After breakfast we headed out around 9am towards Lynton. In around 25 minutes we were parked and with my rucksack filled with sandwiches and refreshments, camera bag over my shoulder and Luna on the lead we headed towards the valley of the rocks to the start of our walk following in the footsteps of the Banana Bandits Marcia’s walking group.
After the Valley of the Rocks we followed the South West Coastal Path heading towards Martinhoe. Along the way took photos of Wringcliff Bay and Woody Bay. The bridleway to the left climbs gently into the woods, to the junction of paths a little way beyond.
Turn sharply left, doubling back on yourself uphill. Ignore the tiny path away to your right, and carry on until the bridleway doubles back on itself again. Don’t turn with the bridleway this time, but leave it, to take the small path continuing ahead of you, up onto the heathland high above the Valley of the Rocks. Zigzag with it as it climbs, and follow it along the ridge and down the other side, finally reaching the road at the far end of the path, ignoring the path that branches off to the car park on your left as you descend.
Turn left onto the road, and follow it around a sharp left-hand bend moments later, and then fork right with it as it heads eastwards towards Lynbridge. Pick up the footpath on your left and follow it around the curve of the road. Turn right onto the lane beyond and travel southwards down it to where it joins the B3234 at Lynbridge. Cross the road, and the bridge beyond, and turn left onto the footpath which runs alongside the river. Stay with this path as it climbs high above the river, ignoring the small path running downhill to Glen Lyn Gorge on your left, and the one heading south, to your right, once you’ve reached the top, as well as the one branching off to the left at the same place.
When the path hits the Two Moors Way / Tarka Trail path, turn right onto it, ignoring the track heading down towards West Lyn when you reach the top. Your path plunges abruptly through a wooded cleave, climbing steeply again through Myrtleberry Cleave. once more ignoring the small paths to the right and then left, stay with the Two Moors Way / Tarka Trail as it curves around the side of the hill, into woodland, and drops gently to the A39 below. Turn left onto the road and go south with it a few yards to the junction at Woodford Bridge. leave the A39 here as it doubles back on itself, and cross the road beyond, and the bridge, to pick up the path running alongside the river on the eastern side of the A39. stay with the path as it turns sharply eastwards about three quarters of a mile later.
Cross the river to Watersmeet House, and follow the new river a short way eastwards to pick up the path heading uphill through the woods on your left. Follow the footpath up through the fields, to emerge on the road at Countisbury. Cross the road and pick up the path to the church then follow the coastal path along Coutisbury Hill with views of Sillery Sands Beach and Lynmouth Bay on your right hand side. Once your reach Lynmouth a climb awaits to return to the start of the walk in Lynton.
On returning to the camper it was a steady drive back to the campsite and after a well deserved rest and shower, it was a return to the Pyne Arms for dinner and a local pint of bitter.