Winsford in the Heart of Exmoor National Park

Winsford lies in the heart of Exmoor National Park and combines open landscapes with remarkable traces of the past. The village therefore offers various options for planning your trip: you can include a longer circular walk, view historic buildings and sacred art, or discover a freely accessible remnant of the early Christian period. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage can choose Winsford as a destination for a trip where nature and culture do not have to be considered separately.

Experience the landscape: the Winsford and the Punchbowl circular walk

One specific way to get to know the landscape is the Winsford and the Punchbowl circular walk. The route is 10.8 km long and takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. When planning your day, you should take this approximate duration and the total route length into account. The path leads to the impressive landscape formations known as the Punchbowl. It is therefore suitable as the main focus of an active day, while other travellers may prefer to combine shorter visits with historical discoveries.

For families with different interests, this distinction can be helpful: some members of the group may enjoy a longer walk through the landscape, while others may prefer to view the historic remains in the village and the open moorland. Winsford can thus be explored at your preferred pace, without committing yourself to just one type of experience.

The medieval-dated packhorse bridge

In the centre of Winsford, the packhorse bridge crosses the Winn Brook and is considered to date from the medieval period. It is also known as Winsford packhorse bridge or Winsford Smithy Bridge. The structure consists entirely of irregular red sandstone masonry and has a single segmental arch with a span of 3 m. From the Middle Ages to the present day, the bridge has served as a public facility.

The different names refer to the same distinctive structure and help with orientation in the local history. Those interested in historic routes and traditional forms of construction can make a vivid connection between the landscape and the past at the bridge. When choosing your accommodation, the key question is therefore whether you want to focus your stay on such discoveries, on the landscape, or on a combination of both.

Church, memorial stone and Bronze Age traces

St Mary Magdalene's Church also preserves several historical features. The church contains a Norman font. The east window also retains a piece of 14th-century stained glass depicting the Virgin Mary. In addition, there is a panel dated 1609 bearing the royal coat of arms of James I; it is said to be one of four surviving examples. The parish welcomes visitors to this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Another remarkable site is the Caratacus Stone. It is the only known inscribed early Christian memorial stone in Somerset, lies in open moorland and is publicly accessible. Winsford Hill is also home to the Wambarrows, a group of Bronze Age round barrows dating from approximately 2000 to 700 BC. These sites appeal to different interests: while the church combines sacred art with historic interior furnishings, the Caratacus Stone and the Wambarrows lead into the older history of the landscape.

Local points of interest for planning your trip

Winsford is also home to the 12th-century Royal Oak Inn. The Bridge Cottage Tea Rooms are likewise located in Winsford. Both names add to the impression of a place where historical connections and specific stops for your stay stand side by side. When choosing accommodation for a stay in Exmoor, you can therefore first decide whether you mainly want to experience the circular walk, the historic sites, or a varied mixture of both.

For further orientation, you can also visit other destinations: Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Litton, Holford, Baltonsborough, Shepton Mallet, Washford, Brompton Regis and Bruton.

For the main travel overview: Somerset.