Walk - Lynmouth / Lynton to Combe Martin

Highlights

• Rounding a corner to see Castle Rock towering above Wringcliff Bay as the Path enters the famous Valley of Rocks.
• The jagged tor known as Rugged Jack. Local legend has it that some Druids were inappropriately dancing here on a Sunday and were turned to stone by the Devil.
• Taking in the breathtaking views of Exmoor, the Welsh coast and Lundy from the highest point on the South West Coast Path: Great Hangman standing at 1043 feet.
• The hanging oakwoods around Woody Bay, protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to Red Deer and a wide variety of birds.
• Enjoying the many cliff top flowers, especially the abundance of bluebells, campions, violets, celandines and primroses present in the springtime.
• Searching for the herd of feral goats that inhabit the cliffs.
• Hollow Brook: one of the highest waterfalls in Britain which drops 200 metres to the sea.
• The fantastic names of rock formations such as Rugged Jack and the Devil’s Cheesewring, home to R. D. Blackmore’s Mother Meldrum.
• The sense of achievement on reaching the village of Combe Martin after the many steep ascents and descents of the day.

Shorter option

As this is a challenging walk (particularly the steep climb up to Great Hangman from Sherrycombe near the end of the walk)  many people stay in Heddon's Mouth roughly half-way along, where is a selection of accommodation and a pub.

A large part of the Heddon valley is owned by the National Trust and so there are a range of scenic walks and places to explore if you have time to linger.

Longer option

Continue to Ilfracombe (an additional 5.3 miles, 8.6 km).

Public transport

Taunton is the nearest mainline railway station. You can catch the number 300 bus from here to Minehead, but there is currently no direct service from Minehead to Lynton . The number 309 bus runs between Lynton and Barnstaple and the 301 between Barnstaple and Combe Martin. For further details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Parking

Lynton (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX35 6BT), above Lee Bay, above Woody Bay, the valley of Heddon’s Mouth, Trentishoe Down and Combe Martin.