Lynton and Lynmouth

Arriving at Lynmouth from Porlock is definitely not for the faint hearted. Countisbury Hill is a beast of a road to drive down - if you have a larger motorhome or towing a caravan please think carefully before you do it. Warning - Countisbury Hill is a 1 in 6 (16%) leading to a 1 in 4 (25%) gradient road. When I originally did this trip I drove into Lynmouth down this road, we have a small compact motorhome. I’d used the hill descent option only dipping my foot on the brake when needed, the brake level fluid warning lights flashed furiously as I limped into the first carpark I could find which was the Lower Lyndale car park. Luckily there are 3-6 Coach/Motorhome bays. Lower Lyndale, Road From Watersmeet, Lynmouth Nearest Postcode: EX35 6EP Lynmouth is a picturesque town with the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers meeting. There are lots of lovely places to eat and drink, spend a bit of time ambling around. Check out the Lyn Model Railway, it’s free to enter but don’t forget to put a donation in the box. It’s dog friendly too. It’s well worth a visit. Then take the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, it’s a really lovely way to travel to Lynton. The views are spectacular and the railway, a funicular railway, is one of only a few left in the UK. The railway originally opened in 1890 and is the highest and the steepest totally water powered railway in the world. Just seeing how this works is quite fascinating. Once you have arrived in Lynton, by car, foot or railway have a wander around, the views from the churchyard are stunning. Driving out of Lynmouth is a different matter if you end up on the B3234 like I did. Our advice is to take the A39, Watersmeet Road and then turn on to the B3234 to Lynton. It’s a bit of a long way round but a more comfortable route if you have a motorhome. Here’s why: The B3234 from Lynmouth leads onto Castle Hill, as you near the junction anyone coming off Castle Hill on to the B323 seems to come over to your side of the road, as I experienced and I ended up having some trouble getting enough speed without the motorhome stalling, but that is a completely different story I’ll tell you over a drink one day. My advice is don’t take this road unless you have a smaller vehicle. Parking for motorhomes in Lynton and Lynmouth are in the following car parks. There are parking bays located in the Bottom Meadow, Lower Lyndale and Upper Valley of Rocks car parks. Andrea’s Top Tip I really don't recommend you driving down Countisbury Hill with a large motorhome or caravan. Take the funicular railway from one town to the other and walk the other way back - both ways are lovely