UK Mountains
Dunkery Beacon
520M
1706FT
About Dunkery Beacon
At 519 meters, Dunkery Beacon is the undisputed king of Exmoor, offering views that stretch from the Bristol Channel to the distant peaks of South Wales. It's less of a jagged peak and more of a grand, heather-clad dome that treats hikers with suspicious kindness before the wind starts.
Key Statistics
Rank
1st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Exmoor
Prominence
?
414m
Nearest Town
Luccombe
Geology
You are trekking across the Hangman Sandstone Formation. This solid layer of compressed sand forms the rugged foundation for the beacon’s high summit.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SS891415
Latitude
51.1620°N
Longitude
3.5874°W
Did You Know?
- •The summit is peppered with Bronze Age history, featuring several burial mounds and cairns that suggest our ancestors liked a good view as much as we do. It’s essentially a very scenic prehistoric cemetery.
- •On an exceptionally clear day, you can see all the way to the Malvern Hills and even the mountains of South Wales. It is the highest point in England south of Dartmoor, which is quite the boast for a hill made of sandstone.
- •The land was donated to the National Trust in the 20th century by a trio of local worthies including Sir Thomas Acland. A massive stone cairn was built at the top to celebrate, just in case you somehow missed the summit.
- •The lower slopes at Sweetworthy hide the remains of two Iron Age hill forts and a deserted medieval settlement. It seems people have been moving in and out of the neighborhood for roughly three millennia, mostly to avoid the rent.
- •While the ascent is technically 'easy,' the Exmoor wind is a specialized thief with a particular fondness for expensive beanies and maps. You’ll spend half the walk admiring the 360-degree views and the other half chasing your dignity across the heather.