Porlock Hill

One of the steepest main roads in England — 1-in-4 gradient and notorious hairpins

The A39 climbs Porlock Hill from the village to the top of the Exmoor escarpment in just a couple of miles, with three hairpin bends and a maximum gradient of 1 in 4 (25%) — one of the steepest A-roads in Britain. Driving up is reasonable in a modern car, but the descent demands low gears and a careful eye on the brakes.

The toll road that runs alongside (around £3 at the time of writing) offers a gentler, prettier alternative through woodland; it was built in the 1840s precisely because the main hill was so dangerous. From the top, lay-bys offer views back across the Vale of Porlock and out to the Bristol Channel.

things to do sight
A story
When the motor car arrived in the 1900s, Porlock Hill became a test bed for early manufacturers — Rolls-Royce and Bentley both used the climb to prove their engines could manage a 25% gradient with full-touring loads. The 1907 Riley factory ran sales demonstrations here, charging spectators threepence to watch their cars beat the hill.