logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Dunkery Beacon (short ascent)

Exmoor Walk

Nat Park - Exmoor

County/Area - Somerset

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 2.5 miles / 4.1 km    Ascent - 400 feet / 121 metres

Time - 1 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL9Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL9Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 181Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 181Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Dunkery Beacon (short ascent)
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

The high ground of the Exmoor National Park is rolling heather moorland. The highest point within the National Park is Dunkery Beacon (519 m) which is located at the eastern end of the moors. A minor road from Luccombe to Wheddon Cross contours across the moor some 400 feet below the summit. With a small car park conveniently located, the short walk to the summit is popular. This route adds a little more distance by taking you along the ridge for a short way before returning to the start.

The start is the small car park at Dunkery Gate (Grid ref. SS8954060). After parking take the direct path that heads approximately northeast up hill to the summit. The path is well trodden and navigation except in exceptional weather is not a problem. The summit is crowned with a trig pint and a large cairn. The views in good weather are superb with a large swathe of the National Park in view together with the North Somerset coast. With good visibility the mountains and coast of South Wales can also be seen.

To make the walk longer and more interesting, leave the summit by taking the path running just south of west towards a hedge line just under a mile away (Grid ref. SS880413). Just before reaching the hedge turn sharp left onto a wider track that will lead you back to the start. On your right are extensive views over the rolling hills that are typical of the southern section of the park.

The photos accompanying this walk were taken in February 2006 when snowfall occurred over a number of days. The paths in these conditions were covered in drifts and the going much harder than in normal weather conditions.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1220 Dunkery Beacon from Wheddon Crossmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1222 Winsford Hill & the Allotment moderate6.0 miles
Walk 3725 Selworthy Beacon from Selworthyeasy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 1221 Selworthy Beacon & North Hill from Bossingtonmoderate8.5 miles
Walk 1860 The River Barle and Withypool from Tarr Stepseasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 1669 Anstey Gate & Hawkridge from Tarr Steps moderate8.2 miles
Walk 2451 Withypool & Barle Valleyeasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 2211 Minehead to Dunstereasy5.0 miles
Walk 3386 Barle Valley & Cow Castle from Simonsbatheasy/mod6.4 miles
Walk 1263 The Doone Valleymoderate8.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

No suggestions for this area.

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.