Walking the Coast of Britain: Walk 19 (Day 2) - 2nd September 2013 - Lynmouth (Somerset, England) to Porlock, via Porlock Wier (Somerset, England)

We caught the bus to Lynmouth from the bus stop outside the charming St Dubricius Church in Porlock, built in the 13th century. The building has been designated as a grade 1 listed building. The bus struggled to climb to the top of Porlock Hill, the engine overheated causing the alarm to sound which was rather disconcerting, until the driver reassured us by saying 'this always happens'!

The beautiful village of Lynmouth straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn Rivers, in a gorge 700 deep. Lymouth was described by Thomas Gainsborough, who honeymooned there, as 'the most delightful place for a landscape painter this country can boast'.

Lynmouth Harbour near to the start of our walk back to Porlock.

The River Lyn with the Rhenish Tower in the distance.

Andrea on the banks of the Lyn River.

Leaving Lynmouth our path took us steeply up the infamous Countisbury Hill. The steep climb affording us stunning views forward and back. On the left is the stunning view towards Foreland Point.

The beautiful tree on the left is almost certainly a Whitebeam, a close relative of the Rowan or Mountain Ash. Exmoor supports seven species Whitebeam which have red, orange or brown berries in the Autumn and white flowers in May.

Foreland Point getting closer with the beaches of Lower Blackhead and Upper Blackhead below us.

Julie walking the final steep climb to Forelock Point.

The view looking back from Forelock Point to Lynmouth and a cairn created by the many who have journeyed past.

The View back to Lynmouth from Forelock Point.

The blue sea and sky merging as one by Sugarloaf Hill.

The very mysterious and atmospheric Sister's Fountain, a small spring beneath a man-made cairn and rough-hewn slate cross. So called because the owners nieces liked to play in its vicinity. The spring is reputed to have sprung forth when Joseph of Arimathea, who was journeying to Glastonbury, was searching for water, when none could be found he struck the ground with his staff and the spring was born.

Our walk took us past the smallest complete parish church in England in the tiny village of Culbone. The church is 35 feet long and 12feet 4 inches wide in the nave.