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Towering cliffs, coves and a wooded valley within Exmoor National Park
Heddon Valley, Near Parracombe, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4PY
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Countryside | Dawn - Dusk |
Pantry | Closed |
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilet. Two mobility scooters (trampers) available for hire by calling 01598 763402. The footpath down to Heddon's Mouth consists of moderately level gravel and is maintained for trampers and pushchairs.
From Barnstaple there are two route options, for larger vehicles please follow the A39, turning left onto the A399 at Blackmoor Gate then taking a right turn further up the road signposted Trentishoe or Heddon Valley. For smaller vehicles (who are comfortable with narrow country lanes), we recommend staying on the A39, turning left off the A39 after Parracombe, signposted Heddon Valley. From Minehead - turn right off the A39 after Woody Bay. Please be aware that for very large vehicles, access can still be challenging, even via the Trentishoe route.
Parking: Pay & Display parking in Heddon Valley opposite the toilets. Free for National Trust members.
South West Coast Path within ¾ mile
Nearest train station Barnstaple 17 miles
Regular service from Barnstaple to Lynton (passing close Barnstaple train station), alight just north of Parracombe, then 2 miles
On Sustrans regional route 51
Heddon Valley, Near Parracombe, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4PY
The Heddon Valley is a three pawprint rated place, meaning dogs are welcome in most places, including our take-away café, The Pantry and the Hunter's Inn beer garden.
Explore the wooded river valley reaching inland down to the sea at Heddon's Mouth. Heddon Valley's walking routes include two accessible routes for all-terrain mobility scooters with Tramper.
Find out about access at our places in North Devon, where you can hire Trampers and where there are accessible paths and activities.
Phototrails provides a visual access guide for this walk, with images showing the route, terrain, path surfaces and facilities - click here to find out more.
Towering cliffs and coves, within the Exmoor National Park.
Lush wooded valley leading down to the sea.
Staff-led information on local walks, conservation stories and second-hand bookshelf.
The Hunter's Inn (NT-managed) serves sit-down meals and drinks. The Pantry offers ice creams, hot drinks and cake.
Explore the wild play area created from trees.
Explore the wooded river valley reaching inland down to the sea at Heddon's Mouth. Heddon Valley's walking routes include two accessible routes for all-terrain mobility scooters with Tramper.
Head down to the Heddon Vally for a day full of family fun. From outdoor adventures to nature trails, scrumptious ice creams to wild play in the play area, there is always something to keep your little ones occupied. Find out more...
Find out about all our upcoming events here
Follow one of Devon's most beautiful walking routes through ancient woodland alongside the River Heddon to where it meets the sea.
Take in spectacular views along the coast on this challenging walk along an historic 19th-century carriageway.
Follow this easy National Trust trail alongside the banks of the River Heddon and explore the area where it meets the sea.
A wooded valley and cliff tops are the location for this butterfly-spotting trail.
A short but challenging walk along the highest and most spectacular sea cliffs in England.
Find out where to eat and drink in this wooded valley on Exmoor, from classic pub lunches in the historic Hunters Inn to takeaway food and ice cream from The Pantry.
For a truly rustic getaway, try this indoor camping style bothy set deep in the wilds of Heddon Valley.
A historic manor house with lots of original features for you to discover.
A countryside cottage with sweeping vistas and a country rustic interior.
A great base for ramblers, this elegant Edwardian cottage is close to river gorges and ancient woodlands.
Set on the fringes of Exmoor, you’ll have miles of coastal hikes and moorland adventures on your doorstep.
This camping barn offers is an ideal overnight stop for walkers on the South West Coast Path.
A Victorian lodge set within a secluded woodland on the Arlington estate.
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure in the Heddon Valley on an Easter trail.
Join us for a bioblitz to discover and learn about the nature in the Heddon Valley.
Join our ranger team on a night walk through the Heddon Valley. Learn all about the nocturnal wildlife that call the valley home and have a go at detecting some bats with our bat detectors.
Heddon Valley, set in the West Exmoor coast, was the favourite landscape of the Romantic Poets including Wordsworth and Coleridge.
When you arrive, why not follow the deep, lush wooded river valley down to the sea at Heddon's Mouth beach – a great walk for all the family. Or explore further east to Woody Bay, a quiet and wooded cove with spectacular views over the Bristol Channel. To the west, the Hangman Hills boast towering sea cliffs and beautiful moorland scenery, offering energetic walking and wonderful views over Combe Martin.
As well as spectacular coastal and woodland walks, there is also a pantry (selling hot drinks and ice creams), car park and toilets in Heddon Valley itself.
Discover how the West Exmoor ranger team look after 1,200 acres of woodland, an area roughly the size of 16,000 tennis courts, containing around 400,000 trees.
There are two types of deer found on West Exmoor, the red deer and roe deer, both of which are native and a much-loved feature of Exmoor. Find out about their history and how they are managed.
Newly sown wildflower grassland will connect nature habitats in the North Devon countryside. The project will see grassland cover 1,275 hectares over pockets of land across 70 miles by 2030, from Torridge to west Exmoor.
Landscape-scale conservation, with its huge benefits for nature and wildlife, is a focus for our West Exmoor ranger team. Find out about 3 of our current projects here.
Find out about our butterfly conservation work in the Heddon Valley. Including work supporting the High Brown Fritillary, one of the rarest UK butterflies.
We are working to give land back to nature, let water flow through the landscape, create a haven of biodiverse habitats for wildlife and improve access for people to enjoy the Exmoor Coast all year round.
Find out more about the history of The Hunters Inn and Woody Bay. Discover tales of fraud and fire and how the estate became increasingly popular with Victorian tourists.
Volunteers in North Devon play a big part in caring for over 8,000 acres of land, 50 miles of coastline and 101 miles of footpath. Discover how you can get involved.
Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership. Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever.