The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway connects Lynton and Lynmouth and offers views of the coast. It opened in 1890. In Lynton, you can therefore find both a link between the two towns and the history of the railway. If you’re interested in coastal views and architectural history, it offers a tangible starting point when choosing a destination. The Cliff Top Café is located at the railway’s upper station in Lynton. Check current operating details before including it in your visit plans.

Coastal paths and their different features

The Valley of Rocks is near Lynton and offers a walk of about one mile through dramatic coastal scenery. Feral goats are also a defining feature of the area. The approximate distance can be considered alongside the landscape: this walk focuses on the coast and wildlife.

The North Walk is also about one mile long. It was cut into the cliff face of Hollerday Hill in 1817 and leads to the Valley of Rocks. The similar approximate distances do not make the paths the same: the Valley of Rocks is described in terms of its coastal scenery and goats, while the North Walk is distinguished by its origins and destination. You can also use these descriptions to decide whether you’re more interested in the landscape or the history of the path.

One route from the entrance to the Cliff Railway follows the North Walk to a section at cliff level that forms part of the South West Coast Path. Another walk, Hollerday Hill Peak & Snowball, passes through an Iron Age site and the woodland of Hollerday Hill to the start of Snowball. These features offer different points of orientation: one route runs from the railway entrance to a section of the long-distance path, while the other takes in the Iron Age site, the woodland and the start of Snowball.

Museum and architectural history in Lynton

The collection at the Lyn and Exmoor Museum includes agricultural, domestic, maritime, railway-related and natural history objects from Lynton and Exmoor. Its scope therefore ranges from everyday life to natural and railway history, while also reflecting both Lynton and Exmoor. Check current museum access arrangements before visiting.

The architectural history of the Anglican parish church, the Church of St Mary the Virgin, spans several periods: it has a 13th-century tower and was extensively reconstructed by Sedding and Wilson from 1891 to 1905. The medieval tower and the later reconstruction belong to different phases in the church’s history.

The Lynton Cinema building retains stained-glass windows and high ceilings from its original architecture. Lynton Town Hall was built by Sir George Newnes in the late 19th century. Its exterior architecture is rich in detail, and its interior is elaborately carved. These features offer different perspectives on Lynton’s architectural history, from the old church tower and extensive reconstruction to surviving elements of the cinema and the details of the Town Hall.

Discover more destinations: Exmouth, Buckland Brewer, Woolacombe, Devonport, Combe Martin, Instow, Northam, North Huish.

For the broader travel guide: Devon.