Beautiful Places to Visit on Exmoor: Our Top 5
With some of Britain’s most unspoiled woodlands, leafy lanes and the cutest of English villages on route, Exmoor is an idyllic place to escape. Whatever the season, pretty walks, secluded beaches and wild corners are just a modest drive away from our idyllic grounds at The Northcote Manor Hotel. The list of walks, special sites, attractions and places to visit on Exmoor awaiting the curious visitor are endless. But if we could only pick a handful of destinations, these would be especially high on our list:
Watersmeet
One of Britain’s best-preserved ancient woodlands, this is a truly special place for any visitor with a love of the leafy, wild countryside. Every season has its beauty and this is noted as one of the finest Exmoor walking locations of all, with plenty of peace and quiet to be had even in midsummer (the only “rush” you’re likely to experience is the sparkling water of the East Lyn).
A protected site rich in wildlife, the very next few steps you take could reveal anything from a greater spotted woodpecker to the incredibly rare whitebeam trees still found here. In simple terms, it is one of the finest places to go birdwatching, rambling or simply relaxing anywhere in Devon and Somerset.
Ideal for: Woodland walks, birdwatching
Lynmouth & the North Devon Coast
If the very mention of Exmoor made you think of forests, heaths and ponies, a trip to North Devon is a must to experience the full splendour of the National Park’s coastal beauty. “Dramatic” doesn’t come close here; from the pretty town of Lynmouth to rambling along the South West Coast Path, there is a thrillingly wild, craggy character here. It is an especially good area for adventure pursuits such as sea kayaking, rock climbing and coasteering, although more relaxed pleasures are also plentiful. Nearby Martinhoe has an amazingly lofty waterfall, while the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a fascinating slice of Victorian engineering with amazing views.
Ideal For: Photography, adventure sports
Porlock
It’s a bit of a drive, given the narrowness of the country roads, but for anyone jaded with grey spaces and the din of modern life, the little town of Porlock is beautifully quaint and quiet, not to mention set amidst some fabulous scenery. Look out for Culbone Church (the smallest church in England), 16th Century Coaching Inn The Ship, not to mention fabulous views to reward the footloose visitor along the South West Coast Path. The area has some fascinating local geology and ancient history too, with an Iron Age hill fort (Bury Castle), fossilized wonders and even the remains of a sunken forest on Porlock Beach.
Ideal for: Coastal views, history and geology