According to Google, by distance, the shortest route to Barnstaple for me takes me over Porlock Hill. I don't have the most powerful car (Fiesta). Is it worth going on the toll road next to it to save embarrassment/injury? Is the toll road opened/staffed at all times of the day?
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Porlock Hill
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ac6000cw
Established Member
You don't say where you are starting from, but if you're coming from the Bristol direction down the M5, you could carry on further south on the M5 and then take the A361 to Barnstaple i.e. skirt around the south side of Exmoor instead of tackling the north side of it.
IanD
Established Member
The toll road is interesting but it's getting quite expensive. I'm sure your Fiesta would be OK on Porlock Hill if you want to save the £3+. Not sure if it's open 24/7 but it sounds like you're going to be there early or late in the day if you're worried about being seen crawling up the main hill at walking pace but will there be enough traffic to witness it? And to be honest why worry about it 
I'd kick myself if I was in the area and didn't give both roads a go.
I'd kick myself if I was in the area and didn't give both roads a go.
IanD
Established Member
But the toll road was a lot cheaper when I drove it!
ac6000cw
Established Member
I'd agree (unless it's really past it and loaded to the gunwales) - Porlock Hill got its reputation in the days when cars were much less powerful (and had poorer brakes) than today.
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Yes it’ll be fine. I’ve driven up and down it in all sorts of old bangers over the years (including very slow ones with unservoed drum brakes). The scenery is wonderful and there’ll be plenty of other people plodding up and down it slowly.
AnthonyRail
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I’m okay going down but terrible going up.
Porlock Hill can appear a bit daunting but as long as you're confident in driving uphill then you'll be fine. If my Dad can drive up it in a Fabia with 5 adults in it then you should have no problems.
(I'd say that the B3234 between Lynmouth and Lynton is a worse, albeit pretty short, climb, although that's avoided by following the A39 diversion via Watersmeet.)
(I'd say that the B3234 between Lynmouth and Lynton is a worse, albeit pretty short, climb, although that's avoided by following the A39 diversion via Watersmeet.)
DelW
Established Member
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The steepest sections are on the inside of the tighter bends, so it's worth getting down to a low gear before the bend - particularly if your car has power steering, which can add extra load on the engine depending on type. But I'd agree with posters above that it's unlikely to be a problem for any modern car, I'm sure I've seen a bus going up it in the past.
Just wondered how you got on?
I'm not sure how Porlock compares with Sutton Bank, but I found the latter an absolute cinch in a 15 year old Micra with a mere 1 litre engine. My dad, following in a motorcaravan probably wouldn't have said the same, but he did make it up.
I'm not sure how Porlock compares with Sutton Bank, but I found the latter an absolute cinch in a 15 year old Micra with a mere 1 litre engine. My dad, following in a motorcaravan probably wouldn't have said the same, but he did make it up.
I drove through Porlock about 2 in the afternoon on a mixed weather day. I didn't expect the village to have such a narrow road which caught me more off guard than the hill. When I got to the hill, I left my car in second gear and it just ate up the hill like a small snack. There was a hairpin to the left where I was bricking a car coming towards me as I was over somewhat due to the severe steepness of the internal curve but the rest of the A39 was an entertaining if tiring on the concentrating drive.
Interesting thread. Years ago, I went up Porlock Hill in a friend's Fiat 500 (air-cooled) on a very hot day. Several cars and even a bus were pulled into the roadside, volumes of steam billowing from under the bonnets. The little Fiat 500 puttered up to the top, no trouble at all. We got some nasty looks from several directions!
Merthyr Imp
Member
There's a timetabled bus service between Minehead and Lynmouth via Porlock Hill in the summer at least.
https://www.quantockheritage.com/time-tables
Sometimes operated by heritage vehicles, although when we last went more than 10 years ago it was one of these:
https://www.quantockheritage.com/time-tables
Sometimes operated by heritage vehicles, although when we last went more than 10 years ago it was one of these:
paul1609
Established Member
40ish years ago the heater matrix on my nearly new Ford Escort Mk1 failed going up Porlock Hill and filled the car up with steam. If your car is in good nick it will make it up the A 39 no problem.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Some years ago when the Paddle Steamer Waverley was in the Bristol Channel and MV Balmoral was operating and offering cruises, there use to be journeys by bus between Minehead and Ilfracombe which had enabled people to ride on the West Somerset Railway.
On one occasion the bus was struggling to climb Porlock Hill so the passengers were asked to alight and walk up the hill and rejoin the bus at the top. After a struggle, the empty bus just about made it.
On one occasion the bus was struggling to climb Porlock Hill so the passengers were asked to alight and walk up the hill and rejoin the bus at the top. After a struggle, the empty bus just about made it.
I rode on that very bus a few years ago.
Magnificent views from the top deck along the coast.
My heart skipped a beat on the return journey when our driver kept her foot on the throttle, and swung over to the wrong side of the road to get round that sharp bend, but fortunately nothing was coming the other way!
Merthyr Imp
Member
On my journeys the driver always sounded the horn when moving over to the wrong side of the road.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Away from Porlock, on one trip in the opposite direction, the bus virtually went out of control and finished up in the pub garden on the bend approaching Lynmouth towards the bottom of the hill from Lynton.
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