Driving into Lynmouth…
Coming from a family holiday in Wales, we have a long drive into Devon and eventually get to Lynmouth around 4pm. Once you come off the motorway and onto the A and B roads, the drive becomes incredibly scenic. Lynmouth is set below high cliffs, so a pretty steep decline down into it and you arrive at a small, quaint fishing village.
We happen to arrive during The Lynmouth Regatta and Maritime Festival, so the town is full with energy. A bit different to the sleeping Devonshire fishing town I was expecting! There are country singers, face painters, boat races and food stalls. There is also an outdoor mini golf which we just have to try!
After checking into our Airbnb, right across from the water, we play an 18 hole round of mini golf before it closes. Everything closes early here. I don’t know about you but I love a round of mini golf and the setting here is just perfect. A cooling breeze from the ocean just opposite, rolling green hills in the background, people singing and laughing and the BBQ smell drifting it’s way over (ahh lovely).
We just have to grab one of those burgers I smell cooking at one of the food stalls- AMAZING. They are produced from the hills just above the town, the guy serving us tells us. You can just tell the quality instantly and I think I would go as far to saying it’s one of the best burgers I’ve ever had! (I know, statement!). Can’t believe I don’t even photo it- it’s that good I just stuff it in my mouth! After savouring that delicious taste for as long as I can, we venture for a wander around town.
There is lot going on for such a small town, everybody is celebrating and enjoying the unusually hot summer. Flags are lined up along the estuary, bunting is hung over the town shops- which are closed but they seem the usual cute handmade gift store type thing. People are already lining up for fish and chips- well no better place to have it I suppose. Kids play in the stream, adults are drinking in the pub and families are watching the boats come in for the finish line. It really is idyllic. That’s the only way to describe it. The sun is perfect.
The pretty stream…
We follow the stream out of town and head towards Watersmeet. Now, if you’ve never heard of Watersmeet (which I hadn’t either) then google it now. I mean…if pretty green woodlands and streams are your thing then you need to visit here! There are so many walks around this area from easy to hard. Visit the National Trust website for more info on various walks.We are feeling pretty tired so just go for a quick stroll up the stream. It’s pretty beyond words.
The perfect temperature, warm but with a cool breeze and the sun lowering in the sky, giving everything that orange glow indicating the end of a beautiful day.
We come across a memorial garden- very pretty, signifying where a cottage once stood before the devastating flood of August, 1952. The lovingly kept garden welcomes visitors and is a great little find for somewhere peaceful to read a book or simply sit and take in the surroundings.
After a leisurely stroll back, we grab some chips and scampi from the chippy and watch the sun go down from our room. We have these big windows with ocean views, the suns rays bursting through the room. A great afternoon which has thoroughly exhausted me. So much so I can’t even get up to watch the fireworks outside. Something my boyfriend keeps bringing up time and time again (sooo sorry- again!).
The next day we get up early and head back out into the village. A strikingly different picture to the previous day- it appears the whole town is still sleeping. There’s no singing, no noise, the food stalls have been packed up, the water is calm and the shops are still closed. This is the sleepy tiny village I had imagined. No one is around- maybe still sleeping off hangovers after the festival. I guess everything’s a slower pace of life here.
So we head up…and up…and up. The coastal path is steep. There is the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway which takes you up but there is no way to get to it from where we are. Lynton by the way is the village right next door to Lynmouth. We eventually come across a sign saying ‘Valley of Rocks’. We take the path, which leads right out onto the steep cliff edge, with views right across the sea. The blue sky bleeds into the ocean reflecting the same colour.
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Not before long we reach the Valley of Rocks, which is essentially a pile of rocks. But it’s a spectacular pile of rocks! A big valley below with stunning views of the countryside. I can even see a couple of goats chilling out on the rocks. We walk over the other side and down into to valley. A German couple told us it was a 5 minute walk to Lynton so we decide to check it out.
Lynton appears to be slightly more built up than Lynmouth but a pretty little town all the same. Then we come across the cliff railway! What a relief, I was wondering how the hell I was gonna walk back down! This town must be high up. It’s only around ยฃ3 one way so we take the little carriage thing back down to Lynmouth. The views down are amazing, overlooking the village with the sea and rolling hills as a backdrop.
Unfortunately our time in Lynmouth has come to an end as we are heading onto our next destination, the pretty village of Clovelly. With such a short time here I didn’t think we would get up to much but it feels like we did a fair bit. A typical Devon fishing village, that I randomly came across online has lived up to be so much more.
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21 Comments
Oh my word, what a beautiful little village!!! It looks like it’s straight out of a BBC movie. I’d love to explore those idyllic streets!
yes its kinda hidden but worth the drive!
I’ve never heard of this beautiful little town, but it sounds like a great weekend getaway. I love visiting small town festivals, especially when they involve delicious food. The towns always seem to come alive then and almost seem like a different place than they do on normal days.
yeh for sure it had so much energy and excitement- just a bit of luck I suppose ๐
First time hearing about this place. Looks so lovely though, definitely a great place for a weekend away when you want a little breather hehe.
It’s tucked away a little but worth it! ๐
What a gorgeous little fishing village! I would love to stay in a sleepy little town like this. Tbh, to an American like myself, this place seems like an English fairytale town. Thanks so much for sharing.
haha yeh I know you Americans love an English fairytale! We do too!
What a peaceful and picturesque place to go to! My friend was supposed to bring me to Devon when I was in the UK last year but we didn’t push through when her boyfriend broke up with her lol. A perfect place to disconnect from the internet and be connected with nature x
oh no, well I hope you get to go back there sometime ๐
Looks like a stunning trip. The valley looks especially beautiful. But omg that railway would freak me out a little! Is it as steep as it looks? lol
haha yes it’s that steep! it runs on a counter-weight type thing.
Such an idyllic village! This whole trip looks so amazing; it goes straight to my bucket list, I love charming little villages like this one. The view from the railway is so stunning!
Such an idyllic village! This whole trip looks so amazing; it goes straight to my bucket list, I love charming little villages like this one. The view from the railway is so stunning! I need to visit ๐
You should! ๐
The houses and the funicular remind me of small Swiss towns. Lynmouth looks so beautiful!
oh really what a compliment haha The UK does have some really nice places.
This village looks right out of a fairytale – and even though it’s quaint, seems beautiful to visit.
yeh it is lovely and less touristy than other places ๐
Eeeeeee! Crab sandwiches!!!
I don’t even really like them that much, but it’s so English seaside town!
haha I’m not a seafood type person myself dont worry! But yes, very English.