Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Barnstaple
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Barnstaple include Sherrycombe Waterfall, Hollowbrook Waterfall, Bucks Mills Waterfall, The Clovelly Waterfall, Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall, Lydford Gorge, St Audries Bay Waterfall and Becky Falls.
Barnstaple sits in the heart of north Devon, within reach of a dramatic coast and the high ground of Dartmoor and Exmoor, so waterfalls are never far away. Follow the Exmoor coast east and you find Sherrycombe and Hollowbrook, two wild falls plunging toward the sea beneath towering cliffs.
Head west instead, along the shore toward Hartland, and the coast holds the pretty little cascades at Bucks Mills and Clovelly, and the mighty tiers of Speke's Mill Mouth. Turn inland and south to Dartmoor for the deep drama of Lydford Gorge and the boulder-strewn Becky Falls near Manaton.
Further east, over the Somerset border, St Audries Bay pours onto a fossil-rich beach beneath the Quantock hills. Some of these are gentle strolls, others a proper coast-path hike, but all lie within a comfortable day's drive.
Whether you prefer sea cliffs or wooded gorges, there is plenty here to fill a day. Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Barnstaple.
Sherrycombe Waterfall
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Sherrycombe Waterfall Tucked into the Exmoor coast between Combe Martin and the Heddon valley, Sherrycombe tumbles down a steep, wooded combe toward a hidden rock-and-pebble beach. The stream drops over a cliff of some thirty feet to the shore below, which you cannot reach from the falls.
The combe sits right beneath Great Hangman, the highest point on the South West Coast Path and one of the tallest sea cliffs in England. Getting here is no gentle stroll, since it means a hard walk on the coast path, with a steep plunge into the valley and a stiff climb out the far side.
The effort earns you a wild, little-visited spot.
Hollowbrook Waterfall
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
Hollowbrook Waterfall A little further along the same wild coast, between Woody Bay and Heddon's Mouth, Hollowbrook drops toward the sea in a run of cascades down a steep combe. It falls a long way in stages, and is said to be one of the highest coastal waterfalls in the country.
That said, it is best seen from the water and can be hard to view well from land, where the South West Coast Path runs across the top of the combe. This is a little-visited fall on a rugged, cliff-bound stretch of Exmoor, so most walkers pass by with only a glimpse.
Bring patience and a head for heights.
Bucks Mills Waterfall
Photo: Eirian Evans via Geograph.org.uk
Bucks Mills Waterfall At the tiny former fishing hamlet of Bucks Mills, the village stream runs down a steep, wooded valley and spills over the low cliff onto the beach as a small waterfall. This is a modest, pretty fall rather than a great cataract, dropping onto the shingle and rock at the foot of the combe.
Whitewashed cottages tumble down the valley to the shore, with the remains of old lime kilns beside the beach, once used to burn lime brought in by boat. The beach is backed by high wooded cliffs, on a quiet stretch of coast between Westward Ho!
and Clovelly, and the coast path passes through this snug, out-of-the-way corner.
The Clovelly Waterfall
Photo: Richard Croft via Geograph.org.uk
The Clovelly Waterfall Just beyond the harbour at Clovelly, this modest cascade drops over the cliff onto the pebble shore. The stream slides over mossy rock and soaks away into the pebbles, running full after rain but often shrinking to a trickle in dry weather.
Reaching it means walking down Clovelly's steep, cobbled main street to the harbour and then along the shore. The village is privately owned, with an entry charge at the visitor centre, and its car-free cobbled street tumbling down to the sea is really the main draw.
Treat the waterfall as a pleasant extra on a visit to one of the prettiest villages on the north Devon coast.
Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall About a mile south of Hartland Quay, Speke's Mill Mouth drops down the cliff toward the sea in a series of tiers. The main fall is said to be around forty-eight metres over its steps, one of the highest on this coast, plunging over the rock into a pool before smaller cascades carry the water on to the rocky beach below.
You reach it on foot along the South West Coast Path from Hartland Quay, passing the grassy dome of St Catherine's Tor on the way. The cliffs here are dramatic and deeply folded, so the walk itself is a pleasure, and this remains one of the finest falls in north Devon.
Lydford Gorge
Photo: Michael Dibb via Geograph.org.uk
Lydford Gorge At the Devil's Cauldron the River Lyd seems to boil through the rock, a churning pothole reached down narrow steps to a viewing platform. It is one of two great sights in this deep, wooded gorge on the western edge of Dartmoor in Devon; the other is the Whitelady Waterfall, a thin thirty-metre drop at the lower end.
The National Trust looks after it, with trails running the length of the gorge, steep and slippery in places, and a tea room and bookshop near the entrance. Often called the deepest river gorge in the south-west, it charges for entry and repays it with real drama.
St Audries Bay Waterfall
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
St Audries Bay Waterfall Over on the Somerset coast near Watchet, St Audries Bay Waterfall drops straight down the cliff onto the beach. You can reach the base on foot along the shore, but only when the tide is out, so check the tide times before you set off.
The bay is a well-known spot for fossils, its layered cliffs from the very end of the Triassic and start of the Jurassic yielding ammonites and other remains to those who search the fallen rock. It is a quiet stretch of coast reached down from the cliffs, with the Quantock hills rising behind.
Pair the fall with a spot of fossil hunting for a fine day out.
Becky Falls
Photo: Martin Bodman via Geograph.org.uk
Becky Falls Near Manaton on Dartmoor, Becka Brook tumbles down a jumble of huge granite boulders in old oak woodland to form Becky Falls. The water threads and drops between the rocks in a series of falls, some twenty metres altogether, gentle in dry weather and thunderous after rain.
Ferns, moss and ancient oaks crowd the sides of the little gorge, while paths wind up and down beside the water over roots and stone. The falls sit within a woodland park with a gate and admission, and laid-out trails lead through the trees.
This is classic Dartmoor, all granite and green shade, with the brook running on toward the River Bovey below.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Barnstaple is best for families?
Becky Falls, near Manaton on Dartmoor, works well for families, with a woodland park, laid-out trails and admission. Lydford Gorge is another good choice inland from Barnstaple, though its steep paths suit slightly older, surer-footed children.
Do I need to check the tide for the coastal falls?
Yes. At St Audries Bay near Watchet, you can only reach the base of the fall along the shore when the tide is out, so check tide times before leaving Barnstaple to avoid a wasted trip.
How hard is the walk to Sherrycombe Waterfall?
Sherrycombe, on the Exmoor coast between Combe Martin and the Heddon valley, takes a hard coast-path walk with a steep drop into the combe and a stiff climb out, so it is best kept for fit, experienced walkers.
Conclusion
From the plunging sea cliffs of Exmoor to the wooded depths of Lydford Gorge, Barnstaple offers a wonderful mix of waterfalls within a day's reach. Some, like Clovelly and Bucks Mills, come as a gentle bonus on a visit to a pretty coastal village.
Others, such as Sherrycombe and Speke's Mill Mouth, ask for a proper walk along the South West Coast Path and a good pair of boots. Inland, Becky Falls and Lydford Gorge bring the granite and oak woods of Dartmoor into the picture.
Check the tides for the coastal falls, pick a settled day, and allow plenty of time on the paths. From wild shore to shady gorge, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Barnstaple.
