Ride 6 in the Exmoor on Horseback series. Print
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 1
Malmsmead, Coast Path and Culbone. Approx 18km (11 miles). Start at Malmsmead Car Park (GR 792478), Could also park at Pitcombe head (GR845463) or County Gate (GR 793486). This car park can get rather full in summer. It is not recommended to park at Robbers Bridge, as the approach roads are very steep. Recommend riding this route in a clockwise direction, since the visibility when crossing the A39 at Culbone Inn is best from this direction. From car park Malmsmead, turn left on road, and left again to go past tea rooms and over bridge (or through ford). Stay on small road until passing a house called Sunrise Meadow on left. Turn left bridleway (BW) signed to County Gate. Down lane, cross wide ford (Note BW sign to Oare Church on right ... you return by this BW). Continue up steep hill half left, at top follow fence on right, past domestic TV aerial."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 2
Through gate into County Gate car park (Visitor centre, toilets, refreshments in season.). Cross road, take BW other side signed to Broomstreet Farm. At signpost carry straight on along BW signed to Yenworthy and Broomstreet."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 3
Continue on track straight ahead, ignoring sign to left to Sugarloaf. Pass small white house (part of Yenworthy) on right. Cross lane, through gate straight ahead signed to Oareford and Broomstreet Farm. BW follows fence line on left, (look out for rabbit holes). Keep following wall which bends away to left. Hedge goes down steep gully, can skirt round top, but rejoin hedge on your left, (more rabbit holes)."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 4
At junction with fence, go left through hunting gate, downhill signed to Broomstreet. Keeping hedge on right, ride downhill, turn sharp right through gate, signed BW Coast Path, Porlock. Continue through several gates, and pass Broomstreet Farm on right."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 5
Past Broomstreet take lane to left, signed to Culbone and Solcombe. Ride straight on through gate, to Silcombe and Porlock. "
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 6
Down lane passing Silcombe Farm on left, and Culbone Parsonage on right. Lane turns into lane farm road, at fork in road take right fork to Porlock Weir, by road. After sign to Yarner Farm on your left, road forks again."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 7
Take left fork to Porlock Weir via Worthy Toll Road. ,
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 8
At next junction take right hand road to Pitt Farm, signed No Through Road. Ride to right hand side of house."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 9
Cross small stream and turn right up hill on BW signed to Culbone Inn (Note BW from Pitcombe Head comes in at this point). Carry on up main track, following the valley. Start with stream on right, cross over where track forks, stream now on left."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 10
Ride through woods. Gate at road, turn left to main road and Culbone Inn. Please note, during the pheasant shooting season, 1st Oct to 31st Jan, shooting takes place frequently in these woods. If you hear shooting, at 8, carry on up the road signed to Countisbury and Lynmouth."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 11
Cross main road, take BW on left of Culbone Inn, signed to Robbers Bridge."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 12
At bottom, through gate, over bridge and turn right. This road goes back to Malmsmead, but there is a nice off-road route to the south."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 13
After passing two houses on left, turn left, BW signed to Larkbarrow and Stowey Common. Leave stock handling yards on left and follow hedge on right. Lane ends , metal gate; continues on distinct track straight ahead, aiming at metal gate in fence line."
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 14
DON T go through. Turn right before gate, and follow direction of finger post signed to Oare Church. Aim for corner of hedge across the field. "
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 15
Continue along wire fence, with fence on left, BW signed to Oare Church. Follow BW through several gates, with fence / hedge now on right. When hedge ends continue along wire fence, to junction of fences. "
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 16
Turn right through metal gate signed to Oare Church. BW goes straight downhill to corner of wood.
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 17
With wood on left, go through two gates and onto road beside Oare Church.
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 18
Turn left. Here you can go straight back to Malmsmead along the road. Or you can turn right over bridge and return through fields.
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 19
Fork left into fields and follow BW beside river. Several gates this way, also the chance of horses / donkeys in the fields.
Exmoor on Horseback 6 Waypoint 20
At end of fields, turn left through ford then uphill to road. Turn right back to start point.