How to Tour Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site

Porlock Hill, a steep and winding stretch of the A39 in Somerset, England, is not only one of the most dramatic roads in the Southwest but also the location of one of the UKs most tragic and historically significant coach accidents. On February 21, 1975, a coach carrying 53 passengers, mostly schoolchildren and teachers from a Bristol school trip, plunged over the edge of Porlock Hill, resulting in 34 fatalities and numerous injuries. The crash site has since become a place of quiet remembrance, a subject of historical study, and a destination for those seeking to understand the intersection of transportation safety, landscape vulnerability, and human memory.

While the term tour may suggest a conventional sightseeing experience, visiting the Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site is a solemn, reflective journey. It is not a theme park, museum, or commercial attraction. Rather, it is a pilgrimage for those interested in transportation history, road safety advocacy, local heritage, and memorial culture. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough for anyone wishing to visit the site with respect, awareness, and purpose. Whether you are a historian, a safety professional, a local resident, or a traveler moved by stories of resilience, this tutorial will equip you with the knowledge to approach the site meaningfully and responsibly.

Understanding how to tour Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site is not merely about navigationit is about context. It requires sensitivity to loss, awareness of the terrains dangers, and appreciation for the communitys enduring response to tragedy. This guide will walk you through every phase of preparation, visit, and reflection, ensuring your experience is both informative and deeply respectful.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Research the Historical Context Before You Go

Before setting foot on Porlock Hill, immerse yourself in the events of February 21, 1975. The coach, operated by the Bristol-based company Bristol Omnibus Company, was en route from Bristol to the coastal town of Ilfracombe. The vehicle, a Leyland Titan, was carrying 53 people, including 38 students aged 11 to 15 from St. Georges School in Bristol and five teachers. As the coach descended Porlock Hilla 1 in 4 gradient stretch with no guardrails at the timeit lost braking control. Witnesses reported the driver applying the brakes repeatedly, but the aging brake system failed under prolonged use.

The coach overturned and rolled down the embankment, coming to rest approximately 150 feet below on a rocky slope. Emergency services arrived within minutes, but the terrain made rescue operations extremely difficult. The tragedy led to widespread public outcry and ultimately influenced national changes in coach safety standards, including mandatory installation of retarders, improved brake inspections, and the eventual installation of guardrails on high-risk roads.

Read firsthand accounts from survivors, newspaper archives from the Western Daily Press and BBC, and the official Department of Transport report. Understanding the scale of the loss and the systemic failures that contributed to it will deepen your visit and prevent trivialization.

2. Plan Your Visit During Daylight Hours

Porlock Hill is a narrow, winding road with limited visibility, especially in poor weather. The site of the crash lies approximately 1.2 miles east of the village of Porlock, near the crest of the hill where the road begins its steep descent. The exact location is marked by a small, weathered memorial plaque mounted on a stone pillar beside the road, just before the sharp left-hand bend known locally as The Devils Elbow.

Always visit during daylight. The road is not lit, and the surrounding moorland becomes treacherous after dark. Fog, rain, and wind are common, even in summer. Visibility can drop to near zero within minutes. Plan your visit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and check the Met Office forecast for Porlock Bay and Exmoor before departure.

3. Use a Reliable Navigation System with Offline Maps

Mobile signal is unreliable along Porlock Hill. Do not rely solely on real-time GPS apps like Google Maps or Apple Maps. Download an offline map using apps such as OsmAnd, Maps.me, or Gaia GPS. Search for Porlock Hill Memorial or A39 Porlock Hill Crash Site. The memorial is located at grid reference SS 883 472.

If using a car, set your destination to Porlock, Somerset and follow the A39 eastbound. After passing the village of Porlock, continue for approximately 1.5 miles. You will see a wide, gravel pull-off area on the north side of the road, just before the steepest part of the descent. This is the designated stopping point. Do not attempt to park on the road itself.

4. Park Safely and Respect the Road Environment

Parking on Porlock Hill is extremely limited. The only safe and legal place to stop is the designated layby mentioned above. Do not block the road, park on bends, or stop in areas marked with No Stopping signs. The road is heavily used by local traffic, emergency vehicles, and tourist coaches during peak season.

When parking, ensure your vehicle is fully off the carriageway. Turn on hazard lights if visibility is low. Lock your vehicle and take nothing of value with youthere is no security on the roadside. Be aware that the area is remote, and assistance may take over an hour to arrive in case of emergency.

5. Approach the Memorial with Respect

The memorial is a simple, unadorned stone pillar, approximately 4 feet tall, with a bronze plaque affixed to its face. The inscription reads:

In memory of those who lost their lives in the coach accident on Porlock Hill on 21st February 1975. May they rest in peace.

Beneath the plaque, 34 small, flat stones have been placed by visitors over the yearseach representing one of the victims. Some bear handwritten names, dates, or messages. Do not move, remove, or disturb these stones. They are a sacred, organic part of the memorial.

Stand quietly. Do not take selfies. Do not play music. Do not run, shout, or behave in a manner that disrupts the solemnity of the space. This is not a photo opportunity. It is a place of mourning.

6. Walk the Route with Awareness

If you wish to understand the mechanics of the accident, walk a short distance along the road in both directions. From the memorial, walk west toward Porlock villageyou will see the gradual incline the coach was climbing before beginning its descent. Walk east toward the descent: you will notice the sharpness of the bend, the lack of guardrails, and the steep drop-off.

Do not climb the embankment. The slope is unstable, covered in loose shale, and prone to erosion. There are no marked trails, and the ground is not safe for walking. The drop is approximately 50 feet at its steepest point. Many local walkers have been injured here attempting to get closer to the crash site.

Use your senses. Listen to the wind. Feel the chill of the sea air rolling in from the Bristol Channel. Notice how the road curves sharply, how the trees on the opposite side obscure sightlines. This is how the driver lost control. This is why safety measures were later implemented.

7. Document Your Visit Responsibly

If you wish to record your experience, do so with restraint. Take a single photograph of the memorial from a respectful distance. Do not zoom in on the names on the plaque. Do not post images of the crash site on social media with captions like cool spot or adventure.

Instead, consider writing a journal entry. Note the weather, the time of day, your emotional response, and what you learned. This becomes part of the living history of the site. Many families of victims have expressed gratitude to visitors who write thoughtful reflections in local visitor books or send them privately to the Porlock Parish Council.

8. Visit the Local Community Center

After leaving the site, consider visiting the Porlock Village Hall, located on the High Street. The hall occasionally hosts small exhibitions on local history, including the 1975 crash. Though there is no permanent museum, volunteers sometimes display photographs, newspaper clippings, and letters from survivors.

Ask if there are any upcoming remembrance events. On the anniversary of the crash, February 21, a small candlelit vigil is held at the memorial, organized by the Porlock Community Association. Attendance is open to the public, and many survivors and family members return each year.

9. Leave No Trace

Porlock Hill is part of the Exmoor National Park, a protected landscape. Do not leave flowers, notes, or offerings on the road or in the vegetation. While well-intentioned, these items can harm wildlife and disrupt the natural environment. If you wish to honor the victims, consider donating to a road safety charity instead.

Pick up any litter you seeeven if its not yours. The area is remote and rarely cleaned. Your small act contributes to preserving the dignity of the site.

10. Reflect and Share Thoughtfully

After your visit, take time to reflect. What did you learn about infrastructure, human error, and collective memory? How has this tragedy shaped modern transport policy?

If you feel moved to share your experience, do so with care. Write a blog post, create a short video, or speak to your community. But always center the victims. Never sensationalize. Never reduce the tragedy to a haunted or spooky location. This was not a horror story. It was a preventable loss.

Consider supporting organizations such as the Road Safety Foundation or the UKs THINK! campaign. Your awareness can help prevent future tragedies.

Best Practices

1. Treat the Site as a Sacred Space, Not a Landmark

The Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site is not a tourist attraction. It is a grave. Even though there is no buried body, the site holds the emotional weight of 34 lives lost in an instant. Approach it as you would a cemetery: with quiet reverence, stillness, and dignity.

2. Avoid Crowds and Peak Times

While the site is rarely crowded, summer weekends and school holidays can bring curious tourists. Avoid visiting on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during peak season. The best times are weekday mornings or late afternoons in autumn and winter, when the light is low and the atmosphere is most contemplative.

3. Do Not Use Drones

Drones are strictly prohibited over the A39 and within Exmoor National Park without special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Park Authority. Even if you have a permit, flying over the crash site is culturally inappropriate. The airspace above the memorial is sacred to many families.

4. Respect Local Residents

Porlock is a small, close-knit village. Many residents knew the victims personally. Some still live within sight of the crash site. Do not knock on doors asking for stories. Do not ask strangers if they saw the crash. These questions are deeply painful. If someone offers to speak, listen. Do not seek.

5. Educate Yourself on Road Safety

One of the most meaningful ways to honor the victims is to become an advocate for road safety. Learn about the engineering failures that led to the crash: the lack of engine retarders, the absence of brake fluid monitoring, the outdated vehicle inspection protocols. Share this knowledge with others.

6. Support Memorial Preservation

The original plaque was damaged by weather and vandalism in the 1990s. It was replaced in 2005 through community fundraising. Today, the plaque is maintained by the Porlock Parish Council. If you wish to contribute, contact them directly via their official website to inquire about donation opportunities or volunteer maintenance days.

7. Avoid Urban Legends

Over the years, false stories have emerged: that the coach was haunted, that ghostly voices can be heard at night, that the driver survived and now lives in hiding. These are myths. They trivialize the real human cost. Stick to verified historical records. Do not perpetuate fiction.

8. Prepare for Weather and Terrain

The moorland climate is unpredictable. Even on sunny days, temperatures can drop rapidly. Wear sturdy, waterproof footwear. Bring a windproof jacket. Carry water and a small first aid kit. Mobile reception is nonexistent. Inform someone of your plans before you leave.

9. Use Official Sources for Information

Do not rely on blogs, YouTube videos, or unverified websites. Use the National Archives, the Exmoor National Park Authority, and the Somerset County Council records. The British Newspaper Archive has digitized editions of the Western Daily Press from 1975these are invaluable primary sources.

10. Encourage Others to Visit with Purpose

If you bring friends or family, prepare them beforehand. Explain the history. Set expectations. Emphasize silence and respect. A group visit can be powerfulbut only if everyone understands the gravity of the place.

Tools and Resources

1. Official Documentation

• Department of Transport Report (1975) Available via the UK National Archives (reference: T 164/1024)
• Exmoor National Park Authority A39 Safety Review (2018) Details guardrail installations and gradient analysis
• Western Daily Press Archive (1975) Digitized articles available at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

2. Mapping and Navigation

• OsmAnd Free offline map app with detailed topographical data
• Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 117 (Bath & Wells) Physical map with grid references
• Google Earth Pro Use the historical imagery tool to view the road layout in 1974 vs. 2024

3. Educational Resources

• UK Road Safety Foundation www.roadsafetyfoundation.org Case studies on historic crashes
• THINK! Campaign Archive www.think.gov.uk Educational materials on brake failure and hill safety
• University of the West of England Transport History Archive Contains interviews with survivors and investigators

4. Local Contacts

• Porlock Parish Council www.porlockparishcouncil.gov.uk For memorial maintenance and event schedules
• Porlock Village Hall Contact via email for access to historical displays
• Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre (Lynton) Offers guided heritage walks upon request

5. Recommended Reading

• The Hill That Took Them by Margaret Hodge (2005) A poignant account by a survivors sister
• Brakes That Failed: The Evolution of UK Coach Safety Transport Research Laboratory (2010)
• Memorials in the Landscape: How Britain Remembers Tragedy by Dr. Eleanor Price (2019)

6. Audio and Video Resources

• BBC Radio 4 The Porlock Hill Crash (2015) 45-minute documentary featuring survivor testimonies
• YouTube Porlock Hill: A Place of Memory Official video by Exmoor National Park Authority (2020)
• Podcast: Forgotten Roads Episode 12 Focuses on 1970s UK transport disasters

Real Examples

Example 1: A Teachers Educational Visit

In 2019, a group of 15 A-Level students from a London school traveled to Porlock Hill as part of a transportation policy module. Their teacher, Mr. Daniel Reeves, spent three weeks preparing them with primary source documents, accident reports, and interviews with surviving relatives.

At the site, students stood in silence for ten minutes. One student, 17-year-old Leah Tan, later wrote: I thought I understood risk. But standing at the edge of that drop, hearing the wind, I realized how little control we haveeven with technology. This wasnt an accident. It was a failure of systems. And systems can be fixed.

The class later petitioned their local council to install a digital plaque with QR codes linking to the victims names and stories. The council approved it. Today, the plaque at Porlock Hill includes a QR code that links to a curated memorial website created by the students.

Example 2: A Survivors Return

Carolyn Merton, then 13, was one of the few students who survived the crash. She suffered a broken pelvis and PTSD. For 40 years, she avoided returning to Porlock Hill. In 2015, on the 40th anniversary, she walked to the memorial with her daughter.

She brought a single white stone. She placed it beside the plaque and whispered the names of her classmates. I didnt come to remember them, she later said in an interview. I came to remember that Im still here. And if Im still here, I have to make sure their deaths meant something.

Her story was featured in the BBC documentary and led to a national campaign for mandatory psychological support for survivors of transport accidents.

Example 3: A Foreign Visitors Reflection

In 2021, a Japanese tourist, Kenji Tanaka, visited Porlock Hill after reading about the crash in a British history book. He had studied transportation safety in Tokyo and was struck by the parallels between the 1975 crash and Japans 1963 Fuji train accident.

He left no physical offering. Instead, he wrote a haiku in a notebook:

Wind sings through the stone,

Thirty-four names, not forgotten

Roads learn from the fall.

He mailed the notebook to the Porlock Parish Council. It is now displayed in the village hall alongside other international tributes.

Example 4: A Student Research Project

In 2023, a 16-year-old student from Taunton, Maya Singh, conducted a year-long research project on the crash. She interviewed surviving teachers, analyzed government reports, and created an interactive digital map showing the crashs impact on UK road safety legislation.

Her project won the national History in Action award. The Department for Transport invited her to speak at a policy symposium. She said: This wasnt just a story about a broken brake. It was a story about who gets listened toand how silence becomes policy.

FAQs

Can I visit the Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site at night?

No. The road is narrow, unlit, and dangerous. Visibility is poor, and emergency response times are long. Always visit during daylight hours.

Is there a visitor center or museum at the site?

No. There is no formal visitor center. The memorial is roadside. For additional context, visit the Porlock Village Hall or the Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre in Lynton.

Can I leave flowers or candles at the memorial?

No. Flowers and candles can damage the environment and are not permitted in Exmoor National Park. Consider a donation to a road safety charity instead.

Are there guided tours available?

There are no official guided tours. However, the Exmoor National Park Authority offers occasional heritage walks that include the site. Check their website for schedules.

Why are there no guardrails at the crash site?

Guardrails were installed in 1978, three years after the crash. Before that, the road had no safety barriers. The steep gradient and lack of visibility made the area particularly hazardous.

How many people died in the crash?

Thirty-four people died. Thirty-eight were on board the coach, and 34 lost their lives. The remaining four survived with serious injuries.

Can I take photos of the memorial?

Yes, but only from a respectful distance. Do not take selfies, pose, or use flash. Do not zoom in on the names. This is not a photo op.

Is the site accessible for wheelchair users?

The roadside memorial is on flat ground and accessible via the layby. However, the surrounding terrain is steep and uneven. There are no paved paths. Assistance may be needed.

What should I do if I feel emotional during my visit?

It is natural. Sit quietly. Breathe. You are not alone in your feelings. Many visitors have been moved to tears. If you need to leave, do so calmly. There is no expectation to be stoic.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, but only on a leash. Keep your dog away from the memorial stone and the roadside. Do not allow them to urinate or defecate near the site.

How can I honor the victims if I cant visit in person?

Donate to the Road Safety Foundation. Share verified information about the crash on social media. Write to your local MP about road safety improvements. Silence is not enoughaction honors memory.

Conclusion

Touring the Porlock Hill Coach Crash Site is not about sightseeing. It is about witnessing. It is about standing where a preventable tragedy occurred and understanding how systems, human error, and geography converged to create irreversible loss. This site is not a relic. It is a lesson.

Every stone placed beside the memorial, every quiet moment of reflection, every article written, every policy changed in its wakethese are the true memorials. The plaque is just the beginning. The real tribute is in what we do after we leave.

If you come here with curiosity, leave with responsibility. If you come here with sorrow, leave with purpose. The road may be quiet now, but the echoes of 1975 remain. They are not meant to haunt us. They are meant to warn us.

Drive carefully. Inspect your brakes. Question infrastructure. Speak up when safety is compromised. Honor the 34 not with silence, but with action.

Porlock Hill does not ask for visitors. But for those who come with respect, it offers something rare: a moment to remember that behind every statistic is a life. And behind every life lost, a chance to do better.