| Coordinates: | 51.209, -3.596 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SS 88 46 |
| Population: | 1,213 |
| Dialling code: | 01643 (Minehead) |
Porlock is a picturesque village on the north coast of Exmoor in Somerset, England, sitting where the uplands meet the sea. It has a mix of thatched cottages, a medieval parish church and a long shingle ridge and salt marsh by the shore, with the small harbour at Porlock Weir nearby. The area is famous in literary folklore for Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s interrupted composition of "Kubla Khan" - the tale of the "person from Porlock" - and the landscape draws walkers and artists alike.
Locally the economy leans on tourism, walking and wildlife; the village is a convenient gateway to coastal and moorland routes such as the South West Coast Path and attracts birdwatchers and Exmoor pony sightings. The steep, scenic Porlock Hill and the coastal setting beside the Bristol Channel give it a dramatic feel, while small shops, cafes and a traditional harbour community maintain a quietly active social life.
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