Foreland Point (National Trust), Lynmouth, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: walkers on the South West Coast Path on the western side of The Foreland overlooking Lynmouth Bay, Lynmouth and Lynton]
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
The most northerly point in Exmoor National Park and North Devon, Foreland Point juts out into the Bristol Channel at Lynmouth Bay. Foreland Point is part of the larger headland called The Foreland.
Visit for great views and walks.
Location of Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) is located by the A39 just east of Lynmouth and Lynton. It’s on the eastern side of Lynmouth Bay.
We’ve positioned Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
Follow the A39 to Lynmouth.
If you’re coming from the east (from County Gate or Cosgates Feet on the Somerset/Devon border) you’ll see the Blue Ball Inn on your left. Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) is on your right.
If you’re coming from the west, the A39 climbs steeply from Lynmouth. You’ll see a huge cliff rising from Sillery Sands to Butter Hill and The Foreland. Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) is on your left.
There’s a reasonably large car park by Barna Barrow off the A39. This is just east of Countisbury and the Blue Ball Inn.
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
There’s a lighthouse at Foreland Point. You can book a holiday in Foreland Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottage (National Trust).
We’d recommend approaching the lighthouse from the east on the access road. Unless you are a very confident walker, avoid the path that leaves the South West Coast Path on The Foreland and runs around the western side of the cliff to the lighthouse. A sign on this western side reads: ‘WARNING. Walkers are advised to take extreme care. The footpath beyond this point is very narrow and exposed especially in bad weather conditions. Beware of falling scree.’
Stop for a pint of meal at the Blue Ball Inn in Countisbury by The Foreland.
The views from Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) provide some of the best coastal views in the national park.
Looking west, you’ll see Lynmouth and Lynton, the side of The Valley of Rocks and the Exmoor coastline running to Highveer Point.
Looking east, you’ll see the heavily wooded Exmoor coastline running to Desolation Point and then Porlock Bay and Hurlstone Point beyond. This is the longest stretch of wooded coastline in England and Wales. (Source: Exmoor National Park Twitter/X feed Feb 14 2020. ‘The stretch of coastal woodland between Foreland Point and Porlock on Exmoor is the longest in England and Wales and rich in many native plants, fungi and animals.’)
South Wales is across the Bristol Channel.
Recommended route to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) for the first time
If you’re visiting for the first time, we’d recommend walking in 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 where you’ll pick up the South West Coast Path. Follow this to The Foreland.
This can form part of a longer South West Coast Path loop walk. From The Foreland, continue on the South West Coast Path to Desolation Point. Just before you get to Desolation Point, take the path that cuts back up to Desolate and then Countisbury Common. Walk past Kipscombe Farm to Countisbury and the large car parking area from which you started. Refer to Ordnance Survey mapping for detail.
Other routes and directions to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) are coastal features. Clearly, you can approach from many directions.
Routes and directions to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) from the west
Follow the South West Coast Path from Lynmouth (and Lynton) along the coastal side of the A39 to Countisbury, Butter Hill and then Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust). Note that there’s a very short stretch of walking on the A39 down by Lynmouth.
If you’re walking the South West Coast Path from the west, you’ll wander across The Foreland.
Routes and directions to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) from the east
Coungate Gate/Cosgates Feet. Start at the large car parking area at Coungate Gate/Cosgates Feet. Cross the road and follow the very obvious track on the western side of Coscombe to connect with the South West Coast Path. Head for Desolation Point and then Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust). Return along the coast or follow one of the paths inland as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. We usually loop back via Kipscombe Farm and Old Burrow Roman Fortlet.
If you’re walking the South West Coast Path from the east, you’ll pass through England and Wales’s longest stretch of coastal woodland to get to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust). (Source: Exmoor National Park Twitter/X feed Feb 14 2020. ‘The stretch of coastal woodland between Foreland Point and Porlock on Exmoor is the longest in England and Wales and rich in many native plants, fungi and animals.’)
Routes and directions to Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) from the south
As outlined above, you can walk from the large car parking area at Barna Barrow by the A39.
You can also wander in from the Blue Ball Inn.
If you’re looking for a longer walk, we’d recommend visiting Foreland Point/The Foreland as part of a circular walk taking in Watersmeet (National Trust) and Lynmouth. Paths drop down to Watersmeet from Countisbury. It’s an absolutely stunning place. You can then follow the Coleridge Way along the River Lyn to Lynmouth before yomping back up the hill on the South West Coast Path to the Blue Ball Inn and Countisbury.
Other coastal headlands and points on the Exmoor coast
West of Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust), we’d recommend:
Crock Point overlooking Lee Bay and Lee Bay Beach to the east and Woody Bay and Woody Bay Beach to the west.
Highveer Point. Amazing, exposed coastal point high above Heddon’s Mouth Beach. The stretch of coastline between Woody Bay and Highveer Point is known for its beauty. Wander along the South West Coast Path and then return on the upper track that passes The Beacon Roman Fortlet.
Heading out of Exmoor National Park into the North Devon National Landscape, visit Capstone Point that overlooks Ilfracombe. Amazing views.
Bull Point is the north eastern point of Devon. Super place. We’d recommend Morte Point overlooking Morte Bay, Woolacombe Sand and Putsborough Sand as well.
East of Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust), we’d recommend:
Desolation Point. Point on the wooded coastline between East of Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) and Porlock Weir.
Gore Point. Point low down on the rock and pebble The Gore by Porlock Weir.
Hurlstone Point. The western side of Porlock Bay below Bossington Hill providing sensational views west along the Exmoor coastline.
Gorges, cleaves and valleys near Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
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.)
Glen Lyn Gorge. Visitor attraction in Lynmouth. Walk the gorge and enjoy the West Lyn River with its waterfalls and idyllic setting.
The Valley of Rocks. Famous West Country beauty spot. Essential visiting when on holiday in Exmoor National Park. The views west along the coast are magnificent.
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. Heavily wooded, steep-sided valley just off the A39. Amazing in spring and autumn.
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 Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
Lynmouth Harbour. ‘Harbour and Rhenish Tower. Until the late 19th century, Lynmouth was a small port importing coal and limestone from South Wales and exporting oysters, farm and woodland produce. Lime kilns and thatched cottages still exist although the harbour and the Rhenish Tower, originally a water tower to supply sea water for nearby baths, had to be rebuilt after the 1952 flood.’ (Source: information board at Blackmoor Gate in Exmoor National Park.)
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.)
Lyn & Exmoor Museum. Local museum in Lynton above Lynmouth and Lynmouth Harbour.
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.
Culbone Church. Said to be the smallest parish church in England, Culbone Church is located on the South West Coast Path as it runs west of Porlock Weir.
Porlock and Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’. Explore Porlock and you’ll see lines from the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’. Whilst Coleridge was writing ‘Kubla Khan’, he was interrupted by a ‘person on business from Porlock’ and the poem was never completed.
Porlock Weir Harbour. ‘Lying within the attractive Parish of Porlock, Porlock Weir with its whitewashed cottages, ancient inn and stone quay has a most picturesque setting. Although the tidal harbour now provides shelter only for pleasure craft, in the past cargoes including limestone, coal, timber and produce were shipped to and from South Wales and beyond.’ (Source: information board at Porlock Weir car park.)
Coleridge Cottage (National Trust). Visit the cottage in which Coleridge lived and wrote some of his most famous poetry. William Wordsworth lived, briefly, nearby. Note that the cottage is in Nether Stowey on the east side of the Quantock Hills National Landscape.
The Ancient Mariner Sculpture in Watchet. The Watchet and Quantock Hills National Landscape area inspired Samuel Taylor Coleridge to write ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. Watchet is on the West Somerset coast to the east of Porlock Weir and Exmoor National Park.
Other attractions near Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
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.
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.
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 Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust)
The Blue Ball Inn. Pub just west of County Gate/Cosgate Feet on the A39 by Foreland Point. Great place to stop after a coastal walk in The Foreland Area.
The area around Lynmouth Harbour is packed with places to eat and drink and shops selling ice cream and local produce. It’s best to wander around and see what takes your fancy. Some recommendations include:
Lynmouth The Rising Sun in Lynmouth. Amazing pub location 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.
The tea room and garden at Watersmeet (National Trust). Enjoy a cream tea in a wonderful setting in this steep-sided and heavily wooded valley.
Villages and towns near Foreland Point/The Foreland (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.
Simonsbath. High moorland village through which the Two Moors Way runs. Walking country with a great pub. Provides access to Exe Head, Exe Plain and The Chains if you’re wanting to experience the fort of remote moorland you find on the much larger Dartmoor.
Exford. Very pretty moorland village by the River Exe in the heart of the national park near its highest point at Dunkery Beacon.
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.
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.
Martinhoe and Woody Bay. A sublime stretch of the Exmoor coastline.
Combe Martin. Another very popular holiday destination. On the western border of Exmoor National Park where it meets the North Devon National Landscape.
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