Section 1 · Somerset & North Devon

Minehead to Porlock Weir

Minehead → Porlock Weir

Distance: 16 km
Ascent: 538 m
Approach: van base

Getting there & back

bus First Bus 10 / Buses of Somerset — Minehead ↔ Porlock (check current timetable)

Shops & dog food: Minehead has full-size supermarkets — stock up here. Porlock village (inland of the Weir) has a Spar and butcher; Porlock Weir itself is tiny.

Eating out: The Bottom Ship at Porlock Weir; several cafés and pubs in Porlock.

The official start. The path climbs steeply out of Minehead onto North Hill, then there's a choice: the rugged coastal alternative or the easier inland route through the trees. Gentle first day by SWCP standards — a good shake-down for the kit and for Bowie before the harder North Devon sections.

Route is the real OS Maps export (16.0 km, 538 m ascent, both from OS's own figures). These notes are still to be written.