Coleridge Way Walking Holidays
Walking the Coleridge Way, our route takes you into the heart of the English pastoral, with a trail that reaches from Somerset to the Quantocks (England’s first ever recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), through to the Brendon Hills and Exmoor National Park.
- Nights
- 4 to 7 Nights
- Distance
- 35.3 to 52.3 miles
- Location
- South West England
- Difficulty
- Moderate – Moderate to Challenging
- Season
- Mar to Oct
- Price from
- £520
Highlights
In the Footsteps of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth
- Visit the places where Coleridge composed some of his most famous works (Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Kubla Kahn...)
- End your walk in the seaside town of Lynmouth, or Porlock
- Visit picturesque country pubs and tea shops on the villages en-route
- Discover the seldom visited Brendon Hills through Exmoor National Park
- Long stretches of wild forest tracks make this a particularly good walk for autumn/spring
- Extend your walk on the last day with a visit to the Valley of the Rocks
Walking Through the Quantocks Hills
Woodland, farmland, deep combs, high moorland heath and secluded villages are the backdrop to Coleridge's famous works. Occupied in 1797, the cottage in Nether Stowey stands as the site of his most prolific period. Within the space of three years he had written his most famous work, looking to the surrounding hills and combs for inspiration.
"Now, my friends emerge/ Beneath the wide wide Heaven - and view again / The many-steepled tract magnificent/ Of hilly fields and meadows, and the sea."
Walking The Coleridge Way
Coleridge was a keen walker, thinking nothing of a 40-mile hike to visit friends; here we begin at Coleridge's front door, with a trail that traces his footsteps to Wordsworth’s stately home in Alfoxton Park. From there begins the ascent to the slopes of the Quantock Hills, where early-risers get the best chance to catch sight of the 1000+ red deer that roam there. Trying to spot a hundred bird species in a day is a common challenge among birdwatchers of the area, indicative of the sheer abundance of wildlife in these hills.
Red soil pasture folds into the Brendon Hill range where this trail continues, and from here we take the winding trail around the windswept moorland edges of Exmoor - one of our finest wild open landscapes.
Meander through an idyllic, quintessentially English part of the world, where the sleepy villages along the route have names like Quantoxhead, Bicknoller and Monksilver. You may be tempted by the array of ancient pubs dotted along the way, as no doubt Coleridge and Wordsworth were on their long walks into the country.
Views from Exmoor extend into South Wales and mid-Devon as you make the gradual descent to the coast at Porlock Bay.
You have the option to finish your walk in Porlock, or if you wish, to take the recent extension of the trail inland through Worthy Woods before descending into the famous Doone Valley. The trail passes through Oare, the beauty spot of Watersmeet where it meets the South West Coast Path to Lynmouth.
In 2008 this route was selected by The Times as one of Britain's best autumn walks. When it comes to hiking South England, spring and autumn are the most scenic times, but the walk can be taken at any point in the year.
Each of the walking trails we offer has been walked and assessed. Give us a call, we would be delighted to talk you through a walking holiday on the Coleridge Way.
Celtic Trails has 26 years’ experience providing tailored, quality itineraries for walkers who appreciate good service, comfort and organisation.
Path Walkthrough
Walkers can expect long stretches through the glades of the Exmoor forest, walking out into exposed sections through hill and field, before meeting the coast at Lynmouth. Along your way, you'll cross paths with Exmoor towns and villages in a landscape scattered with small thatched cottages and stonework pubs.
Although ascents are not particularly steep, there are a few strenuous sections where climbs are prolonged over a long stretch of the route. Walkers shouldn't find the going too taxing, however, good navigation skills are key - especially when you consider that this is a very quiet walk, in a sparsely populated area made up of twisting paths through village streets, forest tracks and heather-capped fields.
Choose Your Walk
Our Coleridge Way Itineraries
Nether Stowey to Lynton
51 miles (82.1 km)From £845 Per Person
From £635 Per Person
Nether Stowey to Porlock
35.3 miles (56.8 km)From £605 Per Person
From £520 Per Person
Key Information
- Good standard accommodation at a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses, local inns and B&Bs with en-suite or private facilities wherever possible
- Breakfast
- Luggage transfers
- Personal transfer between accommodation and path that form a part of our standard package
- Route planning
- Walk pack including Trail Guide and mapping, itinerary, accommodation directions and route notes, lunch and dinner information, restaurant recommendations and holiday planning details
Customise your trip?
Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.
- Telephone
- +44 (0)1291 689 774
Coleridge Way Client Reviews
4.7/5 based on 40 reviews
"Very well organised, great accommodation and transfers."
"Very efficient & well organised, so we could concentrate on enjoying the walk. All arrangements went smoothly."
"staff v good and good service."
"The personal approach made a big difference, some of the other companies seem v anonymous. We had the sense that Celtic Trails really wanted to make sure we had a good experience. The icing on the cake was that we received a hard copy of maps and relevant info. The last company we walked with simply refused to send us a hard copy even when we said we don't want to carry any devices with us, or if one of us does for emergency purposes, we don't want to be checking a small phone for the route, finding our glasses to read it etc! I also like to add a few notes to the instructions as a kind of diary (also handy for when the info wasn't quite clear)."
"Very good, friendly service & mostly excellent maps & descriptions"
"Efficient service, good information pack."
"Celtic Trails are very responsive, friendly and send clear emails with full details at appropriate stages of the booking progress."
"The best way to travel on walking holidays, where you get god recommendations for your ability"
"Friendly, efficient and reliable"
Hand-Picked Accommodation: Comfort Along the Way
We seek out the best accommodation of its type available
Points of Interest
Coleridge's House
The site where Coleridge had written some of his most famous and well-loved works is open to the public with poetry readings, talks and even food & drink events in the adjacent apple orchard.
The house is property of the National Trust, open from March to October, though times in the week will vary - it's certainly worth checking the National Trust website beforehand. Coleridge's Cottage is found on the Nether Stowey to Bicknoller section of all our walking itineraries.
Valley of the Rocks
Running parallel to the North Devon coast from the dry valley there are views across the channel towards Wales. It's the views that attract visitors each year, aside from toilets and a car park, the area is relatively undeveloped, with wild goats occupying the cliff paths around the coast. It's the sort of place that will have you reaching for your camera.
Valley of the Rocks can be visited as an extension of the Brendon to Lynmouth section of the COL3 itinerary or part of a rest day in Lynmouth.
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Customise your trip?
Looking for different mileages or a different number of nights? Please contact us to discuss how our itineraries can be adjusted to meet your specific needs.
- Telephone
- +44 (0)1291 689 774
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