Stay beside Minehead Harbour
The Old Ship Aground stands beside the harbour in Minehead, where the Somerset coast meets the landscapes of Exmoor National Park. Its position on Quay Street provides a base for exploring the harbour and seafront on foot, as well as heading west into the wooded hills and coastal countryside of Exmoor.
Minehead offers walking beyond the long-distance trail itself. From the harbour, shorter walks can follow the seafront or climb towards North Hill, where paths lead into woodland and higher ground overlooking the Bristol Channel. Further west, the coast becomes increasingly rural as Exmoor's wooded combes, hills and coastal landscapes begin to dominate.
The South West Coast Path starts in Minehead, with its trailhead monument close to the harbour. From here, the first section climbs onto North Hill before continuing through Exmoor towards Porlock and Porlock Weir. Walkers can use individual sections of the route as part of a shorter stay or set out from Minehead on the complete 630-mile National Trail.
Beyond Minehead, Exmoor National Park provides a much wider walking landscape, combining high coastal ground, woodland, open moorland, villages and some of the most dramatic terrain on the Somerset coast.
Walk • Stay • Explore
Walk from Minehead Harbour onto the coast and hills of Exmoor. Stay beside the harbour at the start of the South West Coast Path. Explore North Hill, Porlock and the wider landscapes of Exmoor National Park.
