Day 12, May 7, 2018
Today we walked a loop trail along the Southwest Coast Path through the Valley of Rocks, then circled back on the hills above the town of Lynton.
Valley of Rocks: The sun position was better today as we retraced our steps into the Valley of Rocks. We climbed up one of the promontories

Looking back to the east.

Castle Rock and westward view.

Steep cliffs here.

Quartzite and Slate of the Devonian Lynton Formation

Gorse
Beyond the rocks, the path continues on the road past Lee Abbey.

Lee Abbey

Gardens

Sheep

Fog wafting by

Old door

View down to Lee Bay

More sheep

View back to the Abbey

A house along the road

Lee Bay again

Horses riding up the road near Lee Abbey.
Our trail descended to circle around Crock Point, with the fog settling in on us.

Steep steps down the primrose path.

Foggy meadow on Crock Point,

and foggy views beyond the hedgerows.

Plenty of flowers,

And then the fog lifted.
Next our trail wound through Croscombe and Bonhill Woods where we crossed The Lee on Bonhill Bridge.

Our path was lined with bluebells in Croscombe Wood.

Bluebells and Campion

A twisted tree, ferns and bluebells – so very green in here!

Another steep staircase in Bonhill Woods down to the stream.

Bonhill Bridge across The Lee.

The Lee
As we entered the Six Acre Wood we could see back to the Valley of Rocks.

A small check dam along the way seemed like water sprite habitat.
Our trial emerged onto the slopes of South Cleave, from which we could look down upon the Valley of Rocks and our earlier path.

Trail up South Cleave.

Looking down on Lee Abbey.

Looking down on Lee Bay.

Valley of Rocks below.

Another view west from South Cleave.
Our path led us down hill and through Lynton before circling back to our lodgings.

Downtown Lynton.

View over the rooftops to Lynmouth Bay.

Sign showing the paths and the Cliff Railway down to Lynmouth – on tomorrow’s agenda.

Southwest Coast Path Website Map for our Walk. We walked about 7.5 miles, 700 feet elevation.
Evening view of Countisbury Hill and Lynmouth Bay from our little balcony: