'Countisbury' is thought to means “camp on the headland” and comes from the spectacular Iron Age fort on Wind Hill about half a mile west of the Sandpiper Inn. It is said to be the site of a battle, where Odda’s Saxon army decisively defeated Danish invaders led by Hubba in 878.
There are two other Iron Age earthworks on Myrtleberry Cleave which have now been cleared of trees and bracken. The remains of another one are visible on the commanding heights of Trilly Ridge in Horners’ Neck Wood above Watersmeet.
Cntisbury is a tiny hilltop settlement with a church, old coaching inn and car park. There are superb walks on the Foreland, with views down Countisbury Hill to Lynmouth, to the Iron Age rampart on Wind Hill, and along the cleave above the spectacular wooded East Lyn gorge.
Watersmeet and Countisbury Esate under the maagement of the National Trust is a broad expanse of National Trust land, extending up three river valleys and along 4 miles of coast Within these boundaries are rocky cliffs, open moorland, steep wooded hillsides, fast flowing rivers and high farmland. And surely no similar area of National Trust property is so well provided with good paths! The North Devon Coast Path follows the cliffs.
On Countisbury Hill is a 2-mile-long hill - now the A39 - was a formidable obstacle for horse-drawn vehicles and early motor cars. A coach service ran between Lynmouth and Minehead until 1913, a journey of three hours.
Wind Hill iron age fort is a massive earthwork can be seen to the west of CountJsbury when standing in front of the public house. Having originally been thrown up 2000 years ago it was a battleground in 878 when Hubba the Dane landed nearby whh 23 ships. The local people had gone to ground within the fort, but realised they had no reliable water supply so rushed the Danes before they could settle down, and slew Hubba and 800 of his men.
From half way up Countisbury hill east out of Lynmouth, looking along the coast
The National Trust Exmoor Basecamp at
Countisbury is a hostel for work parties engaged in voluntary work - path clearing, stile building, woodland management - on the Trust's North Devon properties.
Contisbury is a tiny hilltop settlement with a church, old coaching inn and car park. There are superb walks on the Foreland, with views down Countisbury Hill to Lynmouth, to the Iron Age rampart on Wind Hill, and along the cleave above the spectacular wooded East Lyn gorge.
OS Grid Reference: SS7449
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