Porlock Beach

Porlock Beach is a long, exposed sweep of large pebbles and shingle stretching across Porlock Bay on the northern edge of Exmoor, one of the few accessible beaches on this cliff-dominated stretch of the Somerset coast. The western end at Porlock Weir sits beside a picturesque small harbour, while the beach extends eastward toward Bossington, backed by Porlock Marsh, an inland salt marsh of ecological importance. The setting is striking, with the wooded hills of Exmoor rising steeply behind and views across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh coast on clear days. The shingle ridge that forms the beach protects the marshland behind and has shifted and reformed over centuries of storm action.

Dogs are welcome year-round on this dog friendly beach with no restrictions. The large shingle makes for slower going underfoot, so this suits dogs that enjoy a robust coastal walk rather than a flat sprint. Access is easiest from Porlock Weir, where a pay and display car park (around 60 spaces) sits beside the harbour with toilets and a historic pub. Alternatively, parking at the National Trust car park at Bossington offers a longer coast-path walk to the eastern end of the beach. The South West Coast Path passes through, and the exposed position means weather can change quickly. Swimming is not recommended due to strong currents.