Exmoor National Park

England · Europe · Visited 6 December 2025 · Established 1954

Exmoor is one of my favourite UK national parks, and I think it's because it never asks you to pick between coast and countryside. You get both, and both are excellent.

The park covers 267 square miles across the border of Devon and Somerset, stretching from the high, open moorland of the interior down to over 34 miles of dramatic coastline along the Bristol Channel.

Lynton and Lynmouth

The twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth are the highlight. They're often called "Little Switzerland" for their setting — Lynmouth sits in a narrow gorge where the East and West Lyn rivers meet the sea, while Lynton perches on the cliff top 150 metres above. The two are connected by a Victorian water-powered cliff railway, which is a lovely touch and saves your legs the steep walk between them. Both villages have that proper English seaside charm, with gift shops, tea rooms, and narrow streets that reward a slow wander.

Just along from Lynton is the Valley of the Rocks, and this is where Exmoor really shows off. The walk takes you along the cliff tops through a landscape of jagged rock formations and wild feral goats. On a clear day you can see across to Wales. It's one of the best coastal walks in England.

The coast

The whole Exmoor coastline is packed with seaside towns and villages worth stopping at. Fish and chips on the beach is mandatory. The coast path forms part of the South West Coast Path, the longest waymarked trail in England, and even a short section of it delivers constantly. The cliffs, the coves, the views — it all works.

Inland

Head away from the coast and Exmoor opens up into high, open moorland. The hills here aren't dramatic in the way that the Lake District or Snowdonia are, but they're expansive and surprisingly demanding. You can get some serious steps in walking across the moors, particularly around Dunkery Beacon, the park's highest point at 519 metres. The moorland is also where you'll find Exmoor ponies, one of Britain's oldest native breeds. The park holds the UK's largest herd of red deer too, though they're harder to spot, especially outside of autumn when the stags are more visible during the rut.

Exmoor is also one of Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserves, which means minimal light pollution and some of the clearest night skies in England. If you're staying overnight, it's worth stepping outside after dark.

Who it's for

Exmoor is the kind of park that works for almost anyone. Families, walkers, photographers, people who just want a cream tea with a view. The coast alone is worth the trip, and the inland moors give it a depth that most coastal parks lack. It's a park I keep going back to, and it hasn't let me down yet.