take the broad track heading east towards trees in the distance.  This route is signposted towards Dunster.

    I ignore a couple of footpaths leading off to the left and stay with the track I am on until I reach trees, here I turn left to reach a crossing of paths where I turn left again to take a path heading towards Alcombe.

    The path steadily descends through an area of gorse and at every junction I follow the way-markers to Alcombe. 

    At a junction of paths close to the Youth Hostel I turn right on the path which is signed to Alcombe.  This descends steadily to reach a tarmac lane where I turn right and follow it into Alcombe.

    At the junction by the Britannia Inn I turn left into Church Street and then on reaching the main A39 turn left and walk on the pavement back to the caravan site.

    This little circuit has covered just over four and a half miles and has been a good stretch of the legs after my earlier journey.  It is now time to plan my walking for the next couple of days.

    You can view this 4.6 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 – Exmoor

    5th February 2023

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2023)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Dunster Forest from Minehead CAMC

    Dunster Forest from Minehead CAMC

    This week I was due to be walking in the Brecon Beacons, but the Welsh Governments Covid 19 restrictions mean I am unable to travel to the Principality.  A quick search for a pitch has resulted in my heading back to Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club site for a week’s walking on Exmoor.

    I usually favour the smaller CL’s, but as I am travelling on my own and likely to be out walking for most of the day this site is perfect as an autumnal destination.   I am away with Crosby whilst Lynnie stays home with Dexter; sadly the poor old fellow is struggling on his legs and getting in and out of the caravan or walking more than a mile is now beyond him.

    It doesn’t take me long to get pitched and erect the awning, the weather forecast this week is  wet and the small porch awning is a must for drying Crosby off after our walks.  Usually after arriving at this site I head off for a walk towards the harbour, but today I decide on a different route.

    Leaving the site I turn left and walk up the hill on the pavement besides the A39 until I reach a minor road on my left at Lower Hopcott.  This lane heads steadily uphill, passing Higher Hopcott to reach a car park with an information board about the network of paths in the Dunster Forest.

    I take a path to the right of the information board, after a few yards I ignore a track on the right way-marked to Periton Cross and stay on the track as it steadily ascends the hill.  At the next junction of paths I ago straight on ignoring paths to the left and right.  The path now heads around the top of the valley in Staunton Plantation.  This is a cracking spot the ancient beech trees are magnificent.

    I stay with the track, ignoring a bridleway on the left and carry on for a few hundred yards to reach a crossing of tracks.  Here I turn left to follow a Bridleway way-marked to Dunster.  

    Since leaving Lower Hopcott I have been following the route of the Macmillan Way West, this is part of the 102 mile section of this trail going between Castle Cary in Somerset and Barnstaple in Devon.  It is known as the Macmillan Way as it was set up to raise funds for the Macmillan Cancer Trust.  

    The broad track I am on reaches Holes Corner with a junction of tracks.  I continue straight on still on the Macmillan Way with fine views along the coast in front of me.

    At a fork in the track I keep left and head towards trees in front of me.  

    On reaching the trees I turn left leaving the Macmillan Way to follow a downhill path to a junction of paths.  Here I turn left and follow the path as it continues to descend. 

    I stay on this path, ignoring footpaths to the left and right until I reach a crossing of paths, I now go right towards Alcombe.  

    The track continues downhill to reach a junction with another track.  I turn right still heading for Alcombe.

    On reaching the village I continue through on Manor Road to reach the Britannia Inn where I turn left into Church Street.

    At a junction with the main A39 I go left and then at the mini roundabout take Hopcott Road to return to the caravan site.  My walk has covered 4.5 miles and has been a good stretch of the legs after driving and pitching up.

    To follow my walk, you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 – Exmoor

    You can view this 4.5 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here (Subscription to OS Maps Required)

    26th October 2020

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)