Spring on Exmoor

April & May – brighter mornings, longer days and a new Highcliffe season

Spring on Exmoor has a freshness all of its own. The mornings are brighter, the sunshine feels stronger and colour returns quickly across the moor, coast and wooded valleys. Yellow gorse, bluebells, wild garlic and daffodils signal the start of a new season, while the paths around Lynton and Lynmouth remain quieter than in high summer.

For us, April and May are some of the loveliest months to experience Exmoor National Park and North Devon — and at Highcliffe House, our five-star adults-only B&B in Lynton, they also mark the start of a brand-new season.

Fresh from our winter travels, we return to Lynton full of ideas and ready to reopen the doors. There is nearly always something new to show off too: perhaps a refreshed bathroom, new windows, a piece of furniture or a painting we simply could not resist bringing home.

Highcliffe should always feel fresh, while remaining friendly, familiar and unmistakably itself.

Daffodils at Highcliffe - A Very Personal Garden

Daffodils appear all across Exmoor in spring, but they have a particularly special meaning at Highcliffe.

Our daffodil garden was created in memory of our mums, Theresa and Doreen – two wonderfully strong women whose influence helped shape us both and who remain an important part of the Highcliffe story.

Each spring, when the garden comes back into flower, it gives us a lovely opportunity to remember them and to share a very personal part of Highcliffe with our guests.

Spring is also when Wayne, our gardener, is at his busiest – pruning, planting, preparing beds and bringing the gardens back into colour for the season ahead.

Easter at Highcliffe

Easter brings its own little Highcliffe traditions.

We are rather proud of our “eggcellent” breakfast throughout the season, but at Easter some chocolate has been known to sneak in too. Guests may find a sweet surprise waiting for them – simply because Easter would not feel quite right without it.

Spring Events in Lynton & Lynmouth - May Comes Alive

By May, the local events calendar begins to gather pace.

One of the most colourful highlights is the Steampunk Festival at the historic Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, when Victorian-inspired costumes, live music, entertainment and plenty of eccentric style bring even more colour to one of Exmoor’s best-known attractions.

Highcliffe is only a short walk from the centre of Lynton, making it easy to enjoy the atmosphere before returning to the peace, gardens and sea views of the house.

Spring Walking on Exmoor - Walk, Breathe, Warm Up

Spring is one of the best times for walking on Exmoor.

From Highcliffe, you can head towards the Valley of Rocks, follow the South West Coast Path, walk down into Lynmouth or explore the wooded paths around Watersmeet.

The air is fresh, the light is brighter and the coast has that wonderful spring breeze coming in from the Bristol Channel.

Keep an eye out for the famous feral goats at the Valley of Rocks, including younger members of the herd during the spring season.

For something a little different, combine a coastal walk with a session at the beach sauna in Lynmouth — fresh sea air, a good walk and a warm-up by the water before heading back to Highcliffe.

Spring Breakfast at Highcliffe - As Exmoor Wakes Up

Spring mornings at Highcliffe have a special feel of their own.

Brighter light fills the breakfast room, coffee is poured and something warm and freshly prepared arrives at the table while the view stretches across the Bristol Channel and Exmoor landscape beyond.

It is the perfect moment to decide whether the day calls for the Valley of Rocks, Watersmeet, Lynmouth, the sea sauna — or simply taking things at a slower pace.

That is the beauty of a spring break on Exmoor in April or May: quieter paths, longer days, fresh colour, local events and the unmistakable feeling of Exmoor coming back to life.

And for us, spring means something more too.

It is the moment the Highcliffe year begins again.