Picnic Spots on Exmoor and the Quantock Hills
Here are some suggestions for enjoying a picnic on Exmoor or the Quantock Hills. They are roughly in an order from east to west, can all be driven to and are mainly based on free or honesty box car parks. If you prefer you can purchase two booklets of The Best Picnic Spots from Combe Walks.
The locations all offer grassy areas or with picnic tables and some with additional facilities such as a pub, restaurant or cafe, and some with toilets. Some have excellent views or are beside rivers and all give a good chance of seeing wildlife close-to-hand.
Staple Plain, Quantock Hills
Location: Go to the A39 between Minehead and Bridgwater. Go to West Quantoxhead (St Audries) on the Bridgwater side of Williton. Coming from the Williton direction, pass the 30mph sign and at the oblique cross-roads by the town sign, turn right along a small lane, Staple Lane. At the next cross-roads cross straight over into Hill Lane which becomes a track. Follow it alongside the woods on your right to the car park. Park here.
OS Grid ref: ST 116 410
Description: The Quantocks offers some excellent picnicking sites. There are picnic tables available here or you can take some of the tracks going over the hills to find your own picnic spot offering views over the Bristol Channel or across Somerset.
Crowcombe Park Gate, Quantock Hills
Location: Go to the A358 between Williton and Taunton. Take the road to Crowcombe village. In the centre of the village turn towards Nether Stowey on a road unsuitable for HGV’s and follow this small road up the steep hill to reach open ground. Park anywhere along here.
OS Grif ref: ST 150 377
Description: This road has grassy areas all around offering ideal picnic spots with good views of the local combes and countryside.
Nutcombe Bottom, near Dunster
Location: Go to the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Dunster. From Dunster direction go towards Wheddon Cross leaving the village behind. After about 0.8 miles from Dunster village centre, take the small road on the left towards Luxborough and Nutcombe Bottom. After a further 0.6 miles the Nutcombe Bottom car park is on the left in a valley of trees. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 977 422
Description: This car park is part of the Crown Estate where you will find picnic areas and plenty of walks leading from this car park. There is an easy walk to the Tall Trees Trail where you will find the tallest tree in the British Isles.
Webbers Post, near Porlock
Location: Go to the A39 between Porlock and Minehead. From Porlock direction, go round the sharp bend by the turning off to Allerford and shortly turn right by Piles Mill. Follow this small road for 1.5 miles to a small cross-roads. Go straight over and up the steep hill until the road forks. Take the right fork and then turn right into the large car park. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 902 438
Description: This car park gives excellent views over Exmoor, the nearby Horner Water valley and Dunkery Beacon. There is an easy-access path from here with chain-saw sculptures along it with seats to enjoy the scenery and your picnic.
Dunkery Gate, near Wheddon Cross
Location: Go to the B3224, Wheddon Cross to Exford road. From Wheddon Cross go towards Exford for about 0.7 miles to a sweeping left-hand bend. On this bend take the road ahead/right to Dunkery Beacon. Follow this road for 1.6 miles to reach a cattle grid and small bridge. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 895 406
Description: This attractive little spot gives some grassy areas ideal for a secluded picnic, with Dunkery Beacon just above you. If the weather is suitable you could continue along this road to its highest point where you will find a lay-by with wide views over Porlock Vale and over to Wales.
Landacre Bridge, near Withypool
Location: Go to the B3223 between Exford and Dulverton. From the Exford direction, take the B3224 towards Simonsbath where it junctions with the B3223 above Exford. Follow the B3223 for about 0.9 miles to the first cross-roads. Turn right here towards Landacre and follow this road for 2.4 miles to reach Landacre Bridge over the River Barle. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 816 361
Description: From the bridge there are perfect picnic spots along the river banks, kept cropped beautifully by the Exmoor ponies and sheep. You can also go slightly further along this road for small lay-bys and tracks offering similar picnic spots.
Bossington, near Porlock
Location: Go to the A39 between Lynmouth and Minehead. Go to Porlock village and follow the main road towards Minehead. As you leave the village the main road swings round to the right. Go straight ahead here to Bossington. Follow this small road, ignoring roads off to reach the triangle of roads and green. Turn left here and shortly turn right into the car park.
OS grid ref: SS 897 479
Description: Bossington village is a delightful, picturesque collection of pretty cottages. The car park has a picnic area nearby with tables and even a BBQ. There is also a toilet block. It is a short walk to the Porlock shingle ridge and marsh or there are plenty of walks going from this car park including the South West Coast Path.
Porlock Hill, near Porlock
Location: Porlock Hill has various small lay-bys and larger car parks along the A39 above Porlock, going towards Lynmouth. Between 2 and 2.5 miles from Porlock village will bring you to this delightful area. Park in any of these roadside lay-bys or in the larger car parks.
OS Grid ref: SS 856 463
Description: Depending on where you choose to park you will enjoy views over Porlock Vale and across to Wales or inland across the moor. There are plenty of spots of Exmoor pony grazed grassland perfect for picnic spots and maybe meeting the ponies.
Winsford Hill, between Dulverton and Exford
Location: Go to the B3223 between Exford and Dulverton. From the Exford direction, take the B3224 towards Simonsbath where it junctions with the B3223 above Exford. Follow the B3223 for about 3 miles to cross a cattle grid on to Winsford Hill.
From Dulverton, follow the B3223 away from the High Street for about 4 miles, beside the river and then climbing through woods to reach the second cattle grid on to Winsford Hill.
OS Grid ref: SS 876 341
Description: Once on Winsford Hill, you will find a wonderful selection of small lay-bys and larger areas of grassland to enjoy views over the moor and see plenty of Exmoor ponies.
Tarr Steps, near Dulverton
Location: Go to the B3223 between Exford and Dulverton. From the Exford direction, take the B3224 towards Simonsbath where it junctions with the B3223 above Exford. Follow the B3223 for 5.7 miles to turn right signed to Tarr Steps. Follow this small road to Liscombe bearing left to Tarr Steps to reach the Tarr Steps pay and display car park. Park here.
From Dulverton, follow the B3223 away from the High Street for 4 miles, beside the river and then climbing through woods to reach the turning to Tarr Steps soon after the second cattle grid on the left. Then follow the directions above.
OS Grid ref: SS 867 321
Description: From the car park go to the lower exit to the car park and follow the permissive path down to Tarr Steps. At Tarr Steps you will find plenty of grassland beside the river perfect for a picnic as well as Tarr Farm that offers a good selection of food in beautiful surroundings.
Robbers Bridge, near Doone Valley
Location: Go to the A39 between Lynmouth and Porlock. From Lynmouth drive 8 miles going up Countisbury Hill, past County Gate. 8 miles from Lynmouth is Oare Post, or 3.5 miles from Porlock. Turn hard back right from Lynmouth, or bear left from Porlock, and follow this small road down as it zigzags through stunted oak trees to reach the car park on the right by the road. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 821 464
Description: From this car park walk towards the old bridge at the far end of this car park. Cross over the bridge and there is grassland suitable for picnics beside the river here. There is also an easy-access path running alongside Weir Water which also gives opportunities for picnics away from the car park into the moorland.
County Gate, between Lynmouth and Porlock
Location: Go to the A39 between Lynmouth and Porlock. County Gate car park is on the county boundary between Devon and Somerset, about 5 miles from Lynmouth and 6.5 miles from Porlock.
OS Grid ref: SS 793 486
Description: This car park is free and has a toilet block and information centre. It enjoys stunning views over the Doone Valley and over the upper East Lyn valley towards Brendon village. There are paths running away from this car park which offer opportunities for picnic spots with beautiful views.
Doone Valley, near Lynmouth
Location: Go to the A39 between Lynmouth and Porlock. Just on the Porlock side of County Gate (see County Gate picnic spot) is a turning towards Malmsmead and Oare church. Follow this small road down to the church and keep on it as it bears right towards Malmsmead. On reaching Malmsmead either cross the ford beside the pack horse bridge, or cross over the bridge which is quite narrow. Go around the other side of the buildings ahead and park in the car park.
OS Grid ref: SS 791 477
Description: This car park has an honesty box and picnic areas beside the car park. There is also a path going alongside the river along the Doone Valley, which offers numerous opportunities for picnic spots by the river. Cloud Farm is along here and offers refreshments as well.
Countisbury, near Lynmouth
Location: The free car park I am suggesting is called Barna Barrow car park. This is on the A39 above Lynmouth towards Porlock. Coming from Lynmouth pass through Countisbury and the Blue Ball Inn continuing uphill to cross a cattle grid. Turn immediately into the car park on the left and park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 752 486
Description: This car park offers various paths towards Foreland Point where you can find grassy places with great sea views to enjoy a picnic. There are occasional seats overlooking Lynmouth which might suit.
Watersmeet, near Lynmouth
Location: Watersmeet is 1.7 miles above Lynmouth on the A39 towards Barnstaple. There is a roadside pay and display car park. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 744 486
Description: From Watersmeet car park take the path opposite it down to Watersmeet, where the east Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water meet in a deep oak-wooded valley. You will also find here the National Trust fishing lodge which offers superb food with lots of tables to sit out and watch the river with dippers and herons. There are also numerous footpaths where you might find a more rugged location for a picnic beside the river.
Combe Park, near Lynmouth
Location: Just above Watersmeet, still on the A39, 2.4 miles from Lynmouth is Combe Park. Follow the A39 past Watersmeet to reach a hairpin bend to the right. Turn left here towards Simonsbath, but do not cross the bridge immediately ahead but turn immediately right and then right again into the National Trust car park with two splendid copper beech trees and an honesty box. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 739 477
Description: Beside this car park is the Hoar Oak Water and some grassland which is perfect for a peaceful picnic with picnic tables under the tall trees. There are footpaths down to Watersmeet or up on to the moor from here.
Lee Bay, near Lynton
Location: Go to the A39 between Lynmouth and Blackmoor Gate (the junction with the A399 and A39). At Barbrook take the turning opposite the fuel station, the B3234 towards Lynmouth and Lynton. In 0.6 miles bear off to the left towards Lynton. Follow this road for another 0.9 miles through all the bends until your reach a T-junction. Turn left here towards the Valley of Rocks. Keep on this road through the valley to pass the roundabout after a further 0.8 miles, continuing ahead to pass the entrance to Lee Abbey after another 0.8 miles. Keep on this road to reach the toll house at the bottom of the hill. Turn hard right here into the car park. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 694 491
Description: This free car park offers picnic benches and plenty of open grassland with the backdrop of Lee Abbey and the beach below you, sandy at low tide.
Trentishoe Common, near Combe Martin
Location: Go to the A399 between Combe Martin and Blackmoor Gate (the junction with the A399 and A39). Take the turning signed to Hunters Inn about 2 miles above Combe Martin off the A399. Follow this road towards Hunters Inn, ignoring all roads off, for 2.5 miles and having passed the Glass House bungalow on your right a layby comes up on your left. Park here.
OS Grid ref: SS 627 479
Description: This large lay-by offers stunning coastal views and plenty of open grassland perfect for a picnic. There are several lay-by’s along this section of road to choose from, but I would recommend this one for the best picnic spots.