Right at the top of Lynton, looking out to sea
Step outside the Valley of Rocks Hotel and the whole of Exmoor's coast opens up in front of you. You are at the very top of Lynton, on the cliffs where the moor drops to the sea, with the famous Valley of Rocks and its wild goats a few minutes' walk one way and the water-powered cliff railway down to Lynmouth's harbour the other. The South West Coast Path runs almost past the door, so you can be out among the crags and sea views before breakfast and back for a hot shower by mid-morning.
Inside, this is a grand Victorian original: a Grade II listed landmark wrapped around a soaring three-storey galleried lounge, with sea-view rooms looking out over Lynmouth Bay and toward Wales. It is characterful rather than corporate, run by a warm, hands-on team that walkers and dog owners come back to, and it stays genuinely good value for somewhere this well placed. If you want a base with real character right on the coast path, with parking in a village where that is rare and the village's cafes and pubs a few doors away, the Valley of Rocks is the easy choice.
Inside the galleried Victorian heart
The heart of the hotel is its galleried atrium, a tall, light Victorian space ringed by slim cast-iron columns and lacework balconies and lit by original glass-and-brass pendants. You can sink into an armchair here with a coffee, or move through to the panelled sitting rooms, where a marble fireplace and tall sash windows look out over the gardens. It is the kind of grand, slightly eccentric space that newer hotels simply cannot fake.
From snug singles to spacious family rooms, many have been refreshed in calm, contemporary tones while keeping the building's tall windows and sea light. The ones to ask for look straight out over Lynmouth Bay, and even the inland rooms keep that bright, breezy coastal feel. It is not a slick chain finish, and that is the point: you are staying somewhere with a story, where the lounges, the gardens and the views do the work a cookie-cutter hotel never could.
A relaxed base for the coast and the village
What makes the Valley of Rocks easy is how much sits on its doorstep. You can walk to the Valley of Rocks, ride the cliff railway down to Lynmouth, or pick up the coast path for Watersmeet and the Heritage Coast, then come back to a quiet lounge and a hot bath. Dogs are welcome in the rooms, walkers get somewhere to dry off and store boots, and there is on-site parking to book in a village where spaces are hard to find.
Mealtimes are currently a short stroll into the village rather than a meal on site, as the hotel's own restaurant is closed for now and there is no bar at present. That turns out to be no hardship: Lynton's cafes, tea rooms and pubs are a few doors away, and the team will happily point you to the best table for a Devon dinner. For a characterful, affordable stay right on the Exmoor coast, with the sea, the goats and the cliff railway all within a few minutes, it is hard to beat.
Why book the Valley of Rocks Hotel
A few honest reasons this Victorian landmark wins over walkers, couples and dog owners for a North Devon break.
On the coast path
The Valley of Rocks, the South West Coast Path and the cliff railway down to Lynmouth are all a few minutes from the door.
Sea views and real character
Many rooms look out over Lynmouth Bay, and a grand three-storey cast-iron atrium lounge sits at the centre of this Grade II listed hotel.
Dogs and parking sorted
Dogs are welcome in the rooms and there is on-site parking to reserve, a genuine rarity in a village this busy.
Strong value, warm welcome
Guests single out the clifftop location and the warm, hands-on team, and keep coming back for the value.
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Interesting Points About The Valley of Rocks Hotel
- Built as the Valley of Rocks Inn in 1807 and rebuilt in grand Victorian style around 1890, the hotel keeps a rare three-storey cast-iron galleried atrium by W. MacFarlane of Glasgow at its heart.
- The on-site restaurant is currently closed and there is no bar at present, so breakfast may not be included; the village's cafes and pubs sit a few doors away.
- The hotel changed hands in 2024 and is now run by HS Hotels, so older listings still show the previous operator's branding and a working restaurant.
- On-site parking is only five or six spaces and needs reserving, with two public car parks a few minutes' walk away and some free overnight street parking nearby.
Rooms & Accommodation at The Valley of Rocks Hotel
Single Room
Sleeps 1 · 1 single bed · En-suite
A compact, tidy single with its own en-suite shower room, this is the best-value pick for one traveller. It keeps things simple with a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee tray, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for solo walkers and lone travellers who want a clean, warm room and an early start on the coast path rather than space to spread out.
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Double Room
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · En-suite
A simple, characterful double with a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee facilities, heating and free Wi-Fi. Choose this if you want the lowest double rate and plan to spend your days out on the cliffs and in the village rather than in the room. It is comfortable, warm and easy on the budget.
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Twin Room
Sleeps 2 · 2 single beds · En-suite
Two separate single beds, a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for friends or walking companions travelling together who would rather not share a double. It is a straightforward, good-value room a short stroll from the village and the coast path.
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Double Room with Sea View
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · Sea view
A double on the seaward side of the hotel, refreshed in calm tones and looking out toward Lynmouth Bay and the cliffs. It comes with a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Choose this if the view matters more to you than extra floor space and you want to wake up to the coast.
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Twin Room with Sea View
Sleeps 2 · 2 single beds · Sea view
Two single beds and a window over the bay and the hills, this twin pairs the coastal outlook with separate beds. You get a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for two travellers who want the sea view and their own beds after a day on the coast path.
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Large Double Room
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · En-suite
A roomier double with a bay window and a seating corner, the Large Double gives couples space to relax after a long day's walking. It comes with a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Choose this if you want more room to spread out and somewhere to sit and plan the next day by the window.
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Superior Twin Room
Sleeps 2 · 2 single beds · En-suite
An upgraded twin in brighter, more recently refreshed tones, with a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for two travellers who want a little more polish than a standard twin and a calm, comfortable room close to the lounges and the coast path.
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Family Room
Family room · 20 m² · En-suite
The largest room in the hotel, with space for a family and a seating area by the windows. It comes with a private en-suite, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for families who want everyone in one room within a few minutes of the beach, the goats and the cliff railway.
Check PricesIs the Valley of Rocks Hotel right for you?
Best Suited For
- Walkers and coast-path hikers who want to step straight onto the trail
- Couples after a characterful, affordable sea-view break
- Dog owners, with dogs welcome in the rooms
- Heritage lovers who would rather have a grand Victorian building than a modern box
- Drivers who need a parking space in a village where they are scarce
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want dinner and a bar on site, as the restaurant is closed for now
- You need a lift to every floor, since it only reaches the middle of the building
- You are looking for a sleek, recently built hotel rather than a period one
Facilities at the Valley of Rocks Hotel
Rooms & comfort
- Private en-suite bathrooms
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Flat-screen TV with Freeview
- Tea and coffee tray
- Heating
- Air conditioning in some rooms
- Hairdryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Wake-up service
Food & drink
- Not available: On-site restaurant
- Not available: Bar
- Tea and coffee facilities in every room
- Cafes, pubs and restaurants a few minutes' walk away
Property & services
- Grand Victorian atrium lounge
- Sitting rooms with fireplaces
- Gardens
- Lift to the middle floors
- 24-hour reception
- Luggage storage
- Private check-in and check-out
- Not available: Swimming pool
- Not available: Spa
- Not available: Gym
Getting around, parking & pets
- On-site parking (reserve ahead)
- Public car parks a few minutes' walk
- Free overnight street parking nearby
- Bicycle storage
- Dogs welcome in the rooms
- Non-smoking throughout
- Family rooms
Location: top of Lynton, on the Exmoor coast
The Valley of Rocks Hotel stands at the very top of Lynton, a clifftop village in Exmoor National Park on the North Devon coast, paired with the harbour village of Lynmouth below and long nicknamed 'Little Switzerland'. It is the best-rated spot in Lynton for location, a short, level walk from the village centre and the cliff edge. The dramatic Valley of Rocks, with its wild goats and weathered crags, is a few minutes' walk west along the coast path, and the water-powered cliff railway drops you down to Lynmouth's harbour without the steep climb. Watersmeet and the wider Heritage Coast make an easy outing, and the South West Coast Path runs almost past the door.
- Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway: ~200 yards · the 1890 water-powered funicular down to Lynmouth
- The Valley of Rocks: a few minutes' walk · dry valley of crags roamed by wild goats
- St Mary the Virgin Church: next door · the parish church beside the hotel
- Lynton Cinema: ~5-minute walk · a 70-seat cinema in a former chapel
- Lyn & Exmoor Museum: short walk · local history of 'Little Switzerland'
- Blacklands Beach: ~850 yards · the nearest shoreline below the cliffs
- Watersmeet (National Trust): ~2.4 miles · a riverside tea room where two rivers meet
- Hollerday Hill: short walk · a wooded headland with panoramic sea views
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Janine Forbes, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway
The world's highest and steepest water-powered funicular, opened in 1890, carrying you down the cliff between Lynton and Lynmouth's harbour. It is about a two-hundred-yard walk from the hotel and saves the steep climb back up.
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The Valley of Rocks
A dramatic stretch of weathered crags and sea just west of the hotel, where wild feral goats roam and the South West Coast Path threads between the rocks. The valley and its sea views are a short, level walk away.
View on Map
Photo: Mark Percy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Watersmeet (National Trust)
A wooded river gorge about two and a half miles east, where the East Lyn River meets Hoaroak Water beside a National Trust tea room in a former Victorian fishing lodge. A classic Exmoor walk straight from the coast path.
View on MapGetting to the Valley of Rocks Hotel
- Arrive at Barnstaple: Barnstaple is the nearest rail station, on the Tarka Line from Exeter, about one hour ten minutes from Exeter Central.
- Take the bus to Lynton: From Barnstaple, the 309/310 bus climbs over Exmoor to Lynton and Lynmouth in about an hour, dropping you at the Castle Hill stop.
- Walk to the hotel: From the Lynton stop it is a short, level walk along Lee Road; the hotel is one of the largest buildings in the village, next to St Mary's Church.
- By car: The hotel is just off the A39, less than a mile from the main road. Reserve one of the few on-site spaces ahead, or use a public car park a few minutes away.
A quick guide to Lynton and Lynmouth
Lynton and Lynmouth sit where Exmoor's high moor tips over wooded combes into the sea, a stretch of coast the Romantic poets nicknamed 'Little Switzerland'. From the hotel you can wander into the Valley of Rocks to meet its feral goats, ride the Victorian cliff railway down to Lynmouth's harbour, or strike out on the South West Coast Path for Watersmeet and the Heritage Coast. Time a visit for late spring or autumn for the best walking, or for the May Steampunk Gathering when the whole town joins in. It is a small, characterful base that rewards slow days on foot.
A short film around Lynton and Lynmouth
A tour of North Devon around Lynton and Lynmouth, taking in the cliff railway, the coast and the Valley of Rocks near the hotel.
Is the Valley of Rocks Hotel worth it?
Yes, if you want a characterful, affordable base right on the Exmoor coast, with sea-view rooms, a grand Victorian lounge and the coast path at the door. Guests praise the clifftop location and the warm, hands-on team. Skip it if you need a polished modern hotel, a lift to every floor, or dinner and a bar on site, because the restaurant is closed for now.
What guests say about the Valley of Rocks Hotel
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Good
Guests consistently praise the unbeatable clifftop location, the warm and helpful staff who clearly love the building, and the strong value for a characterful period hotel. Sea views, the central position and the welcome for dogs and walkers come up again and again. It is an old building with simple, traditional rooms and the restaurant currently closed, so it suits guests who come for the setting and the price rather than a polished, full-service stay. Set your expectations to a grand Victorian landmark and most people leave happy and plan a return.
A repeat guest already planning further visits, praising the roomy accommodation, the central setting, the attentive team and the undeniable value; his only niggle was a few creaky, slightly uneven floorboards he put down to the age of the building.
2026-06-28Back for a second stay at this characterful, quirky hotel, she loved a large double looking out over the sea and cliffs, found it clean and well-equipped, and was pleasantly surprised by the air-conditioning that kept the room cool in the heatwave; she paid just £51 for the night and felt critics would simply prefer a bland modern box.
2026-06-25Summed it up neatly as a clean, comfortable and good-value historic hotel.
2026-06-24Called it cheap and cheerful, though after a fifteen-hour day walking Exmoor the family was disappointed to find there was no bar open for a well-earned pint.
2026-06-22Singled out the friendly staff; her only comment was that the rambling building felt a little like a maze to find your way around.
2026-06-22Enjoyed the great location, the friendly staff, a clean and well-stocked room and a good breakfast; he noted the room was basic, which felt fair for the price, and that parking carried a charge.
2026-06-20Described a real piece of history in a superb central Lynton spot, with excellent staff who clearly care and a nice breakfast; she mentioned refurbishment was under way and that she would love to see the bar return.
2026-06-19Liked the location, the clean and warm room and a good breakfast; the only issue was a tight bathroom where an oversized basin made the toilet awkward to use.
2026-06-18Good to Know Before You Book
Dining is a short walk away
The village's cafes, pubs and tea rooms are a few doors away, and staff are happy to recommend a table. The hotel's own restaurant is closed for now and there is no bar at present, so breakfast may not be included with your room.
On-site parking, but limited
There is on-site parking to reserve, a real help in a busy village, though it is only five or six spaces. Two public car parks are a few minutes' walk, with some free overnight street parking nearby.
Dogs are welcome
Dogs are welcome in the rooms for a small charge of around £10 per dog, per night, so you can bring your companion along the coast path and into the Valley of Rocks.
A characterful period building
This is a grand Victorian hotel, so expect real character alongside some simple, traditional rooms. A lift serves the middle floors and some upper rooms are reached by stairs, so ask about a lower room when you book if that matters.
Photos of The Valley of Rocks Hotel
Valley of Rocks Hotel FAQs
Not at the moment. The hotel's restaurant is currently closed and there is no bar, so breakfast may not be included with your room. Lynton's cafes, pubs and tea rooms are a few doors away, and the staff are happy to recommend somewhere for dinner.
On-site parking can be reserved in advance, but there are only five or six spaces, so book ahead. Two public car parks sit a few minutes' walk away, and some nearby street parking is free overnight.
Yes. Dogs are welcome in the rooms for around £10 per dog, per night. With the Valley of Rocks and the South West Coast Path on the doorstep, it makes a fine base for a walking holiday with your dog.
Check-in is from 3:00 pm and check-out is by 10:00 am. Reception is staffed 24 hours, so late arrivals are fine, though the entrance is locked overnight between midnight and 7:00 am.
There is a lift, but it only reaches the middle floors, and some upper rooms are reached by stairs. Ask about a lower or lift-served room when you book if stairs are difficult for you.
Many do. A number of rooms look out over Lynmouth Bay and the cliffs, and these are the ones to request when you book. Even the inland rooms keep the bright, breezy coastal light.
The nearest rail station is Barnstaple, on the Tarka Line from Exeter. From there, the 309/310 bus runs to Lynton in about an hour. By car, the hotel is just off the A39.
The hotel changed hands in 2024 and is now run by HS Hotels. Older listings may still show the previous operator's name and advertise a working restaurant, which is currently closed.
Cancellation and deposit terms vary by the rate and room you choose, and the exact policy is shown before you confirm. The hotel accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover, but does not take cash.
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Ready for a Victorian sea-view break in Lynton?
Sea-view rooms, a grand galleried lounge and the Valley of Rocks on the doorstep, all from a characterful hotel that walkers and dog owners come back to.
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