Valley of Rocks, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6JH
A little further along the coast from Woolacombe, around thirty minutes by car, the Valley of Rocks near Lynton offers one of the most dramatic and otherworldly landscapes in the entire South West. This extraordinary dry valley runs parallel to the sea on the northern edge of Exmoor, its floor and sides scattered with enormous, tumbled boulders and jagged rock formations that give it an almost prehistoric character. For dog owners looking for a walk that offers something genuinely extraordinary, this is a destination well worth the drive.
The valley is home to a herd of feral goats that have lived here for centuries, and this is the key consideration for dog owners: dogs must be kept firmly on leads throughout the valley to protect the goats and the ground-nesting birds that inhabit the surrounding grassland. With a lead in hand, though, the walk is magnificent. The main path through the valley is well-surfaced and accessible, and the views along the clifftops looking down to the Bristol Channel are breathtaking. The rock formations themselves are extraordinary up close, and the combination of coastal heathland, sea views and geological drama creates a walk with a real sense of occasion.
The valley sits just west of Lynton village and is accessed via the coastal road from the town. There is parking in Lynton itself, from which it is a short walk to reach the valley’s eastern entrance. The town of Lynton offers dog-friendly cafes and pubs for a post-walk refuel, and the cliff railway connecting Lynton to Lynmouth below is a Victorian engineering marvel worth seeing while you are in the area.
At around 33km from Woolacombe by road, the Valley of Rocks makes an excellent day trip, combining the walk itself with lunch in Lynton and perhaps a stroll through Lynmouth by the harbour.
If you love landscapes that feel genuinely wild and ancient, this is the place.
