Forge Cottage, Wootton Courtenay

In the Village

Wootton Courtenay does not currently have its own pub or restaurant. The Villagers' Store stocks basic provisions, local produce, and can point you towards the best options nearby.

In Timberscombe (approximately 1.5 miles)

The Lion Inn -- A traditional Exmoor village pub dating from 1600, sensitively refurbished and reopened in 2017. Real ales from Exmoor, Bath, and St Austell breweries alongside West Country cider. Food served using local produce. Dog-friendly with a real fire. Open Monday to Friday from 5pm, weekends from midday.

In Dunster (approximately 4 miles)

The Luttrell Arms Hotel -- A historic coaching inn with the AA Rosette-awarded Psalters restaurant, serving locally sourced British cuisine in a beautiful medieval setting.

Reeves Restaurant -- Award-winning fine dining in the heart of Dunster village. Beautifully presented dishes from talented chefs. Booking recommended.

The Stags Head Inn -- A welcoming 16th-century pub, restaurant, and bed and breakfast serving locally sourced food and drink.

The Foresters Arms -- A family-friendly pub with a great atmosphere, local ales and ciders, and good food. Dogs welcome.

Cobblestones -- A cosy restaurant with a bar, walled garden, and a reputation for delicious home-cooked food. In the village since 2005.

Born Appetite -- A restaurant in a converted Methodist chapel near the top of West Street, serving breakfast, lunch, and light bites using locally sourced ingredients.

In Wheddon Cross (approximately 3 miles)

The Rest and Be Thankful Inn -- A popular early 19th-century coaching inn at the crossroads of Exmoor's highest village. Home-cooked food using local produce, real ales, log fires in winter, and a patio with views towards Dunkery Beacon. The Sunday and Wednesday carvery is particularly popular.

In Porlock (approximately 4 miles)

The Ship Inn (Top Ship) -- A 13th-century coaching inn and CAMRA Somerset Pub of the Year 2025. A family-run free house serving real ales, homemade food, and roaring log fires in winter. Large outdoor seating area for summer.

Whortleberry Tearoom -- A welcoming tearoom on Porlock High Street serving homemade cakes, cream teas with local whortleberry jam, and light lunches.

Ziangs at the Olde Chapel -- Malaysian, Chinese, and Indonesian cuisine in a converted chapel. Family recipes going back five generations from Borneo.

In the Village

All Saints Church -- A Grade I listed church dating from the 13th century, with parts of the east wall and tower among the earliest surviving work. Features an unusual gabled bell tower and war memorial plaques. The rectory was historically appointed by Eton College, a link dating back to Henry VI.

The Villagers' Store -- A community-owned shop and Post Office saved from closure in 1991 by local volunteers. Stocks walking maps, local honey, and tourist information alongside everyday essentials.

Nearby Attractions

Dunster Castle -- A striking medieval castle set in beautiful subtropical gardens, managed by the National Trust. The castle has been home to the Luttrell family for 600 years. Approximately 4 miles.

West Somerset Railway -- England's longest heritage railway runs 20 miles from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, with stops at Dunster, Blue Anchor, Watchet, and Williton. Steam and diesel services operate throughout the year.

Porlock Weir -- A picturesque 15th-century harbour village with tidal harbour, independent shops, galleries, Porlock Bay Oysters, and excellent restaurants. Approximately 6 miles.

Horse riding -- Several riding stables in the area offer escorted rides across the open moorland of Dunkery and through the wooded valleys, suitable for all abilities.

Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre -- A popular family attraction near Allerford where visitors can see and learn about owls, eagles, hawks, and falcons. Flying displays daily.

Wider Exmoor

Tarr Steps -- An ancient clapper bridge across the River Barle, surrounded by wonderful woodland walks. Approximately 30 minutes by car.

Lynmouth and Lynton -- The famous cliff railway connects these twin villages on the north Devon coast. The Valley of Rocks nearby is spectacular. Approximately 13 miles along the coast.

Stargazing -- Exmoor was Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve, designated in 2011. Dunkery Beacon is an official Dark Sky Discovery Site. On clear, moonless nights you can see up to 3,000 stars with the naked eye and the Milky Way stretching overhead. The annual Dark Skies Festival runs each autumn.

Walks from the Village

Dunkery Beacon from Wootton Courtenay -- A rewarding walk climbing through the hamlet of Brockwell and over the cairn of Robin How to reach Exmoor's highest point at 519 metres. From the summit, views extend across the Bristol Channel to Wales, and on clear days as far as the Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor. A quieter route than the popular approaches from Dunkery Gate car park. Approximately 7 miles round trip.

Grabbist Hill and Croydon Hill -- Rising to the east of the village, these hills offer remarkable views across to Wales and along the Somerset coastline towards Burnham-on-Sea. Accessible directly from the village on quiet paths.

Wootton Common and Great Headon Plantation -- The common and plantation lie directly above the village to the north, with paths through mixed woodland and across open ground. A lovely shorter walk with views back over the village.

Nearby Walks

Horner Woods -- One of the largest ancient oak woodlands in Britain, part of the National Trust's Holnicote Estate. A National Nature Reserve home to 14 of the 16 UK bat species, red deer, pied flycatchers, and the rare heath fritillary butterfly. Several routes from a gentle 2-mile riverside stroll to longer circuits via Webber's Post viewpoint. Approximately 3 miles by car.

Selworthy and Bossington circular -- A lovely circuit through the thatched National Trust village of Selworthy and across to the coastal hamlet of Bossington. Views across the marshes and Porlock Bay. Approximately 5 miles. Start from Allerford, approximately 3 miles from Wootton Courtenay.

The Coleridge Way and Macmillan Way -- Both long-distance trails pass close to Wootton Courtenay, offering the option of longer day walks or multi-day routes across Exmoor and beyond.

South West Coast Path -- The famous long-distance trail passes through Bossington and Porlock Weir, both within easy reach by car. Head east towards Minehead via Selworthy Beacon, or west through dramatic coastal woods towards Culbone Church -- reputedly England's smallest parish church.

Beaches

Bossington Beach -- A dramatic pebble beach backed by marshland with views across Porlock Bay. Wild and beautiful in all seasons. Approximately 4 miles.

Minehead Beach -- A long sandy beach with facilities including cafes, restaurants, and shops. Approximately 4 miles.

Porlock Bay -- A sweeping 3-mile pebble beach stretching from Porlock Weir to Bossington. Accessible from several points along its length. Approximately 6 miles to Porlock Weir end.

North Devon beaches -- The golden sand beaches at Woolacombe, Croyde, and Saunton are within reach for a day trip, approximately 1 hour by car.