Walk - Heddon's Mouth

2.2 miles (3.5 km)

Hunter's Inn - EX31 4PY Hunter's Inn

Easy - Woodland, riverside paths and a pebbly beach, with relatively level terrain. A 'Tramper' all terrain mobility scooter can be hired (book in advance) from the National Trust at Heddon Valley and this can be used to explore many of the paths in this area. For more details see the Countryside mobility website.

A gentle stroll through ancient woodland bright with fresh leaves and wildflowers in the springtime, along a babbling stream to a tiny secluded shingle beach strewn with boulders and shadowed by steep, scree-clad hillsides, with dramatic cliffs of geological importance and tales of smugglers and U-boats. Children of all ages will love the rugged terrain, as well as the beach and the ruined limekiln. A stunning walk in autumn, when the trees start to turn and birds and small mammals rummage in the fallen leaves for winter provisions.

Hunter's Inn is dog-friendly. Have a look at our Top Dog Walks on the South West Coast Path for more dog-friendly beaches and pubs. 

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Martinhoe Cleave Cottages

Three lovely cottages within Exmoor National Park close to the SW Coast Path and the dramatic moorland and coastal scenery of north Devon

Heddon Valley Campsite

Tucked away in two meadows bordering the river surrounded by Oaks, quiet and isolated yet within easy walking distance of the National Trust visitor centre & Hunters Inn

Heddon Orchard Bothy

Heddon Bothy is a simple, basic four person hideaway. Bring your cooking and sleeping equipment. This is indoor camping for adventurers.

Exmoor Coast Holidays

Campsite on working Cider Farm, Shop, off Licence, Restaurant and Bar

The Denes Guest House

The Denes offer locally sourced food and comfortable en-suite bedrooms, facilities to dry outdoor gear and a selection of maps. Books, DVDs and board games for relaxation.

South View Guest House

Adjacent to the SW Coast Path, South View House is ideally located close to pubs, restaurants and shops. Packed lunches and afternoon cream teas provided on request.

North Walk House

Right on the SW Coast Path. Adults only, no dogs. Lounge, bar, terrace with amazing coastal views, free wi-fi and some parking

Silver View Campsite

Silver View offers traditional camping adjacent to Exmoor National Park

The Crown Hotel

A warm welcome awaits at the Crown Hotel, originally a coaching inn. Located in the heart of Lynton, a quiet base to explore N.Devon's rugged coastline. One night stays and dogs welcome.

St Vincent Guest House

Beautiful grade II Georgian B&B in the heart of Lynton, minutes from the coastal path. Packed lunch by arrangement & all diets catered for.

Sinai House

4 Star accommodation with incredible sea views, offering peace and tranquillity. "Where Exmoor meets the Sea". Ideally located for the South West Coast Path.

Bath Hotel

The Bath Hotel is a family run hotel overlooking the harbour in the picturesque village of Lynmouth, where Exmoor meets the sea.

Orchard House Hotel

Friendly, homely atmosphere. Full English breakfast, licensed bar, kit drying, luggage transfers,single occupancy reductions,walking parties welcome as well as pets & children

Lynmouth Holiday Retreats

Set in a truly picturesque part of the country; the Exmoor National Park has stunning views from almost every pitch on the park you can admire the view

Berry Lawn Linhay Bothy

Sleeps 4. The former farm building offers a simple, basic walkers’ overnight shelter.

Pack O Cards

Grade2**listed ancient monument offering comfortable, modern accommodation. King size beds, enduite showers.. Varied menu.

You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

The North Cliff Hotel

Right on the SW Coast Path. Families & groups welcome,dog friendly,free wi-fi,drying room,bike storage,lounge,bar,terrace with amazing sea views, parking,2xEV chargers

North Coast Café

Discover the North Coast Cafe in Lynton for bagels and sandwiches, hot savouries, homemade treats and exceptional coffee.

What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Lynton & Lynmouth Tourist Information Centre

Information on where to stay, local food and drink, festivals and events and things to do in these picturesque twin villages on the edge of Exmoor.

Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre, Lynmouth

Discover walking routes and information on places to visit in the Exmoor area

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

  1. From the road outside the Hunter's Inn, take the path to the right-hand (eastern) side of the inn and walk a short way uphill until it forks. Take the left-hand fork and follow it downhill and alongside the river.

It's easy to see why this is every local's favourite walk, and why people will willingly spend longer getting here than on the walk itself. The scenery is breathtaking, starting under huge, mature trees shading a bubbling river, which winds down to the sea through spectacularly plunging hillsides, only a few degrees shallower than the sides of a gorge. There are great swathes of scree across the bracken-clad slopes, as well as banks of gorse and clumps of birches, and sometimes goats or even deer can be spotted in the distance. Buzzards circle overhead, and occasionally there is the glimpse of the fast beating of a kestrel's wings as it hovers over the high heathland or the dramatic plunge of a peregrine diving after its prey.

The Romantic poets Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley were all great lovers of this part of the south-west (see the Wood Combe Walk), and the rise of tourism around the same time also brought visitors here from afar to admire the stunning scenery. Heddon Valley was especially popular with Oxbridge students, and, spotting a commercial proposition, the Berry family started serving beer from the kitchen of their thatched cottage. Unfortunately, this burnt down in 1895; but it was replaced with the building now known as Hunter's Inn, which has quenched many a thirst itself since that time.

The inn owned a lot of the land around the valley before selling it to the National Trust, and at one time it was one of the largest employers in the area.

  1. Ignore the bridge to your left and the path to the right a little further on, staying by the river as it flows northwards towards the sea.

  2. Ignoring the next bridge to your left, too, carry on downstream until you come to the beach.

The Exmoor coastline here is of great geological importance, especially at Hollowbrook, just a little way to the east of the dramatic cliffs to your right as you approach the beach (see the Martinhoe Roman Fortlet Walk), where there is a visible boundary between the Lynton Beds and the Hangman Sandstone Group. These cliffs mark the southern shoreline of the Old Red Sandstone continent.

The remoteness of the beach made it a favourite haunt of smugglers; and there are stories, too, of Nazi U-boats putting in here during World War II for supplies of fresh water.

The limekiln on the other side of the beach dates back to Victorian times and is one of several along this part of the coast, as well as in the woods at nearby Watersmeet (see the Watersmeet Walk). Limestone was brought by ship across the Bristol Channel from Wales, along with coal, and it was burnt to produce lime, which was used as an agricultural fertiliser on the acidic soil.

  1. If the tide is low enough, cross the beach and pick up the path beneath the limekiln and turn back upstream. If the tide is too high, or you have difficulty crossing the boulder-strewn beach, return to the bridge at 3, and cross the river there, again turning upstream to continue southwards, back towards the inn.

  2. Continue alongside the river, ignoring the bridge to your left, unless you want a slightly shorter route back to the inn.

  3. Ignore the path to your right, leading up to Heddon's Mouth Cleave through some dramatic patches of scree dotted with clumps of birch. Carry on upstream, following the curve of the river to the road beyond.

  4. Turn left onto the road and follow it back to the start of the walk.

Public transport

Buses travel several times a day on the A39 between Barnstaple and Lynmouth, but the nearest bus stop is at Woody Bay Station, some distance from this walk. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

The National Trust and The Hunters Inn. Postcode for sat navs: EX31 4PY.

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