Holiday in Exmoor - The Cleaves

It was the last day of our holiday in Exmoor and predictably, the best day weather-wise with cool temperatures but quite a lot of sun.
After breakfast, we packed up and moved everything into the car and had drove the short distance down to Lynmouth.
Leaving the car in the car park in Lynmouth, we rode back up on the Cliff Railway passing beneath our room (number 2) in the North Cliff Hotel and alighted at the top station in Lynton.

Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway

Heading out of the town we walked along the A39 for a short distance next to the lower East Lyn River then crossed over on a footbridge to the opposite side of the gorge.
Following an ascending pathway with a number of zig-zags, we climbed higher and higher eventually reaching the path along the top of the gorge, part of the Two Moors Way or Tarka Trail, from which were lovely views down into Lynton and Lynmouth and in the distance The Cleaves.

Heading towards the Cleaves

Lynton

... and Lynmouth below

The Cleaves

We kept an eye out for any adders which may be warming themselves in the sun but didn't see any as they probably had finished their sunning sessions much earlier in the day and continued onwards along the mostly flat path.
Eventually we reached a point where the path started to descend again via a short series of zig-zags then gradually past an old Iron Age encampment until we arrived at a bend in the A39. Crossing over the road onto Hillsford Bridge, we passed through a gate and then followed the riverside path leading towards Watersmeet House where we had been on our first walks last Saturday after arriving in Exmoor.

Cheeky Chaffinch

Bold Blue Tit

It had been quite cool walking through the woods flanking the East Lyn River but it was quite warm sitting in the garden eating cake and drinking tea and watching the Chaffinches and Blue Tits flying around and even landing on our table to pick up any crumbs.
After our snack we continued onwards along the riverside path seeing Wagtails, Robins and other birds until we heard high-pitched squeaking which turned out to be a couple of fledged Dipper chicks begging for food from a parent Dipper which was hopping and flitting along the rocks at the riverside.

Unfurling Ferns

Wild Garlic

Soon we were back at Lynmouth and after on more look around the shops and an ice cream, we set for home in Derbyshire.

Rhenish Tower and Harbour, Lynmouth

 The Harbour, Lynmouth

 Lynmouth

 Lynmouth

I was wearing Asolo Fugitive boots, Berghaus trousers, Paramo Fuera Ascent jacket and Osprey Kestrel 38 rucksack.