Above the Severn Sea

1 From Porlock church take the street signposted 'Museum' and turn left into Sparkhayes Lane until steps on the right lead into Bay Road. At its end, turn left into a hedged path. This leads through kissing gates into a hedged track. Turn right on a lane into the thatched village of Bossington.

2 Pass to the right of the car park to a footbridge. A track on the left runs by the river, then climbs on to open hill. After 300yds (274m) it passes a National Trust collecting cairn. Here note the path on the right climbing into Hurlstone Combe, before continuing ahead to the old coastguard viewpoint on Hurlstone Point.

3 The path ahead traverses a steep, exciting and atmospheric corner of the coastline. It should be avoided when slippery (after heavy rain) and in high winds: you may prefer to avoid it altogether. The alternative is to retrace your steps along the arrival path then fork left on to a slightly higher one. Above the NT cairn, turn on to the path up Hurlstone Combe. Adventurous souls will continue from the lookout over a stile. The narrow path contours around the headland into a shallow combe formed by landslips. Look out for a path turning sharply back to the right, to zig-zag up the combe side. The spur above is rocky, so the path continues just down to the right of the crest, to the signpost at the head of Hurlstone Combe. Turn uphill on a broad path, soon with the cairn of Selworthy Beacon ahead. In the dip before this, note where the coast path forks off to the left, but keep ahead to the top of Selworthy Beacon.

4 Return down the path for 80yds (73m) then fork right to rejoin the coast path. Follow its clear track just above enclosed pastures. Far out to sea you'll see the buildings of Bridgend in Wales. In the north east are the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm. Flat Holm is in Wales, Steep Holm in England: their names reflect their profiles.

5 As you pass above Grexy Combe, fork left on a sunken way between gorse bushes. This rises to a gate. Follow a coast path sign to keep on the same level for another ½ mile (800m), to a bench and signpost with a car park just above. Here turn steeply downhill, signposted 'Sea Front via Coastpath'. After 200yds (183m) a more pleasant path turns off to the right. This becomes a splendid, broad and gentle terrace path, through a steep oakwood. It eventually becomes a track, reaching tarmac on the edge of Minehead. The next bend brings a view ahead of the tent-like Butlin's Holiday Camp.

6 At a road junction turn sharp left into a tarred path that descends in zig-zags. Turn left down tarmac steps to the Quayside. Ahead, a pair of aluminium map-reading arms are the marker for the end or beginning of the rather longer coast path right round to Dorset.