Porlock Weir and Porlock Marsh

Porlock Weir is a tiny harbour village on the Exmoor coast where a medieval harbour wall shelters fishing boats and the shingle beach gives way to the wide expanse of Porlock Marsh, one of Somerset's most important coastal wetlands. This 5.6km circuit follows the coast path from the harbour along the marsh edge, where saltmarsh, reed beds and lagoons attract wading birds year-round, before looping back through the quiet woodland behind. The marsh was created when a storm breached the shingle ridge in 1996, allowing the sea to reclaim former farmland, and the resulting wetland has a wild, evolving character quite unlike anywhere else on the Exmoor coast. With 129 metres of gentle climbing, the walk is easy throughout.

This is a peaceful dog friendly walk with moderate off-lead potential on the quieter marsh paths and woodland sections. The shingle beach near the harbour allows dogs to access the water, and the marsh edges provide rich scent from saltwater, reed and estuary mud. Livestock risk is low within the marsh and woodland. The paths are well maintained but can be soft near the marsh margins. Porlock Weir has the Bottom Ship and the Anchor Hotel, both welcoming dogs, and the harbour has a small café. The walk is particularly rewarding for birdwatching alongside dog walking, with herons, egrets and lapwings common on the marsh. A gentle, atmospheric outing on a quieter stretch of the Exmoor coast.