The UK is home to dozens of beautiful seaside towns, particularly along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. And one place that regularly captures people’s attention is the town of Lynton and Lynmouth on the north Devon coast, which is essentially made up of two villages.

Nestled where Exmoor meets the sea, the two communities are separated by steep wooded valleys and towering hillsides. Lynmouth sits at sea level beside the harbour, while Lynton lies high above on the cliffs, offering sweeping views across the Bristol Channel. Visitors often describe the area as “breathtaking”, thanks to its rugged coastline, stunning landscapes and charming streets.

The seaside town is known for its narrow lanes and independent shops. According to Visit Devon, it also boasts breathtaking views. The tourism body says: “Lynton and Lynmouth boast some of the most picturesque views in all of Devon.

“Known as ‘Little Switzerland,’ this area is home to steep cliffs, dramatic coastlines, and the iconic Valley of Rocks, where you can spot wild goats roaming among ancient rock formations.”

It adds that the area is “a paradise for photographers and nature lovers” with opportunities for hiking, picnics and watching the sunset along the cliffs.

Among the most famous attractions in the town is the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, which has just reopened for the 2026 season.

The Victorian railway connects the two villages and is known for being one of the world’s only water-powered funicular railways.

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This year the attraction opened later than usual after engineers carried out important safety work during the winter.

Ashley Clarke, managing director of the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, said unstable rocks had been discovered during routine maintenance.

He said: “The railway is 136 years old this year, so we’ve got to expect some movement of some kind.”

Geologists were called in to assess the cliff face, and strengthening work costing more than £30,000 was carried out.

Mr Clarke explained the process in detail, saying: “We had to have a geologist in to assess the work.

“They came up with a plan of works for the contractors to drill in four-metre rock pins as anchors, then grout those in, and then large plates and netting are attached to the outside of that to hold all of the rock in place.”

Specialist teams used rope access to secure the netting near the lower part of the lift, while 14 rock pins were drilled into the cliff to stabilise it.

The cliff railway normally attracts around 300,000 visitors each season, but the delayed reopening means the team expects up to 15,000 fewer visitors this year.

Mr Clarke said: “It’s work we weren’t expecting. But the wider knock-on is to the economy of Lynton and Lynmouth. All the businesses wait for us to open in February and we are around about a month late opening.

“The local businesses are very good. We all work together closely. They understand the implications of the work that we’ve had to do. It’s far better that it’s done now, obviously, than something happening in mid-season, which would have far-reaching implications.”

Despite the challenges, the team say they are excited to welcome visitors again.

Mr Clarke said: “The staff are really looking forward to getting back to running the railway and welcoming our visitors back.”