I haven't had much opportunity to explore Exmoor so far, so thought I'd begin with a trip to Dunkery Hill, the highest point on Exmoor, and also Somerset. Only Dartmoor nearby has higher summits in the south of England.
The area is home to a number of Bronze Age burial mounds, as well as being the site of Iron Age forts. According to the Ordinance Survey map there's some standing stones nearby also, so steeped in history going back many thousands of years!
It was easy enough to park at the base of the hill, with there being a small National Trust car park around Dunkery Bridge. It's a lovely place to stop by the stream and have a picnic, with surrounding moors and countryside, and lovely views.
We climbed the hill, which was relatively easy, it was well defined, and a gradual incline to the summit. The weather was fine, it being a lovely spring day, although I'm sure in winter it would be a different story.
We approached the summit from the south, so views were available across much of Exmoor and across Devon to Dartmoor. Once we reached the summit it was even more beautiful, and with it being a clear day we could see across the Bristol Channel over to Wales.
I'll be back again at some point in the future to properly explore the area as part of a longer walk, until then I hope you enjoy these pictures...
