Dunkery Beacon

View east from Dunkery Gate

In Somerset for a long weekend, we decided to go further afield than usual and try this walk on the edge of Exmoor, which I found in Country Walking magazine (Spring 2009).

Dunkery Beacon, owned by the National Trust, is the highest point in Somerset and on Exmoor, at 519m (1705 feet). There is a small car park on a minor road at Dunkery Bridge and from here a wide track leads up through the heather towards the beacon, although this is not visible from this point. As the picture above shows, the views even from the car park at 380m are splendid as you look east towards Wheddon Cross.

It was sunny as we set out, although showers were forecast, and quite soon as we climbed up the slope we saw a rainbow: a sign of things to come.



The views from the Beacon were wonderful in all directions. This is the view east ....



.. and this is north towards Barry in south Wales.



From here, the route heads along the ridge towards a series of cairns and tumuli on Great Rowberrow head. It was of course really windy on the Beacon and on the ridge and now it began to rain as we walked into the wind.

However, reaching the cairn at Great Rowberrow the weather relented and allowed a good view back along the ridge to Dunkery Beacon.



But the weather here comes from the west, and looking south west we saw another walker on a nearby cairn under the gathering clouds.



The route back involved a descent through heather and a sharp left turn onto a long track which followed the edge of the moor, overlooking fields, back to the start point. It was now raining hard into our backs and we reached the car with sodden trousers and feeling very cold. We have never been more grateful for the heated seats in the car!

Distance: four miles.

Map: Explorer OL 9 (Exmoor).

Rating: four stars. Quite, wonderful views, exhilarating.


Reflections

We did have waterproofs, but overall we clearly underestimated how difficult it can be on a high moor even on a summer's day. Winter boots, another layer of clothing, over-trousers perhaps, would all have been sensible. I am not sure we needed to go as far as emergency rations.


Flower of the day

Heather - and not much else, a bit of broom here and there. This picture shows the heather on either side of the route up to the Beacon.