Glen Lyn Gorge

The gorge cuts straight down through red sandstone cliffs like someone's taken a knife to the hillside. You're walking along a proper river gorge here, with water rushing over rocks and the valley sides rising sheer above your head - it's the sort of place that makes you realise how small you actually are.

Glen Lyn sits just outside Lynton, and the walk through it takes about an hour if you're not rushing. The path follows the East Lyn River as it tumbles downstream, and there are spots where you can stop and just listen to the water without hearing another soul. The red cliffs catch the light differently depending on the time of day, which sounds dramatic but genuinely changes how the place feels.

This appeals most to walkers and anyone who likes being properly outdoors without needing facilities or crowds. Families with kids aged eight and up will manage it fine, though the path gets narrow in places and steep in others. Bring proper boots - it's slippy after rain, and the whole thing loses its magic if you're concentrating on not twisting your ankle.

It pairs well with Lynmouth Holiday Retreat, which sits just under a mile away and gives you the perfect base for exploring the valley. The gorge is free to walk through and there's no entrance charge, which makes it worth building into a longer day that includes the coastal paths around Lynton. Go on a weekday morning if you can - weekends pull in day-trippers from Barnstaple and beyond.