About
Selworthy is a village of thatched, ochre-limewashed cottages in the vale of the National Trust's Holnicote Estate on Exmoor, near Minehead. The cottages around Selworthy Green have tall chimneys and bulging walls that hold bread ovens, and one of them is the well-known Periwinkle Tea-room. Above the green stands All Saints church, with a 14th-century tower and yews planted by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland in 1860. Selworthy Woods were planted after 1815 to mark the births of Acland's eight children, and paths climb through them past Bury Castle, an Iron Age enclosure of about 400 BC, to Selworthy Beacon at 310 metres. Reviewers recommend the climb to the beacon and a cream tea on the way back. One tip from visitors: the lane up is steep and the car park slopes, so leave the handbrake on. Dogs are welcome on leads around the green and under close control on the combe footpaths. The three-mile Selworthy and Bury Castle circular walk starts from the car park.
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- Village and countrysideSee opening notes
Opening times may change at short notice.
The National Trust publishes no opening calendar for Selworthy; the village lanes, green and footpaths are open countryside on the Holnicote Estate. Opening hours for the Periwinkle Tea-room and the village shop are not published on the Trust page; contact 01643 862452 or selworthy@nationaltrust.org.uk.
The Periwinkle Tea-room, in a thatched cottage in the village, serves hot food, light bites and cakes. Seating is available in the village.
The paths above the village are steep and stony in places with gates and stiles; stout footwear is advised. The three-mile Selworthy and Bury Castle circular walk has no waymarks and little signage.
Dogs are welcome all year, on leads on the paths around the village green and under close control on the footpaths through the combes; keep them on a short lead near sheep.
Photo: Thatched cottage and green at Selworthy on the Holnicote Estate, with the Exmoor hills behind. Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Selworthy_,_National_Trust_Grounds_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6283197.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed. Dogs are welcome at Selworthy all year round, on leads on the paths around the village green; the tea-room's dog policy is not stated beyond the two-pawprint note that a cup of tea with them is 'probably outside'.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs under close control on the footpaths through the combes above the village and on the trails to Selworthy Beacon; short lead near sheep. Free access, no ticket needed.
Leads: On leads around the village green; close control on the combe footpaths; short lead near sheep.
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Walking routes2 routes
Selworthy and Bury Castle circular walk(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkeasyDogs, with restrictions4.8 km
