County Gate/Cosgates Feet, Lynmouth, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: the view from County Gate/Cosgates Feet to Exmoor’s high moor]
County Gate/Cosgates Feet
County Gate/Cosgates Feet is an Exmoor viewpoint and beauty spot that’s easily accessible by the A39. The East Lyn River and Coleridge Way run along the valley below. The South West Coast Path follows the coast a short distance to the north. Various paths take you to the coast including one that descends to Glenthorne Beach.
Location of County Gate/Cosgates Feet
County gate/Cosgate Feet is located on the Somerset/Devon border in the north section of Exmoor National Park close to the coast.
We’ve positioned County Gate/Cosgate Feet on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, County Gate/Cosgates Feet
Follow the A39 between Lynmouth and Porlock.
There’s a large car parking area on site.
Note that there’s also parking to the west on Cosgate Hill or to the south down in Malmsmead.
County Gate/Cosgates Feet
‘The landscape around County Gate is full of fascinating archaeological sites - the remains of thousands of years of human activity.
Prehistoric flints have been collected from local fields. Ancient burial mounds can be found on nearby Coasgate Hill and many of the other neighbouring hills.
Shortly after the Roman conquest of Britain, almost 2000 years ago, a small outpost or fortlet was built overlooking the Bristol Channel on Old Burrow Hill. Excavations in the 1960s found well preserved defensive banks that originally contained tented accommodation for around 60 men. From here there are fantastic views across the Bristol Channel and along the spectacular Exmoor coast.
From the hamlet of Malmshead, a path leads up Badgworthy Water - famous as the heart of Doone Country. Here there are traces of a medieval village of houses, barns and fields, that was abandoned six hundred years ago. In the 19th century the writer RD Blackmore explored this lost medieval landscape and the deserted settlement became the inspiration for the Doone family’s home in his epic novel Lorna Doone.’ (Source: information board on site.)
Historical and cultural attractions near County Gate/Cosgates Feet
Doone Country. Richard Doddridge Blackmore's famous novel 'Lorna Doone' is set on Exmoor. Roughly speaking, Doone Valley/Doone Country runs south of Malmsmead and Oare along Badgworhty Water. It’s surrounded by high moor. You can walk to the site of the deserted medieval village as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. It’s a beautiful walk that we’d recommend in summer when the heather’s out.
Porlock Weir Harbour. Beautiful harbour with pub and hotel. Essential visiting when on holiday in Exmoor National Park.
Watersmeet (National Trust). Wonderful National Trust property where Hoaroak Water joins the East Lyn River. Set in a steep-sided and heavily wooded valley, there’s a shop, tea room and garden on site. Watersmeet is part of the National Trust’s West Exmoor property covering ‘some 4000 acres (1600ha) of rocky cliffs, open moorland, steep wooded valleys and fast flowing rivers’. (Source: National Trust information board at Watersmeet.)
Lynmouth Harbour. Popular and pretty harbour between Lynmouth Western Beach and Lynmouth Eastern Beach on the Exmoor coast. Boat trips run from the harbour.
Lynmouth Pavilion National Park Centre. Visitor centre by Lynmouth Harbour.
Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. ‘The famous Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway opened in 1890 and is the highest and the steepest totally water powered railway in the world!’ (Source: Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway website.)
Other attractions near County Gate/Cosgates Feet
South West Coast Path. The Exmoor section of the South West Coast Path is particularly stunning. The views from the Desolation Point area to Foreland Point (west) are superb. Highly recommended.
Coleridge Way. Another amazing long distance walking path that runs across Exmoor. The stretch following the East Lyn River to Watersmeet (National Trust) is great.
Porlock Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the western end of Porlock Bay.
Bossington Beach. Big rock and pebble beach at the eastern end of Porlock Bay.
Porlock Ridge and Saltmarsh SSSI/Site of Special Scientific Interest sits behind Porlock Beach and Bossington Beach.
The Valley of Rocks. Famous West Country beauty spot. Again, essential visiting. The views west along the coast are magnificent.
Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve. County Gate/Cosgate Feet is easily accessible so it’s a good place from which to look up at night. The night skies above Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor are all exceptional.
Places to eat and drink near County Gate/Cosgates Feet
The Blue Ball Inn. Pub just west of County Gate/Cosgate Feet on the A39 by Foreland Point.
The Bottom Ship Inn in Porlock Weir. Super pub in an amazing location by the harbour at Porlock Weir and Porlock Bay.
Lynmouth The Rising Sun in Lynmouth. Another amazing location but this time overlooking Lynmouth Harbour.
Lynmouth Esplanade Fish Bar Restaurant and Takeaway. Again, by Lynmouth Harbour. Enjoy fish and chips at Lynmouth Harbour and Lynmouth Western Beach.
Villages and towns near County Gate/Cosgates Feet
Malmsmead and Oare. Hamlet and village in Exmoor’s Doone Country. Great walking. We’d recommend following the path that runs by Badgworthy Water to the site of the medieval village in Doone Country in the heart of the moor.
Lynmouth. Famous West Country village and part of ‘England’s Little Switzerland’.
Lynton. Again, famous West Country village and part of ‘England’s Little Switzerland’. Sits above Lynmouth and close to The Valley of Rocks.
Porlock Weir. Amazing coastal village with harbour, pub, hotel and beach.
Porlock. Famous West Country village in Porlock Vale.
Bossington. Village by Bossington Beach below Bossington Hill.
Allerford village. Beautiful village further inland known for its packhorse bridge.
Selworthy village. One of the West Country’s prettiest villages, Selworthy is famous for its thatched cottages and village green. Enjoy a cream tea at the Periwinkle Tea Room.
Simonsbath. High moorland village through which the Two Moors Way runs. Walking country with a great pub.
Photo Gallery
