England's 'Little Switzerland' Is A Pair Of Villages With Coastal Vibes And Scenic Cliffs Inside A National Park

For a taste of Switzerland without having to leave Old Blighty, consider hopping over to England's Southwest corner to the seaside towns of Lynton and Lynmouth. The first is perched on a high coastal hill, while the other hugs a salt-washed bay at the mouth of a river on the Bristol Channel below. Both are hemmed in by forest-filled valleys, gurgling riverways, and craggy coastal hills in a region dominated by a rugged national park, earning the nickname "Little Switzerland."

The towns, which are now often grouped together on account of the fact that they've been linked by a unique water-powered funicular railway since 1890, have been hailed as a Swiss homage for hundreds of years. Some say that England's Romantic poets first drew the comparison. Others put it down to clever Victorian marketing. Either way, it's hard to deny the crossover when you see what awaits in the surrounding area. Rivers are hidden in thick woodlands, as hiking routes weave through gnarled coastal mountains. Plus, there's the age-old charm of the two towns: one with narrow alleys and local boutiques, the other with quaint seaside hideaways. 

Bristol Airport, which hosts a good range of low-cost arrivals from across Europe, is a prime access point for reaching these two charming places — it's just under a 2.5-hour drive straight up the M5 motorway. The U.K.'s largest airport, London Heathrow, is closer to a four-hour drive east. Rail services run to the nearby town of Barnstaple, with local bus routes connecting from the station there to Lynmouth and Lynton.

While jaw-dropping coastline and open panoramas of the salt-spraying ocean might not quite be what you expect of somewhere hailed as England's answer to Switzerland, Lynton and Lynmouth certainly mimic the topography of their mountainous European compadre. Found in the expat haven of Devon County, Lynton itself caps off a soaring cliff that's some 500 feet above sea level. A coastal hiking path that leaves from town whisks you into an area known as the Valley of the Rocks, a land of toppling stone pinnacles dotted with wild goats.

Then there are the villages themselves, both of which have been listed alongside gems like the quaint fairytale-like village of Clovelly on lists of the most beautiful in the county. In letters dating back to August 1799, the Romantic-era poet Robert Southey evoked the European character of Lynmouth in particular, writing that he visited "the beautiful little village, which, I am assured by one who is familiar with Switzerland, resembles a Swiss village." Indeed, it's home to a harbor, crooked cottages, and pubs like The Ancient Mariner, a nautical-themed tavern warmed by a crackling fire. All of this spills out onto a bend of pebble-peppered sand, rich in rock pools washed by the tides.

Up above, Lynton rests on its soaring perch. The ride up in the vintage funicular car from the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a must. Then, dive into the winding, weaving streets of the old town and center, many of which are packed with local cafés and antique stores.

Here's the ace up the sleeve of both Lynmouth and Lynton: Both towns sit entirely within the confines of one of the U.K.'s least-visited national parks, Exmoor. It's a small but mighty reserve. In fact, according to National Parks UK, it's one of the smallest reserves in Britain but also offers a range of habitats and environments that few can match. Indeed, the terrain of this Southwest park rolls through deer-stalked meadows, moody moorlands, and salt-sprayed cliffs.

Fantastic strolls beckon in all directions. Take the 5.5-mile circular walk through Watersmeet from Lynmouth. The Swiss parallels are hard to deny along that route, which whisks you up paths beside the Lyn River, over bridges, and eventually to Watersmeet itself, a handsome little spot in a deep valley, brimming with oak trees. You'll also pass by multiple waterfalls. If you're keen to delve even deeper into the wilds of Exmoor, consider embarking on one of the longer local routes known as the Exmoor Classics. The Countisbury Circular follows the Lyn River to Watersmeet before taking you on a big 10-mile loop of the area, crossing dramatic river gorges and scaling up to lighthouses with fantastic views of the Devonshire coast.