Watersmeet, Lynmouth, Exmoor, Devon
Watersmeet, where the East Lyn and Hoar Oak Water meet, is a much loved beauty spot in Exmoor National Park; go there and you'll see why. The rivers burble and dance merrily over the rocks at the bottom of this deep wooded gorge and to stroll along the banks with the sun filtering through the leaves of the acid green canopy above you is a joy. There's a National Trust owned tea room beside the river, which has an information centre and gift shop, but best of all, if it's not too busy is to order a cream tea and enjoy it out in the garden where you can watch the comings and goings, people canoeing down the river, maybe a fisherman or two angling for brown trout and sea trout in the season.
Like most well know beautiful places, Watersmeet can get quite busy in the height of summer, but there are over 40 miles of footpaths to explore from Watersmeet so if you want to escape the crowd and have more of a walk, bring your boots; do the circular walk over to Lynmouth, have a ride on the Victorian Cliff Railway and a bite to eat at the cliff top cafe before heading back.
The tea shop is open from 10.30am to 5.00pm every day from Easter to the end of October, and at weekends and half term in February.
All information correct at the time of writing.