River Heddon
Encyclopedia
The River Heddon is a river in Devon
, in the south of England
. Running along the western edges of Exmoor
, the river reaches the North Devon coast at Heddon's Mouth
. The nearest road access to the beach is at Hunter's Inn, approximately 2 km south of sea-fall.
The Heddon Valley is renowned for its natural beauty, with bridges and stepping stones along the river, meadows full of flowers and easy walks which start from the National Trust
shop and information centre which has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1963.
The cobble
d beach at Heddon's Mouth
is approximately 300m wide and is only accessible through footpaths on the National Trust land or via the South West Coast Path
. There are remains of a lime kiln on its western edge. The valley immediately landwards of the beach has very steep slopes to its east and west, with the hills climbing over 200 m in altitude within 500 m of the river. The remains of a Roman
fortlet are visible on the hilltop immediately to the east of Heddon's Mouth.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
once ran through part of the valley, halting at the small village of Parracombe
.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, in the south of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Running along the western edges of Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
, the river reaches the North Devon coast at Heddon's Mouth
Heddon's Mouth
Heddon’s Mouth is a rocky cove on the coast of North Devon, England, about a mile down the River Heddon from the Hunter’s Inn. It is preserved for the nation by the National Trust....
. The nearest road access to the beach is at Hunter's Inn, approximately 2 km south of sea-fall.
The Heddon Valley is renowned for its natural beauty, with bridges and stepping stones along the river, meadows full of flowers and easy walks which start from the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
shop and information centre which has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1963.
The cobble
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
d beach at Heddon's Mouth
Heddon's Mouth
Heddon’s Mouth is a rocky cove on the coast of North Devon, England, about a mile down the River Heddon from the Hunter’s Inn. It is preserved for the nation by the National Trust....
is approximately 300m wide and is only accessible through footpaths on the National Trust land or via the South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
. There are remains of a lime kiln on its western edge. The valley immediately landwards of the beach has very steep slopes to its east and west, with the hills climbing over 200 m in altitude within 500 m of the river. The remains of a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
fortlet are visible on the hilltop immediately to the east of Heddon's Mouth.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway slightly over long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England. Although opened after the 1896 Light Railways Act came into force,...
once ran through part of the valley, halting at the small village of Parracombe
Parracombe
Parracombe is a rural settlement near Lynton, in Devon, England. It is situated in the Heddon Valley, on Exmoor.A number Bronze Age barrows exist nearby, along with several other small earth-works throughout the parish. Beacon Castle and Voley Castle both Iron Age Hill forts are situated nearby...
.