Valley of the Rocks — Exmoor’s Most Scenic Walk

Exmoor does not disappoint when it comes to dramatic landscapes. This scenic national park in South West England is home to a craggy coastline, open moorland and mountain valleys adorned with natural rock formations — and the enigmatic Valley of the Rocks walk showcases this dramatic landscape particularly well.

Valley of the Rocks is a picturesque outcrop, where strange-shaped towers of rock pierce the sky. It’s a truly wild bit of coastline, featuring hilly landscapes and the crashing Bristol Channel swirling beneath the cliffs.

The Valley of the Rocks walk is very easy. It can be done as a nice circular walk, starting in the quaint town of Lynton before traversing along a short stretch of the famous South West Coast Path via a series of towering rock formations.

Stripped bare by thousands of years of erosion by the East Lyn River and the unrelenting sea, these fossil-rich formations sit among the highest coastal cliffs in Britain. The highest formation of them all — Castle Rock — is much like a fortress; tall and imposing, it provides exceptional views across the sea.

The walk is not particularly challenging, yet still provides some truly epic scenery.

Valley of the Rocks walk

1) Valley of the Rocks lies just half a mile west of Lynton, so I recommend you start your walk by Lynton’s Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin, and follow the road on North Walk Hill. This will take you down a small hill, where you’ll cross a bridge over the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway and join North Walk.

2) Follow North Walk for about 5 minutes before reaching a gate which opens onto the South West Coast Path.

3) Follow the path along the cliffs for about 20 minutes, keeping the sea to your right.

4) You’ll soon see the rock formations ahead, including the unmistakable Castle Rock. As you approach Castle Rock, the path will take you around to the left of the rock along a grassy path.

5) This grassy path is the most likely place to see the semi-feral goats. The path will take you to Wringcliff Bay, a ‘secret’ beach. There are some steep steps down to the beach, but it’s usually quiet here and worth enjoying for a while.

6) After you’ve had your fill at Wringcliff Bay, head back up the steps and back onto the grassy path.

7) Once you get to the road, continue walking straight along the side of the road. You’ll soon pass by the Valley of the Rocks car park and a little café called Mother Meldrums Tea Gardens and Restaurant. Why not stop here for a coffee and some cake?

8) Continue walking along the road, and you’ll soon arrive back in Lynton.

Alternate Valley of the Rocks walks

Because Valley of the Rocks is located on the Southwest Coast Path, there are lots of walking trails around it. You can easily extend your walk by making use of the many footpaths in the area. Opt to walk the Valley of the Rocks outer loop, which takes just under 3 hours, or maybe this full-day hike around the surrounding area is more your style.

Valley of the Rocks goats

Keep your eyes peeled on your Valley of the Rocks walk, as you might just spot a few semi-feral goats scaling the steep slopes of the valley. Goats have been present in the valley for hundreds of years, and the herd is periodically repopulated, as they assist in maintaining plant biodiversity in the area thanks to their grazing habits. If you’re particularly lucky, you might even see some of Exmoor’s free-roaming native ponies.

---

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.

Hotels – Booking.com
Hostels – Hostelworld
Cheap flights – Skyscanner
Travel insurance – World Nomads
Outdoor gear – Decathlon / GO Outdoors
Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles

Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!