Our Devon Days Out series is here to give you some inspiration for day trips and good eating across North Devon. This blog looks at the great walking along some of the most dramatic sea cliffs and coves along the North Exmoor Coast.
Heddon’s Mouth
- Family friendly
- Parking
- Public toilets
- Easy walking
- Dog friendly
Heddon’s mouth is a rocky cove on the North Devon coast, accessed through beautiful Exmoor woodland. It was once the stomping ground of smugglers, but is now far more popular with ramblers! A beautiful walk through ancient woodland takes you alongside the River Heddon to where it meets the sea between some of England’s highest cliffs. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Heddon Valley is home to a variety of wildlife including otters and the rare high brown fritillary butterfly. You will find a restored 19th-century lime kiln on the beach.
Eating
The national trust shop serves up lovely coffee and cakes, or for a meal, head to the Hunter’s Inn.
Woody Bay
- Family friendly
- Parking
- Public toilets
- Accessible
- Easy walking
- Dog friendly
Woody Bay is a picturesque coastal spot located in Devon, England. It nestles in a remote and unspoiled corner of the region, approximately three miles west of Lynton and eight miles east of Combe Martin. This sheltered bay is backed by steep cliffs adorned with woodlands, and an access path zig-zags down through the woods to reach the rocky pebble and shingle beach. The Heddon Valley, where Woody Bay lies, is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to various wildlife, including otters and the rare high brown fritillary butterfly. If you’re up for a beautiful walk, you can explore the ancient woodland alongside the River Heddon, which eventually meets the sea between some of England’s highest cliffs. A small car park is available at the top of the access path for visitors.
For a change from walking, why not try the narrow gauge railway; the only steam railway in the UK where passengers travel in Victorian railway carriages designed in the 1890s. It’s a one mile return trip from Woody Bay Station to Killington Lane and back and takes approximately 20 minutes, with views out to wild moorland and the rugged coastline. Originally opened in 1898, and closed in 1935; what you can see today at Woody Bay is just the beginning of an exciting project to rebuild one of the world’s most famous and picturesque narrow-gauge railways; the legendary Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. The train is dog friendly and has great accessibility. There is a tea shop and model railway at the station, and if you choose to alight at Killington you can walk to the Fox and Goose for refreshments before catching the next train back to Woody Bay.
Eating
There’s plenty to choose from, but why not try the Fox and Goose, a short walk from the station at Killington. Alternatively the tea room at Woody Bay station serves up light bites and cakes, or 4 miles away is the Old Station Inn.
