Lynmouth Foreland Lighthouse

Lynmouth Foreland Lighthouse stands on the North Devon coast of England, on Foreland Point inside Exmoor National Park. The point is among the northernmost stretches of land in Devon, and the light has watched over the Bristol Channel since 1900.

What is this lighthouse?

Trinity House, the body that looks after navigation marks around England, built the tower, and its first light shone on 28 September 1900. It was meant to guide shipping through the Bristol Channel, where strong currents and a huge tidal range have long troubled sailors. You will also see it called Foreland Point Lighthouse or Countisbury Foreland; all three names mean the same place.

The tower is round, white and roughly 15 metres tall. It sits lower on the slope than the old keepers' houses, so walking down to it means more steps going down than coming back up. The optical equipment in the lantern was supplied by Chance Brothers of Smethwick. Mains electricity arrived in 1975, the station was automated in the 1990s, and today Trinity House monitors it remotely from Harwich. The tower and its adjoining retaining walls are Grade II listed.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The lighthouse lies about 5 km north-east of Lynmouth, close to the village of Countisbury on the A39. The easiest starting point is Barna Barrow car park, on the north side of the A39 about a kilometre east of Countisbury (postcode EX35 6NE). You can also park in Lynmouth, but the walk is longer and the approach roads are steep.

From Barna Barrow, the South West Coast Path leads the way. The gentler option drops to the lighthouse access road in Coddow Combe, from where you can walk out onto the point. A more adventurous path loops around the very tip of Foreland Point along a narrow goat track; the National Trust recommends it only in good weather and for walkers comfortable with heights. Popular circuits from Barna Barrow run about 8 km, while a longer National Trust loop from Cloud Farm covers around 17.6 km.

What will you see?

The reward is the scenery: cliffs dropping straight into the sea, wooded Exmoor valleys and, on a clear day, the Welsh coast across the channel. The tower looks best from the path below, framed by open water. The former keepers' accommodation belongs to the National Trust and is let as a holiday cottage, so treat the area as a coastal walk rather than a museum.

When should you go?

Dry days from spring to early autumn are the most pleasant. Slopes are steep and paths can turn slippery after rain, so wear sturdy boots. In strong wind or fog, choose the easier route through Coddow Combe.

Frequently asked questions

Who runs the lighthouse?

Trinity House, remotely from its centre in Harwich. The station has been automated since the 1990s.

Can you go inside?

The old keepers' houses are a holiday let owned by the National Trust. Most visitors admire the site from the coast path rather than from inside.

Where do you park?

Usually at Barna Barrow car park on the A39, about a kilometre from Countisbury. Lynmouth is the alternative.

Is the walk difficult?

The Coddow Combe route is the easier one. The path around the tip of the point is narrow and needs steady footing and fair weather.