Hidden Gems Near Barnstaple
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The hidden gems near Barnstaple are Westward Ho! Sea Pool, Baggy Point, Morte Point, Valley of Rocks, Glen Lyn Gorge, River Barle, Tarr Steps and St Catherine's Tor.
Barnstaple lies at the heart of North Devon, where the Taw estuary opens toward the sea and Exmoor rolls away to the east, so hidden gems fan out in every direction. Head west and north along the coast for the Victorian sea pool at Westward Ho!, the climbers' headland of Baggy Point, and the jagged slate spine of Morte Point, all fine spots for seals, seabirds and sweeping views.
Swing north-east toward Exmoor and Lynton for the crag-lined Valley of Rocks with its wild goats, and the rushing waters of Glen Lyn Gorge above Lynmouth. Deeper into Exmoor to the east lie the gentle River Barle at Withypool and the ancient clapper bridge at Tarr Steps, both a longer drive but well worth it.
Furthest of all, out on the lonely coast to the south-west, the sheared green dome of St Catherine's Tor stands above the sea near Hartland Quay. Here are eight hidden gems to seek out near Barnstaple.
Westward Ho! Sea Pool
Photo: Shaun Ferguson via Geograph.org.uk
Swim at Westward Ho! Sea Pool The sea pool at Westward Ho!
is a man-made tidal bathing pool built into the rock shelf below the promenade in this North Devon resort. Dating from the town's Victorian years, it fills with fresh seawater at every high tide, vanishing under the sea at the top of the tide and re-emerging as a pool as the water drops.
A concrete surround with steps and painted depth markings rings a natural rocky floor. Torridge District Council keeps it up, refreshing it each spring, and it is free to use.
The town takes its name from Charles Kingsley's 1855 novel.
Baggy Point
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Walk out to Baggy Point Baggy Point is a long sandstone headland on the North Devon coast, reaching into the sea between Croyde Bay and the sands of Woolacombe. A fairly level track runs out along its southern side to the tip, easy walking with the sea on your left and grazed fields on your right, ending where the rock drops to the water.
The crags draw rock climbers, and seals and seabirds work the sea below. On the grassy plateau you can still find concrete dummy pillboxes from when American troops trained here for the D-Day landings.
The National Trust owns the headland, given in the 1930s, and thrift and gorse flower along the cliff edge in early summer.
Morte Point
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Spot seals at Morte Point Morte Point is a rocky headland at the northern end of Morte Bay, between the village of Mortehoe and Woolacombe, owned by the National Trust. Grassland and heath lead out to a jagged spine of upturned slate at the tip, a well-loved spot to watch grey seals on the rocks below, with views to Lundy island and across to Wales.
Its name means death point, from the many ships wrecked on this coast, five of them in a single winter in 1852. Fairly level paths lead out to the point, though the rocks themselves are uneven.
Valley of Rocks
Photo: Ian Capper via Geograph.org.uk
Wander the Valley of Rocks Over toward Exmoor, the Valley of Rocks is a dry valley running parallel to the sea just west of Lynton, inside Exmoor National Park. Weathered crags stand along its sides, and a herd of feral goats lives among the rocks.
A level path, part of the South West Coast Path, threads through it, with a car park, toilets and a cafe at the Lynton end. The cliff railway down to Lynmouth is close by, so it pairs well with a wider day on the coast.
Glen Lyn Gorge
Photo: Basher Eyre via Geograph.org.uk
Glen Lyn Gorge Water is the whole story at this wooded gorge, where the West Lyn River comes crashing down toward Lynmouth in a run of small falls and worn rock. A steep path climbs alongside it, run privately as an attraction, with an exhibition partway up on the sheer power of moving water.
That power is no idle theme here: this was the throat of the great Lynmouth flood of 1952, and the site tells the tale, along with the village's early experiments in turning the river into electricity. Wear proper shoes, since the paths are steep and slick, and note they are not suited to wheelchairs.
River Barle
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
Paddle in the River Barle Deeper into Exmoor, this stretch of the River Barle runs through the small Somerset village of Withypool, where the river slips right past the houses under an old red sandstone bridge. The water is shallow and clear over a gravel bed, with grassy banks, more a gentle paddle and a cool dip than a deep plunge, its depth rising and falling with the rain.
The village has a pub, a tea room and a shop, and a riverside footpath follows the Barle downstream toward the ancient clapper bridge at Tarr Steps. It is a fair drive east, but a lovely corner of the moor.
Tarr Steps
Photo: norman griffin via Geograph.org.uk
Tarr Steps Great flat slabs of stone, each weighing a ton or more, are set across low piers to make a causeway some fifty-five metres long, and not a scrap of mortar holds any of it together. This is the longest clapper bridge in Britain, spanning the River Barle in a wooded Exmoor valley in Somerset.
Its age is anyone's guess, most likely medieval, and floods have carried it off and it has been rebuilt time and again, the stones numbered so each can go back where it belongs. A short walk from a nearby car park brings you to it, with riverside paths and a nature reserve to explore.
St Catherine's Tor
Photo: Roger D Kidd via Geograph.org.uk
Discover St Catherine's Tor Out on the wild north Devon coast near Hartland Quay, St Catherine's Tor is a large, grassy, dome-shaped hill on the South West Coast Path. The sea has cut away its seaward side, leaving a steep, sheared flank above the shore, an unusual sight here.
A chapel to Saint Catherine is said once to have stood on top, giving the hill its name, and a medieval fishpond lay in the valley behind. The coast path climbs steeply over it, with the tiered waterfall of Speke's Mill Mouth close by.
It is a long drive south-west, but a striking landmark on a lonely coast.
FAQs
Where can you swim near Barnstaple?
The tidal sea pool at Westward Ho!, a short drive west of Barnstaple, is the standout, filling with fresh seawater at every high tide. For a river dip, the shallow, gentle River Barle at Withypool on Exmoor is a gentler choice, though its depth depends on recent rain.
Which headlands are best for spotting seals?
Both Baggy Point and Morte Point, north-west of Barnstaple on the North Devon coast, are excellent for grey seals hauled out on the rocks below. Morte Point also gives views to Lundy island, and both are National Trust land reached on fairly level coastal paths.
Are the Exmoor sights a long drive from Barnstaple?
Some are. Tarr Steps and the River Barle sit deeper into Exmoor in Somerset, around half an hour or more east of Barnstaple, while the Valley of Rocks and Glen Lyn Gorge near Lynton and Lynmouth are a little closer. Each makes a rewarding day out.
Conclusion
From Barnstaple, the North Devon coast and the moors of Exmoor open up in every direction. Along the shore, the sea pool at Westward Ho!
and the headlands of Baggy Point and Morte Point reward you with tides, seals and long sea views. Eastward lie Exmoor's treasures, from the goat-haunted Valley of Rocks and the rushing Glen Lyn Gorge to the gentle River Barle at Withypool and the ancient stones of Tarr Steps.
Furthest south-west, St Catherine's Tor stands sheared and green above the sea near Hartland. Some are a short hop, others a proper drive, but each has its own character.
Pull on walking boots, watch the tide times, and these are the hidden gems to seek out near Barnstaple.
