Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway was a narrow-gauge line built in North Devon to link the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth with Barnstaple. It ran for just over 31 kilometres through the hilly countryside near Exmoor, opening in 1898. The railway was authorised by its own Act of Parliament and followed a winding route to keep the steepest hills manageable. It used standard signalling despite its narrow gauge, a rare requirement for British railways. The line struggled financially from the start and closed in 1935 after years of losses. The railway was championed by Sir George Newnes, a magazine publisher who became its chairman. Its route included stations at Bratton Fleming, Blackmoor Gate and Woody Bay, each serving villages and scenic spots. A guidebook of the 1920s praised the views from the train, especially around Chellam Viaduct and the Bratton Valley. The line climbed to about 300 metres above sea level before descending to Lynton, offering glimpses of the West Lyn valley. Despite its beauty, the railway never attracted enough passengers to survive. Today a restored section of the line runs short passenger trains between Woody Bay and a new terminus near Lynton. Visitors can ride the narrow-gauge carriages through wooded valleys and open moorland. The route passes the site of Chellam Viaduct and the halt at Caffyn’s Down, where golfers once alighted. The restored stations and track bed let walkers follow parts of the old route on foot. The surrounding countryside remains little changed, with views over Exmoor and the valleys of the Yeo and West Lyn.