Dunkery Beacon
Outdoor Activities
Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor's highest point at 519 metres: a summit cairn, Bronze Age burial mounds and long views over the Bristol Channel.
The top of Exmoor
Dunkery Beacon is the summit of Dunkery Hill, 519 metres above sea level, and it is the highest point on Exmoor and in Somerset. The hill is National Trust land and part of the Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. Exmoor spans both Somerset and Devon, but the beacon is on the Somerset side.
What you find at the summit
A stone cairn stands at the top, built to mark gifts of land on the hill to the National Trust. Bronze Age burial mounds lie on the hill too, among them Joaney How on the northern slope, more than 22 metres across. In summer the slopes turn a deep purple with heather.
On a clear day you can see the Bristol Channel coast, the Brecon Beacons, Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor. Exmoor National Park points out red deer on the moor, and Dartford warbler, merlin and adders live on the hill, so keep to the paths.
The walk up
Exmoor National Park’s route starts from the car park next to the bridge at the bottom of the hill. It is a triangular loop of 3.9 km that climbs steadily on a dirt and stone track, mostly at an easy gradient, with rough and uneven sections. The descent is more direct and steeper, on a narrower path with stone drainage cut-offs. The park also describes a shorter walk to the beacon where you retrace your steps; its page for the walk has the details.
Before you set off
This is open moor, so weather changes quickly and there is little cover. Wear boots and carry water. The nearest public toilets are a 15 minute drive away at the National Trust’s Horner car park or at Wheddon Cross, so plan your stop before you head up. The Horner Wood page has the National Trust’s details for that car park.
Another Exmoor walk, with a different character, is Tarr Steps, a river crossing in a wooded valley. The Exmoor coast and Minehead are to the north.
Where to stay near Dunkery Beacon
Sample dates: 16 October 2026 - 18 October 2026. Adjust below to see live prices for Somerset.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to walk up Dunkery Beacon?
- Exmoor National Park describes a circular route of 3.9 km (about 2.5 miles) from the car park by the bridge at the bottom of the hill. It takes about an hour and 10 minutes, with around 130 metres of climbing. Allow longer if you want to linger at the top.
- Can I take my dog up Dunkery Beacon?
- Exmoor National Park asks owners to keep dogs on a lead or under close control at all times. On Access Land such as open moorland, dogs should stay on the path and on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to protect ground-nesting birds. Take particular care around livestock, and check the national park's dog guidance before you go.
- Are there toilets or a cafe at the start of the walk?
- Exmoor National Park gives the nearest public toilets as the National Trust car park at Horner or Wheddon Cross, both about a 15 minute drive away. Horner has seasonal tea rooms, and the nearest pub is the Rest and Be Thankful at Wheddon Cross.
- Is Dunkery Beacon suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair?
- Exmoor National Park describes the route as dirt and stone track with rough and uneven sections, so it will be hard going for wheels. Check the national park's Dunkery Beacon page before you go.