Under canvas
Camping and caravan sites around Lynton and Lynmouth
Sheltered valley sites within walking distance of the harbour, farm pitches out on the moor, and two hills that decide how you arrive.
Camping here divides into two quite different experiences. The valley sites sit in the shelter of the Lyn gorge within reach of Lynmouth on foot, out of the wind and under trees. The moorland and farm pitches are open, exposed and quiet, and they need a car for everything.
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The valley sites
The Lyn valley above Lynmouth, around Lynbridge and Barbrook, carries the sites closest to the villages. They are sheltered, wooded and beside running water, and the walk down to the harbour is a genuine option rather than a theoretical one - though the walk back up is a climb and worth remembering after dinner.
Being in a gorge means shade, cool evenings and ground that holds water after rain. It also means the sites are the most weather-proof option in the area when the wind gets up on the coast.
The valley sites are the sheltered option and the ones that book out first. Being down among trees and beside water means still evenings and a short walk to the village, and it also means earlier dusk and a damper tent in the morning; both are a fair trade for not being on open ground when the wind gets up.
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Out on the moor
Farm sites and small certified locations are scattered across Exmoor at Parracombe, Brendon, Simonsbath and beyond. These are open, often on grass in a field with a hedge for shelter, and they trade facilities for space and silence. They are the right choice for walkers and riders, and for the dark skies - Exmoor was the first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, and a tent on the open moor is the best seat available.
Exposure is the thing to plan for. Wind on the high ground is steady and can run for days, and a lightweight tent that copes on a valley site may not cope up there.
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Getting there with a caravan or motorhome
This matters more here than almost anywhere. Countisbury Hill and Porlock Hill are both around 1 in 4, and neither is a sensible route with anything behind you. Approach on the A39 from Barnstaple via Blackmoor Gate, which is the gentlest way in from every direction. If you are coming from the Somerset side, the Porlock toll road avoids the worst of the gradient for a small charge - see getting here.
Once you have arrived, leave the outfit on the site. The lanes between the villages are narrow, steep and short of anywhere to turn.
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Season and booking
Most sites run from around Easter to the end of October, with a handful open longer. July, August and bank holiday weekends need booking well ahead - the total pitch count in the area is not large. Spring and September are the best combination of weather, space and light.
Out of season, check what is actually open before setting off. Facilities on the smaller farm sites are sometimes reduced or closed even when pitches are available.
Most sites here run from spring to autumn and close for the winter, and the ones that stay open often reduce to hardstanding pitches only. The busy weeks are predictable - Easter, the two May bank holidays, the school summer - and the small valley sites fill first because there are only so many pitches beside a river.
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Camping here well
- Pegs. Moorland ground is thin over rock in places. Bring more and stronger pegs than you think.
- Rain. This is a wet coast and the moor above it is wetter. A groundsheet and a way of drying things matter.
- Midges. Present in the wooded valleys on still summer evenings.
- Shopping. Small village shops only. Stock up in Barnstaple or Minehead - see market days.
- Fires. Open fires are restricted on most sites and on the moor. Check rather than assume.
Two local habits are worth copying. Pitch with the wind in mind, because what is still in the combe at six can be moving hard by midnight on the open ground above; and keep the tent away from the river bank however tempting the spot, since the Lyn rises fast after rain on the moor.
Common questions
Are there campsites within walking distance of Lynmouth?
Yes - the sites in the Lyn valley around Lynbridge and Barbrook are walkable from the harbour, though the return is a climb.
Can you take a caravan to Lynton and Lynmouth?
Yes, but approach on the A39 from Barnstaple via Blackmoor Gate. Do not tow over Countisbury Hill or Porlock Hill - both are about 1 in 4. The Porlock toll road is the gentler alternative from the east.
When are the campsites open?
Most run from around Easter to the end of October, with a few open longer. Out of season, confirm that facilities as well as pitches are available.
Is wild camping allowed on Exmoor?
There is no general right to camp on the moor - the land is owned and farmed. Use a farm site or a certified location, and check fire restrictions wherever you pitch.
