The Blue Ball Inn, Lynmouth, Exmoor National Park
[Main photo: Blue Ball Inn seen from Countisbury Common near The Foreland and Foreland Point as part of the South West Coast Path loop walk]
Blue Ball Inn
Superb pub with accommodation in a great location overlooking the beautiful West Country coastal villages Lynmouth and Lynton. The South West Coast Path runs nearby. The popular Watersmeet (National Trust) is to the south.
‘Dating back to the 13th century, with low ceilings, blackened beams, stone fireplaces and a timeless, unspoiled olde-worlde charm, the Blue Ball is the perfect escape.’ (Source: Blue Ball Inn website.)
Location of the Blue Ball Inn
The Blue Ball Inn is located by the A39 just east of Lynmouth and Lynton. It’s across the road from Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) which juts out into the Bristol Channel at Lynmouth Bay.
We’ve positioned Blue Ball Inn on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, the Blue Ball Inn
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 across the road from Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust).
If you’re coming from the west, the A39 climbs steeply from Lynmouth. The Blue Ball Inn is on your right.
There’s a reasonably large car park opposite the pub. Note that there’s a parking place east of the Blue Ball Inn and Countisbury as well.
Blue Ball Inn
‘Dating back to the 13th century, with low ceilings, blackened beams, stone fireplaces and a timeless, unspoiled olde-worlde charm, the Blue Ball is the perfect escape. Enjoy a warm welcome, great beer and hearty food, making the inn your base before exploring the surrounding countryside, with stunning walks through some of the UK’s finest landscapes.’ (Source: Blue Ball Inn website.)
There’s a pub garden.
Blue Ball Inn is part of St Austell Brewery.
Walking in the area around the Blue Ball Inn
The Blue Ball Inn is in a remarkable location if you like walking.
Foreland Point/The Foreland (National Trust) is just across the road. Wander across to The Foreland for amazing views down to Lynmouth and Lynton. Note that the path that runs around The Foreland is super steep on the western side. There are warning signs where this path leaves the South West Coast Path.
The South West Coast Path runs past the Blue Ball Inn. If you’re walking the path, drop in for food and drink. You can also stay if you’re on a multi-day walk.
South West Coast Path loop. This is a superb local walk. Follow the South West Coast Path from Blue Ball Inn to The Foreland. Continue 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 Blue Ball Inn.
Watersmeet (National Trust). Paths drop down to Watersmeet from Countisbury. It’s an absolutely stunning place.
Coleridge Way. 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.
Two Moors Way. This long distance walking route starts/ends in Lynmouth and climbs high above the woods that line the River Lyn and Watersmeet. You can walk a section of the Two Moors Way as part of a big loop from the Blue Ball Inn. For example, walk the South West Coast Path to Lynmouth. Follow the Two Moors Way to Combe Park Wood. Take the path down to Watersmeet (National Trust) and then return to the Blue Ball Inn.
Historical and cultural attractions near the Blue Ball Inn
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 the Blue Ball Inn
Glen Lyn Gorge. Visitor attraction in Lynmouth. Walk the gorge and enjoy the West Lyn River with its waterfalls and idyllic setting.
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.)
The Valley of Rocks. Famous West Country beauty spot. Again, essential visiting. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Villages and towns near the Blue Ball Inn
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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