Wake Up to Spring in Lynton & Lynmouth
Why not wake up to Spring in Lynton & Lynmouth this year? It starts with small, satisfying shifts: longer light, a little more movement around the harbour, and that first feeling of “we should go for a proper day out”.
The Cliff Railway reopening in mid-February is usually the signal. Not because everything suddenly becomes busy — it doesn’t — but because the villages start stretching after winter.
If you’re planning a day trip (or a one-night reset), here’s how to wake up to Spring in Lynton & Lynmouth properly.
Wake up to Spring: what it feels like from mid-February to Easter
This is the in-between season: not winter-quiet, not summer-busy.
You’ll get:
And yes, early spring can still bite. We’ve been known to get a late cold snap, and even snow in March some years. You don’t need to plan for drama — you just need to pack like you’re on Exmoor’s edge.
Local tip: layers are part of the itinerary. A light waterproof and a warm mid-layer can be the difference between “we stayed an hour” and “we stayed all day”.
Key dates for Spring
These are the moments when people start searching, booking, and making last-minute decisions.
School holidays consider (dates may fluctuate regionally):
Easter school holidays
May half term holidays
Other spring cues worth knowing:
Mothering Sunday / Mother’s Day (mid-March)
Clocks go forward (late March) and suddenly the evenings feel longer
Easter is the pivot point locally: more places move into fuller hours and the atmosphere changes
What this means in practice:
If you want the calmest version of wake up to Spring, aim for mid-Feb to mid-March, or pick days that sit between the busier spikes.
If you want a more “everything’s open” feel, Easter week onwards is your moment.
The early-spring reality: calmer, yes — but check opening hours
Early spring is brilliant precisely because it isn’t peak season. But it comes with one reality: opening times aren’t uniform yet.
A good rule of thumb:
Weekends are usually easier (more open, more choice)
Midweek can be quieter, but it’s worth checking before you set off
This is also where expectations matter. When visitors arrive expecting a fully-fired-up town in March, they can feel disappointed. When they arrive ready to wake up to Spring at the destination’s pace, they leave happy.
A simple Wake up to Spring day trip plan (park once, get the payoff)
You don’t need a packed checklist. Wake up to Spring works best with a clean plan:
Start low, then earn the view
Begin around the harbour and riverside, then move upwards when you’re ready. It makes the day feel like a journey, not a slog.
Do one walk that feels like it counts
Choose a short, high-payoff route: enough movement to feel the reset, not so much you spend the whole day staring at your boots.
Make the food stop part of the plan
This is a key part of the early-season audience: explorers and spenders. A proper stop makes the day feel intentional, not accidental.
Leave with a reason to return
If you finish the day thinking “we didn’t quite do everything” — perfect. That’s how day trips turn into overnights.
Explore Watersmeet
The overnight upgrade (why one night changes everything)
If you can stay the night, wake up to Spring gets better.
You gain:
A slower arrival (no rush to “make it worth the drive”)
Time for a second walk or viewpoint without clock-watching
A proper evening meal and a calm morning coffee
Early/late light that day-trippers miss
This is the version couples tend to love: walk somewhere that matters, eat well, sleep deeply, and leave feeling more like yourself.
Weather in “wake-up season” (how to enjoy it, not fight it)
Spring here is part coast, part moorland edge — and it shows.
Expect:
Quick shifts (sun → mist → bright again)
Wind on exposed bits
The odd “is it really March?” moment
The trick is simple: plan one outdoor stop and one warm stop. If the weather turns, you still feel like you’ve had a proper day out.
Explore the Valley of Rocks
Accessibility and “easy mode” when you wake up to Spring
The hills and steps are real, so “easy mode” is about planning, not pretending.
Look for:
Shorter, gentler routes with good stopping points
A “park once and wander” approach rather than constant up-and-down
Plenty of breaks: benches, cafés, and warm places to pause
Clear, practical access information helps visitors plan with confidence — and it helps local businesses avoid awkward surprises.
What to do next
If you want the best version of wake up to Spring in Lynton & Lynmouth:
Pick a date (mid-Feb to mid-March for calm, Easter onwards for fuller opening)
Choose one walk, one food stop, and one browsing wander
If you can, stay one night — it turns a good day into a proper reset
