Countisbury is a hamlet, approximately two miles east of Lynmouth, on the Exmoor coast in north Devon. It is close to the border with Somerset and is fourteen miles west of Minehead. Countisbury is renowned for having some of the highest cliffs in England. Butter Hill, at 997 feet, is the highest point on the South West Coast Path. The name, Countisbury, is thought to mean “camp on the headland”, taken from the Iron Age hillfort on Wind Hill, which is considered to be the site of the battle, when the Saxons defeated the Danish invaders, lead by Hubba in 878.

St. John the Evangelist Church is a small, atmospheric church, situated on a lovely location on the cliffs. It is a Grade II Listed Building and was rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries on the site of an earlier medieval church. The nave and porch were built in 1796 and the tower in 1836. Close to the church, there is a seat giving wonderful views down the coast to Lynton and Lynmouth, where it is easy to see the relationship of Lynton sitting on the hill above Lynmouth. Opposite the church, is the The Blue Ball Inn. It was formerly called The Exmoor Sandpiper Inn, but was changed back to its original name in 1987. It had been The Blue Ball Inn for over one hundred years, since 1800. It is a traditional country pub and dates from the mid 1600s. It is a Grade II Listed Building and now offers sixteen en-suite bedrooms.

Where in England is Countisbury, Exmoor, Devon?

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About The Photographer

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I enjoy visiting different parts of England and Wales and capturing the beauty of our countryside, coast and villages. Many of the places that I have recorded, are where I had happy family holidays with my mother, husband and son. I hope that you enjoy looking at the photos of beautiful England on my website. All Photographs are copyright © Alison Avery.