Lynmouth
Between bouts of busy tourism, picturesque Lynmouth is a romantic, smuggler's seaside village. The town lies on the shores of the estuary where the East and West Lyn Rivers meet. Its romantic getaway place which was once described by Gainsborough as "the most delightful place for a landscape painter this country can boast". It was also here that Shelley brought his bride, Harriet Westbrook and where he wrote part of Queen Mab. Another English classic writer. Blackmore author of Lorna Doone, resided Mars Hill which you'll recognize as the oldest part of the town. Lynmouth caters for hikers as well as lovers and its worth exploring the Glen Lyn Gorge. There are various walks up the wooded valley of the gorge with waterfalls and informative displays on waterpower.
The Lynmouth National park Visitor Centre lies ion the seafront and is open daily between 10am and 4pm. The center will give you more information of walks in the area. Options include the Two Moors Way which links Dartmoor and Exmoor and starts in Lynmouth, the South West Coast Path and the Tarka Trail which passes through the villages. For those interested in shorter walks check out the Valley of the Rocks for a coastal footpath which will offer some great photo opportunities. Indeed it was once described by Southey as, "rock reeling upon rock, stone piled upon stone, a huge terrifying reeling mass". Alternatively, there's Watersmeet which lies 2m/3km from Lymouth along the river and is unsurprisingly where the two rivers converge.
The Lynmouth National park Visitor Centre lies ion the seafront and is open daily between 10am and 4pm. The center will give you more information of walks in the area. Options include the Two Moors Way which links Dartmoor and Exmoor and starts in Lynmouth, the South West Coast Path and the Tarka Trail which passes through the villages. For those interested in shorter walks check out the Valley of the Rocks for a coastal footpath which will offer some great photo opportunities. Indeed it was once described by Southey as, "rock reeling upon rock, stone piled upon stone, a huge terrifying reeling mass". Alternatively, there's Watersmeet which lies 2m/3km from Lymouth along the river and is unsurprisingly where the two rivers converge.