North Devon – The Valley of the Rocks

Welcome to my first travel guide

Today I’ll be giving you the lowdown on the stunning spot along the North Devon coastline called the Valley of the Rocks. You may have seen me post about this on my Instagram recently, it’s a place I discovered only a couple of weeks ago and really wish I’d known about sooner!

What it’s all about…

The Valley of the Rocks is an impressive section of coastline situated within the Exmoor National Park. A steep valley runs parallel to the cliffs and is home to some really impressive geology, some even more impressive views and a very cute herd of feral goats.
I don’t know about you but cute animals and stunning views = my idea of heaven!

What to do while you’re there…

Take a walk along the winding coast path right on the edge of the cliffs, it’s an easy stroll from the car parks located in the valley and the paths are well maintained. There are plenty of benches for perfect picnic spots. Soak up the views and take a look at the impressive rock formations; some of which appear so precariously balanced I wonder how they’re still standing!
Whilst you’re enjoying the views see if you can spot the goats that have called this valley their home for hundreds of years and can often be seen clambering about on the sheer cliff face.
For those of you that are more able footed and feeling a little like mountain goats yourselves, you can climb to the top of one of the rock stacks at the Western end of the valley for some truly incredible views.
If you prefer a slightly longer walk why not start in the seaside town of Lynton situated about a mile further down the coast, you can join the South West coast path here which leads you right to the valley.

How to get there…

The postcode for the valley is EX35 6JH and it’s situated about 30 minutes from Barnstaple or just over an hour from junction 27 of the M5.
There are three carparks in the valley itself, all of which are pay and display between the hours of 10am and 6pm. However, unlike some tourist hotspots, they are very reasonably priced at £1 for an hour or £2.20 for two hours. We parked in the “Upper Valley Car Park” which has handy larger designated parking spaces for motorhomes, none of the car parks in the valley have height limits.

If you’re planning to park in Lynton and walk to the valley, there are multiple parking options in the town including Castle Hill car park (EX35 6JD) which again is chargeable between 10am and 6pm and does not have a height limit.

If you fancy a longer walk and would rather not pay for parking, you can park above Lynmouth (see details in the wild camping section below) and walk along the coast path from there.

Nearest places to grab a bite…

Feeling peckish after your climb? The valley itself has a tearoom called Mother Meldrum’s Tea Gardens, I didn’t try it out on my visit but they offer a range of home cooked food and drink options and have some good reviews.

Where to stay…

For those of you that fancy sticking around a bit longer:

Wild camping – As many of you know I’m a sucker for a free parkup, preferably with a beautiful view. The car parks in the valley indicate that no overnight camping is allowed, however there are several gorgeous spots locally.

EX35 6NE – This park up is under 4 miles to the East of the valley above Lynmouth there is a decent sized park up with no restrictions and lovely views. It can be found just off the A39 on the left hand side when travelling from Lynmouth.
This spot is set nicely off the road and backs right onto the coast path which is frequently visited by the Exmoor ponies and deer. As mentioned earlier you can walk straight from here along the South West coast path to the Valley of the Rocks.

EX31 4QU – This parkup to the West is only 2.5 miles from the valley and again in a beautiful coastal spot, it has nicer sea views than the spot above Lynmouth and is closer to the coast but further from a pub! It can be found on the corner where the road connecting the A39 joins Berry Ground Lane.
Please be aware if you are travelling in a larger vehicle or van the road between here and the valley is very narrow with lots of low branches, I would strongly recommend taking the longer route further inland, I nearly got stuck in my MWB Sprinter which was rather entertaining (and stressful!) so best avoided.
The only downside with both these spots, as with all coastal views, is that they can be very windy.

Campsite goers – If you’re happier under canvas or prefer the facilities that come with a campsite Sunny Lyn Holiday Park and Caffyns Farm are both nearby.

Hotels and B&B’s – Both Lynton and Lynmouth have a range of accommodation options including Orchard House hotel in Lynmouth and The North Cliff hotel in Lynton which for those of you travelling with your furry companions, is also dog friendly!

Other places nearby…

The North Devon coastline is full of hidden gems.

Lynton and Lynmouth, Woolacombe, Porlock and the Exmoor National Park can all be found within easy reach of here and are lovely places to visit.