Devon

Watersmeet to Ash Bridge circular walk

A moderate circular walk suitable for all the family. The trail meanders along the banks of the East Lyn River from Watersmeet House through beautiful woodland. Look out for elusive otters in the river and herons on low-hanging branches over the water.

Near to

Watersmeet

Start point

Watersmeet public car park, Watersmeet Road, Lynton and Lynmouth, North Devon, Devon EX35 6NT. Grid ref: SS743487

Slippery when wet

Suitable footwear recommended as some sections can be slippery when wet.

Address
Watersmeet public car park, Watersmeet Road, Lynton and Lynmouth, North Devon, Devon EX35 6LF. Grid ref: SS743487
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Barnstaple station is 18 miles (29km) from Lynmouth.
On foot
Access via the South West Coast Path to Lynmouth then footpath up the East Lyn River to Watersmeet House.
By bus
Minehead to Lynmouth, Service 300 with connections to Combe Martin and Ilfracombe, then footpath up the East Lyn to Watersmeet House.
By road
A39 signed Lynton/Lynmouth. Nearest postcode for satnav: EX35 6NT.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
Watersmeet public car park, Watersmeet Road, Lynton and Lynmouth, North Devon, Devon EX35 6NT. Grid ref: SS743487
Stage 1
From the car park, cross over the road and follow the steep zig-zagging path (with some steps) down to the waterfalls beside Watersmeet House.
Stage 2
At the bottom of the steep path down from the road, you'll arrive at Watersmeet where the East Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water meet.
Watersmeet House
Watersmeet House was built in 1832 as a fishing lodge by the Reverend W.S. Halliday, son of a rich businessman. Stone for the house was quarried at Watersmeet, above the East Lyn River. Pause a while on the first bridge to look at the waterfalls as they cascade noisily over the rocks on their way to the sea. In the holiday season it's worth stopping at our tea garden, open since 1901, where you can enjoy our mouthwatering Devon cream teas. There's also a gift shop and toilets.
Stage 3
If you're not stopping at Watersmeet House, cross the first bridge and then turn right upstream just before the second bridge. If you do stop at the tea garden, retrace your steps back over the bridge closest to Watersmeet House and turn left upstream. The East Lyn river is on your left.
Stage 4
At the next fingerpost stay left, signed 'Bridleway Rockford 1.5'. Just past here is the partially restored remains of an old lime kiln on the riverbank. Chose either path around the lime kiln. The right-hand path is slightly easier and the left-hand route has steps which may be slippery when wet.
An industrial past
The mine adit at Watersmeet is just one remnant of this area's industrial past. Lower down the river, towards Lynmouth, is the Lynrock Fountain: the remains of a mineral water factory. Where you're standing now, you can see the restored remains of a lime kiln. In the late 1800s, lime was brought over the Bristol Channel from Wales to be burnt in kilns like this one. They can be found scattered along the North Devon coast. Lime 'sweetened' the very acidic local soil, allowing crops to be grown.
Stage 5
At the fork in the track is a three-finger signpost named Barton Wood. Follow Footpath Rockford to your left, down through Barton Wood towards the river.
Woodland restoration
This beech wood is beautiful in autumn when copper-coloured leaves cover its floor; in spring the ground is carpeted with bluebells. In the past we removed larch from this area and thinned out the beech so that it looks less like the commercial woodland it was planted as in the 1950s. Over the next 30 years, we'll thin more beech to create a glade left to reseed with native oaks. We'll continue to manage the woodland and any new-growth beech will be cleared.
Stage 6
When you reach Ash Bridge, cross the river and turn left at the fingerpost on the other side marked 'Watersmeet', walking downstream with the river on your left. Stay on the path back to Watersmeet House. When you reach Watersmeet House, stop for tea and cake if the house is open.
Stage 7
Cross both the bridges next to Watersmeet House, back past the waterfalls and return up the steep path (with some steps) to the car park.
End point
Watersmeet public car park, Watersmeet Road, Lynton and Lynmouth, North Devon, Devon EX35 6NT. Grid ref: SS743487
Trail map
Watersmeet to Ash Bridge circular walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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