Watersmeet (National Trust), Lynmouth, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: the view from the footbridge at Watersmeet looking down the River Lyn to Horner’s Neck Wood. Watersmeet House is located to the right]
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.)
Location of Watersmeet (National Trust)
Lynmouth and Lynton are located on the Exmoor coast. They’re named after the River Lyn that flows into Lynmouth Bay by Lynmouth Harbour.
Head upriver and you come to the beauty spot where the East River Lyn and Hoaroak Water converge. This is Watersmeet (National Trust).
We’ve positioned Watersmeet (National Trust) on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Watersmeet (National Trust)
Given that it’s a beauty spot in a steep valley where two rivers meet, Watersmeet (National Trust) can be approached from all directions. Some routes are very easy. Others are more demanding and part of a much longer walk. We provide route descriptions below to give you ideas dependent on time available, fitness levels and personal interests. Refer to Ordnance Survey mapping for detail as there are a high number of paths you can follow to get to Watersmeet (National Trust).
Watersmeet (National Trust)
‘Watersmeet. The National Trust’s West Exmoor property covers some 4000 acres (1600ha) of rocky cliffs, open moorland, steep wooded valleys and fast flowing rivers.
Much of it is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of its extensive oakwoods. 70 miles of footpaths cross the property, locally centred on Watersmeet with its shop and tea garden, open from Easter to the end of October. Here the Hoar Oak Water joins the East Lyn River, a perfect spot for the house built in about 1830 by the Halliday family as a fishing and shooting lodge.
The Watersmeet valley is a beautiful place. It can also be wild and dangerous. When in spate the rivers should be respected. Take care near the water and on slippery rocks and paths.’ (Source: National Trust information board on site.)
‘Combe Park. From the pleasant riverside parkland at Combe Park you can follow the path beside the Hoar Oak Water down to Watersmeet, or climb up through the woods to explore the grassy remains of the Iron Age settlements known as Myrtleberry North and South Camps.
Part of the National Trust’s 4,000 acres on West Exmoor, the camps are Scheduled Monuments, and together with Watersmeet are in a Special Area of Conservation because of the extensive sessile oak woods. Ramsons, wood anemones, primroses and bluebells carpet the valley side in spring.
The shop and tea garden at Watersmeet is open from early spring to the end of October. Please take care when walking near the water on slippery paths and rocks, especially when rivers are in spate.’ (Source: National Trust information board on site.)
Recommended route to Watersmeet (National Trust) for the first time
The A39 runs east/west or west/east across Exmoor National Park. At Lynmouth, it’s also known as Watersmeet Road. If you follow the A39/Watersmeet Road south east of Lynmouth, you come to Watersmeet Road Car Park. This is the easiest way to get to Watersmeet (National Trust). You’ll see a path opposite the car park. Follow this down to Watersmeet (National Trust). Clearly, it’s a bit of yomp back up.
Routes and directions to Watersmeet (National Trust) from the west
Lynmouth and Lynton are west-ish of Watersmeet (National Trust). You can walk the Coleridge Way above the River Lyn to get to Watersmeet (National Trust) or follow the Two Moors Way/Tarka Trail on high ground above the valley before joining a path that takes you down to the beauty spot.
Both the Coleridge Way and Two Moors Way/Tarka Trail are marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. Clearly, these are longer walks. The Two Moors Way/Tarka Trail route involves a very steep initial ascent.
Routes and directions to Watersmeet (National Trust) from the east
Malmsmead, Oare and Doone Country are east and south east of Watersmeet (National Trust). You can walk the Coleridge Way along the East Lyn River to get to the beauty spot.
Start at the car park in Malmsmead. Cross Malmsmead Bridge and follow the country lane east. Very shortly, you’ll see a path on your left. Cross Oare Water on the footbridge and you’ll connect with the Coleridge Way. Follow this west to Watersmeet (National Trust).
Again, the car park in Malmsmead, the country lane, footpath and Coleridge Way are marked on Ordnance Survey mapping.
Alternatively, start at the car park County Gate/Cosgate Feet. Follow the path that trends west to connect with the Coleridge Way. Follow this west to Watersmeet (National Trust).
Routes and directions to Watersmeet (National Trust) from the north
You can walk from the Countisbury area.
There’s a large car parking area at Barna Barrow by the A39. Head north from this and you very shortly connect with a path running east/west. Follow this path east to the church and Countisbury. The above is a short detour to avoid walking down the A39 from the car parking area. Cross the A39 and follow the path that drops down into Horner’s Neck Wood and Watersmeet (National Trust).
Routes and directions to Watersmeet (National Trust) from the south
There’s a small car parking area along the A39/Watersmeet Road south of the main Watersmeet Road Car Park. You can walk along a pavement to where the A39/Watersmeet Road meets the B3223. Continue on the pavement over the bridge and you very shortly come to a path on your left that takes you down to Watersmeet (National Trust). It’s a gentler approach than the one from Watersmeet Road Car Park.
Note that the Two Moors Way/Tarka Trail also runs past the point where the A39/Watersmeet Road meets the B3223 so you can detour from these long distance trails if you’re walking them in the area.
The views at Watersmeet (National Trust)
Watersmeet (National Trust) is a beauty spot. As you would expect, there are plenty of amazing views in and around the area.
The view from the footbridge at Watersmeet looking down the River Lyn to Horner’s Neck Wood is superb.
The views from the high ground on the Two Moors Way/Tarka Trail above Lynmouth are amazing as well.
Other gorges, cleaves and valleys near Watersmeet (National Trust)
Glen Lyn Gorge. Visitor attraction in Lynmouth.
The Valley of Rocks. Famous West Country beauty spot just west of Lynton. Essential visiting if you’re on holiday in Exmoor National Park or the wider region.
Heddon’s Mouth Cleave. Extraordinary steep-sided valley. The superb The Hunters Inn is at the upper end of the valley. Heddon’s Mouth Beach is at the end of the valley. The views from the South West Coast Path high above the beach both at Highveer Point and Peter Rock are sensational.
Doone Valley/Doone Country. Beautiful moorland valley.
Hawkcombe Woods National Nature Reserve. Just south west of Porlock.
Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. Huge and impressive valley south of Porlock. Explore the valley and woods before heading up to Dunkery Beacon which is the highest point in the national park.
Historical and cultural attractions near Watersmeet (National Trust)
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.)
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.
Other attractions near Watersmeet (National Trust)
South West Coast Path. The Exmoor section of the South West Coast Path is particularly stunning.
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.
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.
Places to eat and drink near Watersmeet (National Trust)
The tea room and garden at Watersmeet (National Trust).
The Blue Ball Inn. Pub just west of County Gate/Cosgate Feet on the A39 by Foreland Point.
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 Watersmeet (National Trust)
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.
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.
Simonsbath. High moorland village through which the Two Moors Way runs. Walking country with a great pub.
Porlock. Famous West Country village in Porlock Vale.
Porlock Weir. Amazing coastal village with harbour, pub, hotel and beach.
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.
The River Lyn and Watersmeet (National Trust)
Most of the major Exmoor and Dartmoor rivers have headwaters that share their name. The River Exe rises at Exe Head. The River Dart rises at the West Dart Head and East Dart Head. The River Lyn is different. It’s fed by numerous smaller waterways. As such, we describe the River Lyn as it moves upriver from the coast and Bristol Channel.
Lynmouth Bay is located in the central coastal section of Exmoor National Park. The bay takes its name from the super popular Lynmouth village and the mouth of the River Lyn at Lyn Mouth. The famous Exmoor beauty spot The Valley of Rock is to the east. The Foreland and Foreland Point are to the west. Both are accessible on the South West Coast Path and provide amazing views.
Lyn Mouth is flanked by Lynmouth Eastern Beach and Lynmouth Western Beach by Lynmouth Harbour. The river and seafront are lined with shops and some great places to eat and drink including the Esplanade Fish Bar Restaurant & Takeaway and The Rising Sun pub. The lower part of Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is situated by Lyn Mouth. Boat trips run from the harbour.
The River Lyn is fed by the West Lyn River and East Lyn River in the centre of the village. These are described below.
The West Lyn River and Watersmeet (National Trust)
The West Lyn River runs through Glen Lyn Gorge. This is one of Lynmouth’s main visitor attractions. It’s a beautiful steep-sided valley cut by the West Lyn River. Information boards tell the story of the 1952 that devastated the area.
‘The Glen Lyn Gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its fluvial geomorphological (flood deposited) boulder fields. Geologically young the gorge remains steep allowing fast flowing flood waters to carry heavy boulders.
The gorge was created when the West Lyn River changed course from its original route through the Valley of Rocks, finding a shorter path to the sea at Lynmouth.’ (Source: information board on site.)
The West Lyn River and B3234 then meander to Barbrook where the waterway splits again. The West Lyn River extends to various headwaters on remote high moor called The Chains. Barbrook arcs west and then south to headwaters around Longstone Barrow/Long Stone, Cannon Hill and Parracombe Common. Again, this is remote high moor.
The East Lyn River and Watersmeet (National Trust)
The East Lyn River runs through a stunning steep-sided valley to the National Trust’s Watersmeet.
The waterway splits. Farley Water and Hoaroak Water run south to headwaters on remote high moor at Exe Plain near Exe Head.
The East Lyn River continues east through a heavily wooded valley to Doone Country around Malmsmead and Oare. From there, the East Lyn River splits into Oare Water and Badgworthy Water.
Oare Water heads south east to Chalk Water and Weir Water which have their headwaters on remote high moor around Madacombe.
Badgworthy Water cuts Doone Valley and is fed by various other waterways such as Hoccombe Water on Brendon Common.
In short, many of the waterways rising on Exmoor between Dunkery Beacon to the east and Blackmoor Gate to the west flow into the East Lyn River and West Lyn River before these rivers meet in Lynmouth and flow into the Bristol Channel at Lyn Mouth.
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