Our GROUNDS AND PARKLAND
The 28 acres of garden, grounds and parkland at Lympstone Manor extend from the Georgian manor house down to the foreshore of the Exe estuary, surrounded by the green hills of Devon. The Lady’s Walk is an historic circular route developed in 1760. It extends around the boundary of our grounds which skirts the edge of the estuary where you can head out onto the shingle foreshore. All along the way, there is a collection of sculptures on display with wonderful works of art provided by local as well as celebrated artists. The walk takes about 30 minutes and maps are available at Reception.
THE EXE ESTUARY
Lympstone Manor stands in a commanding position overlooking the Exe estuary. In summer, the estuary is populated by leisure boats on moorings and from our terraces or your luxurious bedroom you can watch dinghy regattas taking place, or perhaps kite surfers skimming over the water’s surface. But come the winter, the boats and toys are put away and the estuary belongs once again to one of the richest and most varied populations of birds found anywhere in the country.
Yet the estuary remains a working habitat, too. Exe mussels are cultivated in the estuary, just in front of Lympstone Manor; scallops are picked by hand from the Lyme Bay sea bed by scuba divers; the Compass Rose, a day-fishing boat, works out of Lympstone village; and commercial trawlers still land a varied catch at Exmouth docks throughout the year. Naturally we make the fullest use of this bounty from the sea in our restaurants.
STEP OUTSIDE THE MANOR
The village of Lympstone is just a short stroll away, down a quiet country lane, or, at low tide, a walk along the foreshore. Lympstone has three pubs and retains the atmosphere of a maritime village, while there is rural countryside on its periphery, too, with fields and farms that extend up to the heathlands of Woodbury Common.
Downriver lies Exmouth, the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO site and England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, which extends over a 95-mile stretch of coastline from Exmouth to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. Here, just a stroll or short drive from Lympstone Manor, the white cliffs, rocks and fossils reveal detailed stories of Earth’s ancient past dating back 260 million years. Exmouth is a popular seaside town with a 2-mile golden sandy beach and centre for watersports and other activities.
Exeter
The Avocet railway line connects Exmouth with Exeter, Devon’s capital city. There is a stop in Lympstone with a twice hourly service through the day and once an hour later in the evening.
Exeter, originally a Roman settlement, located on the same site for nearly 1000 years. The Quay area of the city is lively and worth visiting, with small independent boutiques and dining options.
Further Afield
Beyond Exeter, there is much to explore. East Devon includes the seaside towns of Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth, while inland is Ottery St Mary, famous for its Bonfire Night burning tar barrels. Dartmoor lies to the west, with its bare, heath- and gorse-covered hills topped by granite tors. Whether you like lazing on sandy beaches, exploring medieval towns, walking atop fossil-rich cliffs, visiting city centre monuments or shops, or trekking over moorland national parks, Lympstone Manor is in easy reach of it all. Why not make the journey easy and travel in style? Thrifty Car Rental will deliver your hire car to the Hotel for you to use at your leisure during your stay with us. They will also collect the car, removing any unnecessary hassle from your trip.
Sideshore exmouth
Sideshore offers visitors of Exmouth unrivalled access to 2 miles of stunning waterfront as well as quality dining spaces such as Michael’s popular Mickeys Beach Bar & Restaurant which offers delicious pizzas, cocktails and fresh food or take a trio to Cafe Patisserie Glacerie for authentic French patisseries, gelato and coffee.
If you’re looking to take part in water sports whilst you’re visiting, Edge Watersports have all the equipment and experience you’ll need.
