Lynmouth to County Gate Circular Philippa Reader
Route Summary
This is a fantastic route out along the South West Coast Path and back along the Coleridge Way which follows the East Lyn River. It combines the dramatic coastline and seascape that is open to the elements with the more protected wooded river valley.
Route Overview
Category: Walking Length: 20.050 km / 12.53 mi Last Modified: 13th December 2020 Difficulty: Medium Rating: Unrated Surface: Rough Date Published: 14th November 2020
Description
The trail sets off along the route where lifeboat volunteers dragged The Louisa over 150 years ago to rescue a ship in trouble in the Bristol Channel.
While they continued on to Porlock Weir to put in where the water was calmer (13 miles from Lynmouth), I headed up to County Gate and dropped down the other side to join the Coleridge Way near Malmsmead.
The route follows the East Lyn River valley which runs almost parallel with the coastline and where in 1952 there was a flood that devastated the town of Lynmouth.
The river is rocky and turbulent here with deep pools and plenty of rapids. The wooded path is very pretty and you pass Watersmeet on your way back into Lynmouth.
Waypoints
Park in Lynmouth (51.23072; -3.83075)
1 / 3 and pick up the South West Coast Path heading east.
Follow the path around the hotel (51.23192; -3.82701) and head up Countisbury Hill to The Foreland.
You can continue around The Foreland to the lighthouse (51.24086; -3.79146) and rejoin the SW Coast Path at the top of Coddow Combe.
The path is steep as it crosses a scree slope but the way through is very clear.
Continue along the SW Coast Path (51.23307; -3.72944) and then leave it and continue up the hillside to County Gate.
Cross over the A39 (51.22492; -3.72867) and follow the path down past Ashton Farm into the East Lyn valley below.
Join the Coleridge Way (51.22280; -3.73927) and follow down the East Lyn valley on the north bank.
Continue on past Watersmeet (51.22307; -3.79776) all the way back to Lynmouth.
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