Porlock beautiful little Porlock has the best of two worlds. A coastal village on Exmoor. As you enter Porlock there is an road sign that will either excite or terrify you. It tells you that you have reached the famous or infamous: Porlock Hill. Porlock Hill; rises or descends (depending on which way you approach it !!!) 1,500 ft, in under 3 miles and in winter has magically turned many a car into a  toboggan , including mine. !!! Porlock has been described as the Jewel in Exmoor's crown a description I will not argue with. To find out all about wonderful Exmoor click here. Porlock or I should say a resident of Porlock was responsible for one of the greatest poems by Samuel Coleridge remained unfinished. For it is stated that as he was penning the poem he was disturbed by a man from Porlock'. When the visitor departed Coleridge could not remember the rest of his greatest unfinished work Kublai Khan? archeologist's also have un-earthed  an 6000, year old (Late Mesolithic) hunting camp at Hawkcombe Head near Porlock, which tells one that Exmoor has been inhabited since the last great Ice Age.

A seaside village it has a shingle ridge to the North, which offer one a breathtaking view across the Bristol Channel and the view to the South is of the rolling hill's of Exmoor. Given its location Porlock has a lot to offer the holiday-maker. It is a center for fishing , walking, riding, and shooting enthusiasts.There are regular shoots organized by the National Trust. Sea anglers can hire boats of fish from the weir, and for the coarse anglers not far away on Exmoor.There are the reservoirs or the Barle, and Exe river's, Walkers are as usual spoilt for choice for Exmoor has numerous well sign-posted walks. And the young or not so young can bring their mountain bikes and enjoy some spectacular cycling. Close by are the seaside resort of Minehead, Dunster and it's famous castle, and the Oare Valley said to be the place where the dastardly Doones, and of course the heroine Lorna Doone lived. Yes Porlock has it all. One day you can watch the exmoor wildlife, including the famous ponies, or deer on the moor, next day visit the historic sites such as Dunster Castle or the Tarr Steps, visit lively Minehead, or pop over and see what neighboring North Devon has to offer

Porlock Weir lies about 1.5 miles west of Porlock, Somerset, England and is a small settlement which has grown up around the harbour. It is a popular visitor attraction. Many cottages around the area are very old including the Gibraltar Cottages which date from the 17th century and have been designated by English Heritage as a grade II listed building.[1] Like most ports in West Somerset, the small harbour is tidal but has a small home-based flotilla of yachts and is visited by many more in spring and summer. The port has existed for over 1,000 years. The Anglo-Saxon chronicle reports that in 1052 Harold Godwinsson came from Ireland with nine ships and plundered the area and even before that in 86 AD it was visited by Danes. In the 18th and 19th centuries coal from south Wales was the main cargo and in World War II pit props cut in local forests were exported the other way.[2] 

On 12 January 1899, the area was experiencing  a terrible storm, the Lynmouth lifeboat was launched but because of the ferocity of the storm could not put out to sea, and was hauled by men and horses over Countisbury and Porlock hills to Porlock Weir where the water in the bay was less rough. I have told of this remarkable event on the Lynmouth-Lynton page. It is however such an inspiriting story I hope you do not mind my repeating it again.  On the 12th of January 1889, the Lynmouth postmaster one Edward Pedder, received a telegram for the coxswain of the lifeboat;  Jack Crocombe, which informed Jack, that a large freighter was in trouble off Porlock Weir, and the weather was so sever in the area that the Watchet lifeboat could not be launched, and the Lynmouth boat was the only one which could affect a rescue. But the gale was just as server at Lynmouth, and although the RNLI crew tried to launch it was impossible. But Jack Crocombe and his crew would not hear of giving up on a rescue attempt. So it was decided to take the boat by road to the more sheltered Porlock Harbour  and launch from there. This meant getting all the men and horses, they could find and hauling a 10 ton lifeboat 13 miles. A route that included the ascending the 1 in 4 Countisbury Hill, and descending the 1 in 4 Porlock Hill. Eventually the boat aided by 100 men reached the top of Countibury Hill, but alas disaster struck when a wheel came off the cart and most of the men dispirited gave up. But 20 men plus the lifeboat crew refused to admit defeat, repaired the cart.

By the evening the boat had reached Porlock. They did not hesitate the lifeboat was immediately launched into the dark storm ravaged sea even though the men were exhausted wet and hungry. By this time the freighter, had managed to drop anchor off Hurleston Point, though it was perilously near the rocks. ( The ship 'Forrest Hall' was outward bound for Liverpool. my home port actually Yes I am a Liverpudlian or more commonly know as a 'scouser'. ) Because of the severity of the gale the freighter had been under tow down the Bristol Channel when disaster struck the tow rope parted. And the "Forrest Hall" was in imminent danger of coming to grief on the dangerous rock's off Hurleston Point and as I stated earlier the crew of the freighter had managed to drop anchor, and as long as the anchor held the boat was safe. But never-the-less the Lynmouth lifeboat stood bye all night in case the anchor dragged thankfully it held. At daybreak, the original tug which had been frantically searching all night for its lost charge appeared on the scene. And the lifeboat crew helped to get a line aboard the freighter, they also helped the exhausted crew to raise the anchor. Another tug was required and obtained. Then with the ship safely under tow they set out for the port of Barry in South Wales, all the time they were accompanied by the lifeboat just in case the tow parted again. However with darkness falling the ships finally reached Barry and safety. Granted this is not a story of a heroic rescue, but it does show the true spirit, and determination, that drove men of Jakes ilk.Yes another remarkable feat performed with great bravery, and disregard, for their own safety by the men of the Lynmouth lifeboat service, and the men of the Royal Lifeboat Service everywhere. 

The Village is a good place for people who enjoy walking with the South West Coast Path and other trails linking through to Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh (good for bird watching) and little Culbone - the smallest complete parish church in England. Porlock is delightful busy little village, with a lot of shops for the visitor to browse in, a very informative visitors center. And of course the magical Porlock Weir which was once a busy port, but is today a delightful little harbour, with fishermen unloading their catch, adjacent to the visiting yachts. For Porloch, is a must port of call on the itinerary of any yacht cruising the coast of the South West. Porlock like all our Towns and Villages relies on the holiday-maker and there are plenty of delightful. charming, guest houses available like Rose Bank run by John & Elaine here is a link to their website on the left of screen. No-doubt after reading the descriptions of the villages mentioned on my website. Readers will have come to a conclusion, that all the villages on Exmoor are much of a  alikeness. And this to a certain degree this observation is true. For apart, from their local history, which is wide and varied all the villages mentioned are set in stunning locations in a magical place called 'Exmoor'!

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