County Gate – Glenthorne Beach – Wheatham Combe – Yenworthy Common – County Gate

Jean Shepherd

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In 1829 Glenthorne Estate was acquired by a Rev Walter Halliday, who went on to design and oversee the building of Glenthorne House. Owing to the difficult terrain a jetty was constructed for the import of building materials. You may want to make a very short detour to visit the wayside shrine called Sisters Fountain, which marks the site of a spring. It is thought this name originated from the four sisters who were Rev Halliday's nieces.

Our route then descends through woodland to Glenthorne Beach – sadly stony rather than sandy and slippery stones at that, but a possible picnic place. To the left (i.e. west) of the slipway there are coastal waterfalls and to the right (east) there is an old fish trap. (I did not explore this as I was on my own and the stones are extremely slippy!) Remember to watch out for the tide if you venture any distance!

After leaving the beach our route starts to ascend, passing signs indicating the old ice house and the trout breeding pool (sorry I didn't explore these either), both from the early days of Glenthorne House. It then passes the pinetum. Planted mostly between 1840 and 1860, these trees include unusually mature examples of some species, some of them over a hundred feet tall. The route continues generally east on the alternative coast path. (The South West Coast Path is a route of over 600 miles between Poole and Minehead and is marked by acorns on the fingerposts). The route ascends round the fields of Sugar Loaf Hill to Yenworthy Common, from where there are good views towards the sea. It then leaves the coast path and returns cross-country to County Gate.

There are no stiles but there were sheep in the fields.
Although the walk is on the short side there is a steep ascent of about 100m – hence the moderate grading.

England - South West England - Somerset - Exmoor