Porlock Hill, a real challenge

John Barrett

John Barrett

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We have been camping this week on the Blue Anchor campsite near Minehead, so it was inevitable that we travel to Lynmouth and take on the infamous Porlock Hill! I'd read that was 25% in places, and goes on forever! Well, we took on the challenge, hearing the auto box dropping gears to take the seemingly impossible gradient, almost slowing to a halt in the face of oncoming traffic. The interior was getting warm, and I wasn't sure that we would make it. However, we hit the brow of the Hill and gasped at the Exmoor landscape opening up before us
The other 63 passengers on the Exmoor Coaster bus that we were travelling on might have thought the same as us...😊
 
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Going up in my automatic m/h it went down to first gear. My main worry was that if the engine stalled I wouldn't have the brake servo and short of reversing into the bushes/rock at the side there would've been no way I could stop it running backwards down the hill.
 
Next Stop said:
The last time I ventured up Porlock Hill I was following an old Series II Land Rover towing a massive Yacht. I think I was more worried than him!

https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/england/3473-porlock-hill.html#:~:text=At 25%, Porlock Hill is,in 4 and hairpin bends.
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No problem he would have definitely been in low ratio with at least a couple of gears to drop down to. The Rover long stroke engine was bomb proof and even featured in modified form into the Discovery 200 and 300TDI's.
If it was coming down the hill with a yacht behind then that would be a time to worry. S2a's need notice in writing if you need to brake!!! :giggle:
 
When a camping holiday in 1955 dad took us and the Reliant 3 wheeled van he had up there, and it didn't like it, broke the diff.
No idea how we got back to the campsite at Lyme Regis (I was only 5) where he mended it.
 
Back in 1962 (when I waz young) I bought a 1947 Austin for the grand Sum of £30 & ventured 'dahn saff' , got to Porlock but no way would it go uphill in 1st gear . . . But it did manage going up in reverse gear (I got some weird looks & had to change my pants - never again !

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Was there a few weeks ago. We spent a glorious couple of nights at the free open spaces above Porlock Bay

But shhh don’t tell everyone!


IMG_6841.jpeg
 
We’ve done Porlock hill in a 2CV based kit car I built, great going up but a bit hairy coming down with the inboard front drum brakes over heating😓
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Oldrat said:
Was there a few weeks ago. We spent a glorious couple of nights at the free open spaces above Porlock Bay

But shhh don’t tell everyone!


View attachment 941743
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We did the same a couple of years back, we decided to take the Motorhome up Porlock late evening so avoiding traffic and keeping the speed up on the hairpin bends,
Next day took the Honda 110 Vision back down to the town for some shopping, I will confess it struggled a bit coming back with two up plus shopping,
 
Yep, it’s certainly steep. Poor lil Honda ☺️
 
Many, many, many moons ago when I was a meer youngster I can remember reversing up Porlock hill coz the reverse gear in my dad's old Worsley was lower than first. Quite a common thing to do back then.

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Years ago being younger and full of bravado, I shot up the hill and came to the first hairpin. Full lock and full power. I found myself facing a tour coach - on his side. Luckily he was stationary. He had obviously spotted this young idiot going way too fast! But if you stop even momentarily on the other toll road, you'll likely have a toll road marshall telling you to move on, the sign says no sightseeing.
 
Oldrat said:
Was there a few weeks ago. We spent a glorious couple of nights at the free open spaces above Porlock Bay

But shhh don’t tell everyone!
Click to expand...
Stayed there a couple of times, but signs put up last year prohibiting overnight camping.

Love going up Porlock hill in our EV, having instant torque and no gears makes it a breeze accelerating away from the corners. The van has only gone up and down the toll road.
 
RetiredPope said:
Stayed there a couple of times, but signs put up last year prohibiting overnight camping.

Love going up Porlock hill in our EV, having instant torque and no gears makes it a breeze accelerating away from the corners. The van has only gone up and down the toll road.
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No signs on any of the pull ins this year.

IMG_6842.jpeg
 
Spriddler said:
My main worry was that if the engine stalled I wouldn't have the brake servo
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Yes you would. The servo would hold vacuum for 3 or 4 pedal strokes at least and a few minutes before naturally depleteing.
Whether the handbrake would hold on a 1 in 4 is a different matter.
 
I cycled up there a few years ago - fully laden touring bicycle with heavy panniers. Made it (just!) with screaming leg muscles and feeling like my heart was going to explode 🥵

Top tip if you’re going to cycle up - don’t eat a lovely cream tea at the bottom before you set off … the effort is likely to make you bring said scone, jam and cream back up again 😂

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pappajohn said:
Yes you would. The servo would hold vacuum for 3 or 4 pedal strokes at least and a few minutes before naturally depleteing.
Whether the handbrake would hold on a 1 in 4 is a different matter.
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Yes, I did think it might function for a while but you can imagine my anxiety at the time, grinding up in 1st in a 28 yr old 3 tonne VW T4 based coachbuilt with a chasm behind me. I must have ground a couple of mm off me dentures so I wasn't keen to have to try it out!
The handbrake (rear drums) certainly wouldn't have held on that hill.
 
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Dorwyn said:
Years ago being younger and full of bravado, I shot up the hill and came to the first hairpin. Full lock and full power. I found myself facing a tour coach - on his side. Luckily he was stationary. He had obviously spotted this young idiot going way too fast! But if you stop even momentarily on the other toll road, you'll likely have a toll road marshall telling you to move on, the sign says no sightseeing.
Click to expand...
I hope you mean “on his side of the road” !
I remember driving my parents up it in our Ford Popular. As you say, young and no cares.
 
Flippin easy peasy unless you are in a knackered old heap. Get on some proper hills in Switzerland and Austria.;););)
 
Hi.
Everlasting memory of Porlock hill.. Scout camp 50's,going down, we had to get off the bus at the top and walk down,coming home after a fortnights camp,getting off the bus at the bottom to walk up. Walking up there was an upright standing motor cycle cylinder block perched on the bank with a ....." Bunch of flowers " sticking out the top.
Tea Bag.
 
Think of the RNLI manhandling a lifeboat up there in the 19th century…..then they rescued the crew, then took the boat back, and went to work the next day……..

rnli.org

1899: Launch from Porlock Weir - Timeline - Our history - RNLI

During a severe gale, Lynmouth volunteers dragged their lifeboat for 13 miles to launch in aid of a vessel in distress.
rnli.org rnli.org

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