Lee Abbey Bay Beach, Lynton, Exmoor National Park
Great family beach in beautiful Exmoor setting
The coastline running west of Lynmouth and Lynton is up there with the best in the UK. The Valley of Rocks is a well known beauty spot. The superb Lee Abbey Bay Beach just west of The Valley of Rocks is less well known but equally as beautiful. At low tide, it's a big sand, rock and pebble beach filling Lee Bay below Lee Abbey. Unlike many of the beaches along the wild Exmoor coast, Lee Abbey Bay Beach is easily and safely accessible so it's very popular with families.
Location of Lee Abbey Beach
Lynmouth and Lynton are located on the Devon/Somerset border towards the centre of the Exmoor coast. A road runs west of Lynton and through The Valley of Rocks to Lee Abbey Estate. At this point, it becomes a toll road and a small charge applies. Lee Abbey is on your right and the road descends to Lee Bay. The beach is visible in a beautiful, wooded arc of coastline. Woody Bay Beach is a little further west hidden by the headland.
We've positioned Lee Abbey Bay Beach on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Lee Abbey Bay Beach
If you're coming by car, we'd recommend driving to Lynton and The Valley of Rocks. Continue to the abovementioned toll road by Lee Abbey and then descend to Lee Bay. You see public toilets and a car parking area to your right. Use the large, grassy car park behind the loos. Again, charges apply. It's then a short walk down a road to the beach.
You can drive from the west via Woody Bay but the road is super skinny and runs along the side of vertical cliffs.
If you're walking in, follow the South West Coast Path from Lynmouth/Lynton and The Valley of Rocks or from Woody Bay.
Lee Abbey Bay Beach
The name of the beach. There are two Lee Bays on the North Devon coat. One is below Lee Abbey in the Lee Abbey Estate. The other is way west between Ilfracombe and Bull Point (by Mortehoe/Woolacombe). Both have great beaches. We refer to the former as Lee Abbey Bay Beach and latter as Lee Bay Beach.
Lee Abbey Bay Beach is located in a beautiful, compact arc of wooded coastline. It's lined by relatively large cliffs. The back of the beach is rock, pebble and coarse sand. At low tide, a big sandy area is exposed stretching across the bay.
A wide ramp leads down to the beach from the access road.
Lee Abbey Bay Beach is great for wild swimming and paddle boarding but note that the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world. The water races in as the tide rises. Check tide times before visiting.
The South Wales coast and Brecon Beacons National Park are visible across the Bristol Channel.
Beaches near Lee Abbey Bay Beach
Beaches on the coastline east of Lee Abbey Bay Beach:
Wringcliff Bay Beach
Lynmouth Western Beach
Lynmouth Eastern Beach
Sillery Sands (Beach)
Porlock Beach
Bossington Beach
Minehead Beach
Dunster Beach
Blue Anchor Beach
Kilve Beach
Beaches on the coastline west of Lee Abbey Bay Beach:
Woody Bay Beach
Heddon's Mouth Beach
Wild Pear Beach
Combe Martin Beach
Combe Martin Newbury Beach
Broadsands Beach
Watermouth Cove (Beach)
Hele Beach
Ifracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Lee Bay Beach
Sandy Cove (Beach)
North Devon Atlantic facing beaches:
Rockham Beach
Grunta Beach
Barricane Beach
Woolacombe Sand (Beach)
Putsborough Sand (Beach)
Croyde Sand (Beach)
Saunton Sands (Beach)
Northam Burrows Beach
Westward Ho! Beach
Instow Sands (Beach)
Things to do near Lee Abbey Bay Beach
South West Coat Path
Hunter's Inn
The Valley of Rocks
Lynton and Lynmouth Railway
Watersmeet (National Trust)
Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor horse riding
Villages and towns near Lee Abbey Bay Beach
Martinhoe
Lynton
Lynmouth
Combe Martin
Malmsmead and Oare
Photo Gallery
