At the end of August, I’ve got to get into and out of Lynton in Devon. Coming from Crewkerne.
I know Porlock hill isn’t my best route, but can any locals give me some tips/warnings about the best route in and out?
Are there any weight/height restrictions for example? Or hairpin bends that are too tight? Thanks!
Only used these roads whilst holidaying but don’t go through Porlock go A361, A 399 then back onto A 39 but hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will come along.
Last time I went up Porlock hill, it was 7.5 weight limit
Exactly as bald bloke said,turn right at Blackmoor Gate A399 back on to the A39.Weight limit on Porlock Hill is 7.5t
It’s bad from both ends and I speak from experience having taken a MacFarlanes full size artic along there (stupidly). As mentioned, there’s a weight limit coming from Minehead end to Porlock but other than the blind 1:4 left hand hairpin at the bottom of Porlock Hill it’s a breeze going into Lynton that way over the tops.
Coming into Lynton from the other side with an artic, well good luck with that one. The A39 is a very narrow and twisty single track road for about 10 miles as it hugs the side of the gorge dropping down into Lynton. The cliffside overhangs in many places and you’ll need to have your unit wheels pretty much dangling over the edge of a 300ft drop down to the gorge to stand a chance of getting the trailer in undamaged.
I strongly advise looking at google streetview on the A39 where it snakes back on itself south of Lynton to see what you’re going to be up against. If you meet anything coming the other way on that stretch one of you is in for a very long reverse as passing places are virtually non-existent.
exmothian:
Exactly as bald bloke said,turn right at Blackmoor Gate A399 back on to the A39.Weight limit on Porlock Hill is 7.5t
that is the only way for an artic !! Porlock Hill is a 17.5 tonne limit iirc but certainly not suitable for an artic ( it’s possible with a 6 wheel rigid )
Don’t believe everything Rob says, the narrow bit is only about a mile 
( and the overhang is on the Lynmouth road)
where in Lynton are you delivering ?
Can remember seeing some pics and a diary of a Brs driver that did a trip to Lynmouth with a load of piling from Scunthorpe after the flood disaster in 1952.
Iirc he done it in Leyland octopus with drag and went via Porlock.
Interesting story to say the least but done a search and cant find any links . . perhaps somebody can?
Might of been in one of the Peter Davis books?
it’s possible with a 6 wheel rigid )
Don’t tempt me. Surely if a 6 wheeler can do it, I can do it!
8wheels:
it’s possible with a 6 wheel rigid )
Don’t tempt me. Surely if a 6 wheeler can do it, I can do it!
shouldn’t be a problem
Piece of ■■■■, looks like a motorway.
8wheels:
Piece of ■■■■, looks like a motorway.
you will need to be on the wrong side of the road to get round the corner
In that case it’d be the right side of the road. Aint no wrong side 
Denis F:
exmothian:
Exactly as bald bloke said,turn right at Blackmoor Gate A399 back on to the A39.Weight limit on Porlock Hill is 7.5tthat is the only way for an artic !! Porlock Hill is a 17.5 tonne limit iirc but certainly not suitable for an artic ( it’s possible with a 6 wheel rigid )
Don’t believe everything Rob says, the narrow bit is only about a mile
where in Lynton are you delivering ?
Thanks for the replies lads. Much appreciated.
I know it’s tight along the A39, because I’ve driven down there in a car a couple of times, but I reckon it’s do-able. I also realise that the return means my nearside is on the 200ft drop side, but with enough care, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Didn’t know there was a 7.5t limit on Porlock hill though.
Not tipping in Lynton. Picking up some household stuff in the centre of town. Only about half a load in truth, but it’s a money job, so can’t really turn it down. And a full size artic is not what I’d choose if I had the choice. Tipping in Crewkern on the Thursday, then heading to Lynton for early Friday morning and hopefully back in Norfolk by Friday teatime/ evening!
IF everything goes as planned!
Thanks again everyone. Valuable advice.
EastAnglianTrucker:
I know it’s tight along the A39, because I’ve driven down there in a car a couple of times, but I reckon it’s do-able. I also realise that the return means my nearside is on the 200ft drop side, but with enough care, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Didn’t know there was a 7.5t limit on Porlock hill though.
What part of the A39 do you think is do-able ? Surely you don’t mean Porlock do you ? Not only is it steep there’s a couple of real nasty hairpin bends right on the 1-4 hill. There are some superb views once at the top though.
bald bloke:
EastAnglianTrucker:
I know it’s tight along the A39, because I’ve driven down there in a car a couple of times, but I reckon it’s do-able. I also realise that the return means my nearside is on the 200ft drop side, but with enough care, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Didn’t know there was a 7.5t limit on Porlock hill though.What part of the A39 do you think is do-able ? Surely you don’t mean Porlock do you ? Not only is it steep there’s a couple of real nasty hairpin bends right on the 1-4 hill. There are some superb views once at the top though.
From Blackmoor Gate to Lynton. Porlock is off to the east of Lynton, so no, I don’t mean that way…
EastAnglianTrucker:
bald bloke:
EastAnglianTrucker:
I know it’s tight along the A39, because I’ve driven down there in a car a couple of times, but I reckon it’s do-able. I also realise that the return means my nearside is on the 200ft drop side, but with enough care, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Didn’t know there was a 7.5t limit on Porlock hill though.What part of the A39 do you think is do-able ? Surely you don’t mean Porlock do you ? Not only is it steep there’s a couple of real nasty hairpin bends right on the 1-4 hill. There are some superb views once at the top though.
From Blackmoor Gate to Lynton. Porlock is off to the east of Lynton, so no, I don’t mean that way…
That’s ok then i quickly read it and thought you meant Porlock is do-able, sorry.
Denis F:
8wheels:
it’s possible with a 6 wheel rigid )
Don’t tempt me. Surely if a 6 wheeler can do it, I can do it!
shouldn’t be a problem
Very Nice 
Make sure you look in your mirrors to check that you are not holding someone up that wants to run on the limiter whilst you are cruising at 40
You should be fine on the a39 from blackmoor gate to Lynton, and I think you can take the b3234 which runs straight into Lynton town centre, no need to stay on a39 all the way unless you are actually heading to lynmouth, and on to porlock as there is a 7.5 tonne weight limit on the steep hill between the two towns. porlock has a 17.5 tonne weight limit too. The b3234 comes off the a39 before all the narrow winding parts of the a39, think your biggest problem will be parking and turning around again in Lynton town centre, get there early Friday as the place will be swarming with tourists… good luck!
masetheace:
You should be fine on the a39 from blackmoor gate to Lynton, and I think you can take the b3234 which runs straight into Lynton town centre, no need to stay on a39 all the way unless you are actually heading to lynmouth, and on to porlock as there is a 7.5 tonne weight limit on the steep hill between the two towns. porlock has a 17.5 tonne weight limit too. The b3234 comes off the a39 before all the narrow winding parts of the a39, think your biggest problem will be parking and turning around again in Lynton town centre, get there early Friday as the place will be swarming with tourists… good luck!
Nope. 7.5 weight limit on the B3234 after 1 mile off the A39.
There is a large coach and car park on castle hill as you enter the town, but after that once you are in the town centre (Church Hill/Lee road) I don’t see any easy turning opportunities for an artic.
