Staying privately in Minehead we made our way out into Exmoor for this great walk.

Starting high up on Selworthy Beacon we stumbled steeply down a path by the stony scree of Hurlstone Coomb and into Bossington where the Holnicote Estate is National Trust property.

Then past a memorial to airmen who crashed here in 1942 and along the coastline where a line of dead trees, killed by salt water, stab starkly against the horizon.

Then to Porlock Weir where we had lunch at The Ship (also known as The Bottom Ship to distinguish it from THe Top Ship at Porlock itself - recommended).

The sun continued to shine as we made our way back via Bossington with its handy toilets and tea shop and back up to the Beacon via a less steep route by St Agnes Fountain.

This was a walk of 8 miles or so including some significant changes of height. Tough on the thigh muscles of flat Cambridgeshire folk like ourselves ....

It was also a walk of great contrasts, from high on the exmoor downs, through a comfortable country village of thatch and timber, along a shoreline of worn stumps and large round stones to a fishing and boating village.

In the evening we retired to the Luttrell Arms in Dunster which we can strongly recommend. Very atmospheric, good beer and food plus an open fire.

The Quay at Minehead was OK too - and better than Butlins ....

We're also happy to mention The Hood Arms at Kilve. We took a short walk here, down to the coast, then Sunday lunch at the Hood, a 17th century coaching inn on the A39 at the foot of the Quantocks. Very comfortable, good service and good value. We'd happily spend a few hours in front of their log fire.