Explore the dramatic river gorge and ancient woodland with a walk along the river in stunning surroundings. Watersmeet House (a National Trust Tea-Room) is just under an hour’s amble from Lynmouth (about 2.5 miles each way) – choose between the flatter riverside walk or more adventurous woodland walk.
Watersmeet House Website // Find them on Facebook
Lynmouth
Watersmeet
Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway
The Cliff Railway, opened in 1890, remains the highest and steepest totally water powered railway in the world. It connects us down here in Lynmouth with our twin village Lynton at the top of the hill, giving spectacular coastal views on the way! The Cliff Railway is usually open mid February – early November, starting at 10am, 7 days a week. Closing times change during the year – check out their website for details.
Cliff Railway Website // Find them on Facebook
Exmoor National Park Pavilion
The ground floor is home to the Exmoor National Park Authority Information Centre – a learning and experience hub for everything about Exmoor. It features a mix of high-tech and traditional exhibits – including a large interactive touch screen table. The friendly team can answer all your questions on Exmoor National Park, and they also run a number of free guided walks through the year.
Lynmouth Pavilion Website // Find them on Facebook
Holein1 Lynmouth
The only 36-hole putting green in the South West! Just across the river from us – have a go at 18 or 36 holes. Loser buys the ice-cream from the kiosk after? 😉
Holein1 Website // Find them on Facebook
Art Galleries
The pedestrian high street here in Lynmouth is home to a small selection of art galleries, with more to be found up in Lynton. Maurice Bishop’s gallery is a favourite, and he can often be seen working on a piece through the window on the river-side. Ashleigh Bishop Fine Art Gallery also shows work from a number of different artists.
Maurice Bishop // Ashleigh Bishop Fine Art
Flood Memorial Hall
Opposite the harbour, this is a free exhibition with lots of information about the disastrous 1952 Lynmouth flood – including a scale model of the village before the flood, and images of the buildings that were destroyed.
Flood Memorial Hall Website // Find them on Facebook
Rhenish Tower
The original Rhenish Tower was built in 1832, and it’s now an iconic symbol of Lynmouth & Lynton. Originally built as a salt store when saltwater bathing was very popular in the 1830s – it is thought to have fed saltwater to the “Bath-House” available here in Lynmouth (perhaps what is now the Bath Hotel). The Rhenish Tower that exists today was re-built in the 1950s, after the original was destroyed in the Lynmouth Flood Disaster.
Read more about the Rhenish Tower here.
Walks
Watersmeet / Countisbury Circular Walk
Distance: 5.5miles // Difficulty: Challenging (steep parts, cliff-edges)
The loop to Watersmeet is one of the most popular walks to do here in Lynmouth – but if you fancy changing it up a little, you can cut up to Countisbury (there’s a pub at the top of the climb!) from Watersmeet, coming back down to Lynmouth along the South West Coast Path. You might have seen this route featured on Julia Bradbury’s Britain’s Best Walks!
Walk Details on the National Trust Website
Lynton & The Valley of Rocks Walk
The Valley of Rocks is a dramatic section of coastline, and a spectacular scenic location. Easily accessed through Lynton (simply follow the high street Lee Road, it leads into the Valley of Rocks), there are a number of options for walks depending on how much of a challenge you would like. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can walk from Lynmouth (a steep 20 minute climb) – or enjoy a trip up on the Cliff Railway instead.
Easy Walk // Moderate Walk // Challenging Walk
Walking maps are available at reception for £3 –
they cover both the above areas, as well as either Heddon Valley (to the west of us) or the Doone Valley (to the east of us).
Lynton
Lynton Cinema
A cosy cinema, next to the Town Hall in Lynton – seating only 68! Possibly the smallest town in England to have it’s own full time cinema. Usually two showings daily in the summer months, and one in the winter.
Lynton Cinema Website // Find them on Facebook
Lyn Valley Art & Craft Centre
Located within a beautiful old church, the Lyn Valley Art & Craft Centre showcases the wares of over 40 crafters all sourced locally from within Devon and Exmoor.
Lyn Valley Art & Craft Centre Website // Find them on Facebook
Lyn Candles
Opened in 1996, Lyn Candles are all still handcrafted by John Baker – the Lynton candle maker. Wide range of scented & unscented candles – his shop is where he makes them as well.
Lyn Candles Website // Find them on Facebook
Lynton Community Bookshop
Looking for a good read while staying with us? This community second hand bookshop is located within the Town Hall in Lynton, and is full of novels and books – both fiction and non-fiction. Enter on the right hand side of the Town Hall. Money raised through the book sales goes towards local causes and projects.
Find them on Facebook
Valley of Rocks
Mentioned above in the Walks section, the Valley of Rocks has some spectacular scenery and dramatic cliffs. You can reach it simply by following the high street (Lee Road) through Lynton – either by foot or by car. Keep an eye out for the wild goats as well as the most scenic cricket pitch we’ve ever seen!