Discover the Heddon Valley

Discover the Heddon Valley

Our trip to the Heddon Valley was my favourite walk of our recent holiday in North Devon. Ever since I’d seen photos of this beautiful spot, I knew it was going to be a great outing. Even the drive over there treated us to some spectacular scenery. We parked at the National Trust car park by Hunter’s Inn. There are also toilets, a shop and information centre on hand.

There are a variety of walks in the area catering for all abilities, you can also hire all terrain pushchairs and mobility scooters from the shop. We opted for a flat, circular walk to the mouth of the valley.

Passing Hunter’s Inn on our right, we followed the road and crossed over the River Heddon, after the stone bridge we picked up the footpath on the right hand side.

To begin with the path passes through woodland

With woodland to the left and wild meadows to the right, it’s a great place to spot wildlife, including the rare high brown fritillary butterfly

We followed the gently undulating path, with the river on our right, for about a mile or so until it opened out and we reached the sea.

Luke and baby on the beach

Luke and baby on the beach

Restored in the 80's by the National Trust, the beach is home to a 19th century lime kiln

Restored in the 80’s by the National Trust, the beach is home to a 19th century lime kiln

View from the lime kiln

View from the lime kiln

The view looking back up the valley

The view looking back up the valley

We spent a while enjoying the scenery. It was a beautiful day and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We then hopped across the river via some stepping stones and made our way back. (There is also a footbridge a bit further down if you don’t fancy the stones!)

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Stepping stones across the river

We followed the path back to Hunter’s Inn, where we stopped for a well earned lunch.

Lunch break!

Lunch break!

All in all a lovely walk in an amazing setting, which I highly recommend. From the Heddon Valley it is possible to join the Tarka Trail or South West Coast Path for longer or more challenging walks. I would have loved to climb to the top of the cliffs for more awesome views, but it’s not so easy lugging baby up, especially on a warm day! There are some beautiful, secluded coves along the coast from Heddon, a couple of which we visited (and I’ll write up soon), I particularly liked Woody Bay which is just to the east.

If we’re ever in North Devon again, we’ll definitely return and explore this area further.

I’d love to know where your favourite walk is and what makes it so special.

My Travel Monkey

Life Unexpected

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Comments

  • earthoak earthoak August 06, at 21:28

    Wow, what stunning scenery, and great photos! Looks like it was a lovey day out. You’ve definitely persuaded me to visit Heddon Valley 🙂

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 07, at 08:55

      It really was beautiful, if we didn’t live 4 hours away I’d go back tomorrow. I loved it 🙂

      Reply
  • bevchen bevchen August 17, at 18:09

    Wow, this is gorgeous! Hard to believe it’s in England! #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 17, at 19:31

      It really was stunning, I completely fell in love with the North Devon coast this summer 🙂 #MondayEscapes

      Reply
  • MummyTravels MummyTravels August 18, at 22:23

    How beautiful – north Devon has some really gorgeous scenery, but never quite as many visitors as the south I think. Thanks for linking up to #mondayescapes

    Reply
  • afamilydayout afamilydayout August 19, at 08:13

    Some lovely photos, looks like you had perfect weather for your walk. I’ve been to north Devon a few times but haven’t heard of the Heddon Valley; will look it up for our next visit. #mondayescapes

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 19, at 09:08

      I heartily recommend it, the scenery is absolutely beautiful and there are so many walks for everyone 🙂

      Reply
  • Jenny Jenny September 02, at 22:30

    It looks a gorgeous place to visit! I love the little limekiln, I wonder if any bats roost there? Looks like a nice place for a few bats to hide out (I’m a bat worker, not weird btw!!). You do get out on some lovely walks and I’m jealous of your lunch I absolutely loooove mussels, my favourite treat meal!
    Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x

    Reply
  • chloelifeunexpected chloelifeunexpected September 06, at 20:22

    I love exploring the south west coast path. Only you make it look a lot easier with your little one. Mine is so wriggly I’m terrified of taking her to explore more of the coast path at the moment until she settles down a bit (We have some very steep parts around where I live). What stunning images!!!! It looks so beautiful. Definitely a well deserved lunch after. Thank you so much for linking to #whatevertheweather x

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker September 07, at 08:02

      Ha I think it’s easy at the moment, as soon as he can move we’re going to be in trouble! You’re so lucky living near the coast, when Evie is a bit older you’ll have so many cool places to explore 🙂

      Reply
  • Zoe at Splodz Blogz Zoe at Splodz Blogz August 24, at 09:21

    This looks really lovely, and looking at your lovely photos I think I may well have done this walk as a child, one of those faint memories of happy times.

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 25, at 10:38

      It was such a gorgeous place, I can’t wait to get another chance to head that way again!

      Reply
  • Ruth Ruth August 24, at 11:23

    Oo looks beautiful and just the kind of walk I enjoy. I have recently become a National Trust member so hopefully could park for free too.

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 25, at 10:39

      The free parking is soo useful! If you’re ever in North Devon I highly recommend it 🙂

      Reply
  • Iona Iona August 24, at 22:30

    This looks beautiful! Will definitely be adding to my places to adventure! 🙂

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 25, at 10:41

      There are so many fab little places all along that coast. I highly recommend exploring round there!

      Reply
  • Neil Collins Neil Collins August 25, at 08:13

    It’s a beautiful place and great photos of it too! We did the Exmoor coast path over the Easter weekend, and it was stunning from start to finish. Reached Heddon’s Mouth at around lunch time on the third day but didn’t really have time to explore properly. Good excuse to come back though!

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker August 25, at 10:42

      I would love to head back and do some of the coast path soon. Such a beautiful part of the world 🙂

      Reply
  • Jenni Tulip Jenni Tulip August 25, at 10:41

    These photos are beautiful! So vivid. I still haven’t been to Devon. It’s on my list of places to go but whenever we get a chance to go away I choose Scotland or the Lakes!

    Jenni
    The Thrifty Magpies Nest

    Reply
  • Hannah Hannah April 11, at 07:19

    Beautiful photos! This looks fab. I’m rarely down south but I will def be going here at some point!

    Reply
  • Chelsea Chelsea April 12, at 08:49

    I have never been to Devon, we always go Cornwall instead but it looks wonderful. It’s nice to see Baby getting to have a good time instead of being stuck in a playpen like lots of babies I’ve seen…. I saw mention you’re going again soon? Have a wonderful time.

    Reply

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