The spectacular combination of sweeping moorland with high, rugged, tree-clad cliffs and enticing sheltered bays make Lynton and Lynmouth almost unique.
Lynton and Lynmouth grew up slowly around two splendid deep and wooded river valleys, those of the East and West Lyn river which have their origins in a maze of tiny streams high up on Exmoor and meet as they reach the sea at Lynmouth. It was the Victorians who made these twin towns holiday centres, the quiet charm of which lead them to name it 'The Little Switzerland of England'.
Castle Rock above Lynton
About a mile from the centre of Lynton is the famed Valley of Rocks. It can be reached easily by car but is much more rewarding to approach on foot via North Walk or Hollerday Hill. Dominating the valley is Castle Rock, while other strangely weathered formations bear names such as Ragged Jack and the Devil's Cheesewring.
The Cliff Railway was officially opened in 1890 and operates at a gradient of 1:1¾ covering a vertical height of approximately 500 feet. The gauge is 45 inches and each car has a 700 gallon water tank which is filled at the top and emptied at the bottom, thus causing the lower car to be pulled up to Lynton, while the heavier car from the top descends to Lynmouth.
Lynton is a Victorian resort perched above a lofty gorge with splendid views over the sea. Almost completely cut off from the rest of the country for most of its history, the village struck lucky during the Napoleonic Wars, when frustrated Grand Tourists - unable to visit their usual continental haunts - discovered in Lynton a domestic piece of Swiss landscape. The greatest spur to the village's popularity came with the publication in 1869 of R D Blackmore's Exmoor melodrama Lorna Doone, a book based on the outlaw clans who inhabited these parts in the 17th century.
Lynton Harbour
The imposing Town Hall epitomises the Victorian-Edwardian accent of Lynton. It was the gift of publisher George Newnes, who also donated the Cliff Railway connecting Lynton with Lynmouth. The device is an ingenious hydraulic system, its two carriages counter-balanced by water tanks which fill up at the top, descend and empty their load at the bottom.
The Tower Lynton Harbour
Lynmouth lies at the junction and estuary of the East and West Lyn rivers, in a spot described by Gainsborough as "the most delightful place for a landscape painter this country can boast". The picturesque scene was shattered in August 1952 when Lynmouth was almost washed away by floodwaters coming off Exmoor, a disaster of which there are many reminders around the village. Nearly 100 houses and 28 bridges were destroyed or damaged and 31 lives were lost.
Lynton Harbour
In Lynton a restored 16th century house, St Vincent's Cottage, is now a small museum displaying the tools and products of past craftsmen. Take a look at the town hall with its attractive architecture, built by Sir George Newnes, who also built the cliff "railway".
Lynmouth harbour
Exmoor National Park
Lynton and Lynmouth are linked by a steep but well-made road and also by the Cliff Railway, an absolute must for most newcomers to see. Blasting for the route was begun in 1887 and the railway opened in 1890. The two carriages run on an endless cable and are gravity pulled. A tank in the top carriage is filled with spring water whilst the bottom carriage is emptied. When the brake is released the carriages move smoothly up and down the rails, taking about 90 seconds to complete the journey of 900feet (275 metres). There has never been an accident on this railway in its whole history, which is a remarkable achievement of safety.
Valley
of The Rocks,
near Lynton
A popular holiday centre known with it's
neighbour Lynmouth as 'Little Switzerland'
due to it's magnificent wooded hills. The town is Victorian in character
with many amenities for visitors including cinema,
live theatre and a Tourist
Information Centre in the imposing Town Hall. There are superb coastal
walks to the nearby Valley of Rocks where
wild goats may be seen perched on the cliffs. See the Lyn
and Exmoor Museum and ride the cliff
railway to Lynmouth.
To the east of Lynton at the confluence of Oak Hoar Water and the East Lyn River is Watersmeet, a former fishing lodge owned by the National Trust. Now a tea room, open between 31 March and 31 October, it is the focal point for a number of spectacular walks.
Lynton and Lynmouth are like twins, one village complementing
the other. Lynmouth is wedged between a steep cliff and the ocean on
North Devon's coast, while Lynton looks down from the 500ft (152m) high
clifftop on her twin. The views from either are glorious. You can see,
on a clear day, across to the Welsh coast.
But proximity is about all these twins have in common.
Lynmouth is a traditional fishing village with stone houses, and Lynton
is a Victorian-Edwardian village, many of its homes turned into seaside
villas and hotels.
An unusual Cliff Railway connects the
two villages. Two passenger carrying "cars", connected by
a cable, chug up and down the hill, each with a water tank capable
of holding 700 gallons. At the top of the cliff one car's tank is filled,
causing it to descend the cliff, while the car with a lighter, empty
tank rises to the top. The full tank is emptied once the car reaches
the bottom of the cliff, and then the process starts all over again.
This "railway" has a gradient of 1 to 1¾--pretty
steep. But not to fear. Since its opening in 1890 no accidents have occurred.
And it's definitely the easiest way to travel between the two villages.
In Lynton a restored 16th century house,
St Vincent's Cottage, is now a small museum displaying the tools and
products of past craftsmen. Take a look at the town hall with its attractive
architecture, built by Sir George Newnes, who also built the cliff "railway".
Lynmouth's 14th century thatched smuggler's inn is now a hotel as is
Tregonwell, a Victorian stone house built for a sea captain.
Nearby an 1832 fishing lodge, Watersmeet House, nestles
in a beautiful tree-lined gorge at the confluence of the East Lyn and
Hoar Oak Water. Have a cup of tea at the National Trust teashop here,
and amble on paths under green canopied skies.
Looking down from Lynton to Lynmouth
The villages owe their popularity as
tourist destinations to Napoleon. Denied their usual continental holiday
haunts because of the Napoleonic Wars, Britains sought out homegrown
spots and found dramatic cliffs and coastlines here. The poet, Shelley,
stayed here for several months with his bride and named the area, "Little Switzerland".
Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are other literary figures who found the area
amenable for writing. It is said Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired to write "The
Ancient Mariner" after viewing Lynmouth's harbour.
Lynmouth's men performed a heroic task in 1899 when they
hauled a lifeboat 13 miles over land to Porlock to rescue the crew of
The Forrest Hall, a ship foundering in the bad weather and stormy seas
that prohibited the lifeboat launch at Lynmouth.
Tragedy struck Lynmouth in 1952. The rivers East and West
Lyn flow to the sea in a deep cleft between the cliffs, and that was
the starting point for disaster when flood swollen waters swept through
the village of Lynmouth, hurtling mud and 40,000 tons of boulders and
tree trunks on the unsuspecting inhabitants. Homes, roads and bridges
were destroyed. Thirty-four people met a sad end.
Lynmouth and Lynton, on a heritage coast, are part of Exmoor
National Park.
Hikers can walk the Southwest Coast Path-which passes through the villages-from
Minehead in the east to Combe Martin in the west.
Dramatic moorland covered with purple heather and yellow
gorse vies for attention with rugged rocky coves demanding exploration.
Nearby, buzzards and red deer hint at the wildness of the area. And stories
such as Lorna Doone, of infamous fictional fame, set amidst the countryside,
add to the legends of this land.
One mile (2km) to the west (you can
walk it along the North Cliff Walk) is the Valley
of The Rocks, a natural
gorge between two ridges of hills. Here sandstone and shale fought
unsuccessfully with the wind, and the result is such aptly named rocks
as "Devil's Cheeswring" and "Ragged
Jack". The rocks are playthings for wild mountain goats.
This wild and beautiful land of surging seas, towering
cliffs, rocky headlands and wooded ravines plays reluctant host to man
in scenic settings like Lynmouth and Lynton.
St.Mary, Lynton
Often described as 'an ancient church' St.Mary's is little more than 100 years old and has undergone three major re-building projects. The exception to this being the tower which dates from the 13th century and houses two bells both 400 years old. The earliest memorial can be found in the graveyard and is dated 1645 and remembers Elizabeth & Peter Squier of Parracombe.
Tourist Information Lynton
View from Lynton down to Lynmouth Beach
To the west of Lynton is the spectacular Valley of the Rocks. These strange rock formations have given rise to local legends and some have names such as White Lady and Ragged Jack. It is also the home of a herd of wild goats that can be seen grazing on the rocky outcrops.
The National Park's main town (pop with Lynmouth, 1,658) and service centre with a variety of facilities including plenty of car parking. The buildings are mainly Victorian, of local stone and terracotta roof tiles and a variety of architectural designs, including Swiss-style balconies and carved barge boards. The Lyn and Exmoor Museum has a collection devoted to Exmoor's social history.
Lynton: small cliff-top town/Edwardian resort in stunning scenery. Below – winding road and funicular railway connect – is Lynmouth (famous harbour village, boat trips) where two rivers pour from steep oak-wooded valleys. On Lynton’s edge begins the very spectacular Valley
of The Rocks. Marvellous walking country, valley or hill-top. Woolacombe (superb sand/surf beaches), about 20 miles (decent road).
John Arbon Textiles, known as the 'Alpaca shop', was set up in Lynton by textile designer John Arbon. Full of imaginative textiles made from UK Alpaca yarns, the majority are designed by John himself and many handmade by local craftspeople.
John has developed a range of tried and tested alpaca socks (from comfy walking socks to cosy bed socks). Alongside are beautiful handmade garments (from baby bootees to scarves); a fine collection of home interior textiles (from blankets to tea cosies), plus a selection of hand knit yarn (including UK Alpaca double knit), knitting patterns and a be-spoke rug making service.
A water-powered funicular railway links the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth amongst magnificent scenery. Both have delightful shops and many places to eat. You should not miss the opportunity to try the delicious locally produced ice cream.
In Lynmouth there is a commemorative display to the victims of the flash flood in 1952 that caused so much devastation and loss of life to this town.
The small coastal town of Lynmouth became known throughout the world for the disaster which struck in August 1952.
On the night of the 15th, after continuous rain throughout the day, the East and West Lyn Rivers rose suddenly and filled with the waters from their Exmoor catchment. Large boulders and rocks were carried in the flow towards the village, destroying houses, roads and bridges. Many lost their lives during that dark and terrifying night.
You can find 'Fish on the Harbour' in the beautiful village of Lynmouth just opposite the River Lyn.
In addition to traditionally prepared fish and chips - maybe with some home-made mushy peas and tartar sauce - you will find local lobster, crab and the exclusive, very famous steak and seaweed pie.
Fish on the Harbour offers a 'catch of the day' - anything from skate to shark - whatever the fishmonger has to offer on the day. Bouillabaisse made with locally caught fish is a popular dish along with alternatives to fried fish - salmon grilled with a lemon butter for example.
Cockles and mussels are sold from a seafood stall in the garden. Fresh crab and lobster are available to take away as is a cone of whitebait or squid rings. The garden is a great place to sit with a bottle of wine watching the world go by.
Really good food in a totally relaxed atmosphere - that's Fish on the Harbour.
There is some evidence that many areas around Lynton were settled in prehistoric times, but it appears that Lynton itself was originally a Celtic settlement.
Until the 18th century, Lynton was a small isolated farming settlement. Later on in the century, as a result of improved roads, increased leisure and wealth, Lynton and Lynmouth were transformed into tourist resorts. Among the earliest visitors were Gainsborough, Coutts the banker and the poets Coleridge, Wordsworth and Shelley. During the latter half of the 19th century development was rapid, with many new hotels and houses being built. The original hydroelectric power station was one of the first in the country, supplying both villages with electricity before many major cities had street lighting. Electricity, the installation of a pure water supply, the completion of the Cliff Railway and Lynton to Barnstaple Railway made life easier.
Sir George Newnes, the magazine magnate who was responsible for the publishing of "Tit-Bits" and "Country Life", was a great benefactor to both villages. He financed most of the Cliff Railway and was behind construction of the Lynton to Barnstaple narrow gauge railway, which was in service from 1898 to 1935. He built the Town Hall to celebrate his son's coming of age; this was opened by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Sir George built and lived in Hollerday House, which was on the hill behind the Town Hall. The remains can still be seen, the house having been destroyed by fire at the beginning of this century.
Castle Rock Lynton - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Lynton and Lynmouth - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
River Lyn Bridge Mill Lynton - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Lyndale Mill Lynton - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
Local builder, Bob Jones built the Tower Hotel house in 1889 for a Baronets son as a country retreat, built many of the new buildings and the Cliff Railway with which Sir George was associated.
Lynmouth was a small port until the late 18th century, importing coal and limestone from South Wales and exporting farm produce and oysters. The restored limekilns can still be seen by the Cliff Railway in Lynmouth. Most of the traffic to and from the area was by sea, as tourism grew, access by horse and stagecoach became readily available. The last coach ran in 1920.
On the 15th August 1952 disaster struck the valley after a terrible storm. Lynmouth bore the full force of the flash flood when millions of tons of water poured through the village destroying it and killing 34 (including children).
The Lyton and Lynmouth area on the beautiful coast of Exmoor National Park is home to a number of fascinating geological features.
To the west of Lynton is the famous Valley of the Rocks. The site has excellent exposures of the Lynton Beds that are rich in fossils and are some of the oldest Devonian rocks in the north Devon -Somerset area. However, it is perhaps the topography of the site that is most dramatic, with many classic landforms on show. These include a dry valley and a number of periglacial features demonstrating the effects of the freezing temperatures present here during the Ice Age when glaciers reached as far south as the north Devon coast.
Lynton and Lynmouth Devon - photo presented with the kind permisssion of www.grumpystumpy.com
To the east, at Lynmouth, a large boulder fan can be seen extending into the Bristol Channel from the mouth of the East Lyn and West Lyn rivers. This bears witness to major flooding over thousands of
years and in particular to the disaster of August 1952 following a period of very heavy rainfall. water flowed in sheets over the surrounding open moors and the resulting volume of water -estimated to be the equivalent of three months discharge of the River Thames - moved over 50,000 tonnes of boulders, some of more than 10 tonnes each. Many of these boulders can still be seen in the river beds and other features associated with the flood, such as boulder field deposits, can still be observed in the upper valleys.
For further details on the geology of this area geo-WEC.pdf and geo-RLL.pdf produced by Devon County Council
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