Woody Bay and Hunter's Inn

Five and a half miles and about three hours along the wooded cliffs of the Exmoor coast to a Roman fortlet and the lost Victorian resort of Woody Bay, dropping to Hunter's Inn and climbing back by bridleway, with 420 metres of climbing on coast path, tracks and one long lane pull. Start from the free roadside parking above Woody Bay on the Martinhoe lane, which holds perhaps fifteen cars and is reached down a mile of very steep single track from the A39. Dogs get shade and running water most of the way and the Heddon river at Hunter's Inn is a proper swim, but the coast path here is narrow with a long drop to the sea through the trees, sheep and cattle graze the returning fields, and the tarmac descent to Woody Bay beach is severe enough to jar an old dog's shoulders.