Dog Walks in Minehead
2 walks to explore with your dog in Minehead, Somerset
Minehead is an old-school Somerset seaside town sitting where the Quantock and Exmoor hills run down to the Bristol Channel. It's the western terminus of the West Somerset Railway and the official start of the South West Coast Path — that alone tells you something about what you can expect if you're arriving with a dog and a decent pair of boots.
The seafront is a pleasant on-lead stroll with long shingle and sand beaches north of the harbour, and the old town around St Michael's church on North Hill is handsome and quiet. But the real reward of Minehead is how quickly you can be out of the town and onto the Quantock Hills, Britain's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a gloriously under-visited corner of the West Country.
Best Dog Walks in Minehead
The Quantock Hills Circular Walk (5 miles, moderate) is the introduction route — rolling heather-and-bracken ridges with far-reaching views across to the Brecon Beacons on a clear day, and a gentle-enough gradient for dogs of most fitness levels. For a longer, higher day, Quantock Hills: Staple Plain to Beacon Hill (6 miles, moderate) runs along the spine of the range with some of the finest walking in the county — open ridge, ancient combes dropping away on either side, and the real possibility of spotting red deer on a quiet morning. Both walks suit dogs that enjoy proper open country rather than waymarked paths, and both reward an early start to beat the Exmoor weather.
Planning Your Visit
The Staple Plain car park at the northern end of the Quantocks is free and well-placed for the bigger walks. Minehead itself has seafront pay-and-display parking for anyone starting from the coast path. Livestock grazes across most of the Quantock common land, including semi-wild Exmoor ponies on the tops, so leads are essential around animals. The hills are exposed and the weather changes quickly — a waterproof and a towel in the boot are sensible year-round. Afterwards, The Notley Arms in Monksilver is a genuine walkers' pub with a fire, flagstones and a proper welcome for damp dogs, and Exmoor Forest Inn is a useful dog-friendly Minehead-area hotel if you're staying the night.
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