Devon Holiday: Steam Trains at Woody Bay

Being on holiday usually means at least a train ride or two with the boys, and so when Jane from Hodge Podge Days recommended a visit to Woody Bay Station I knew it would most definitely be on our agenda for our Devon holiday.

Woody Bay Station is a “non-profit” organisation that is run mostly by volunteers. It’s 964 feet above sea level and is the highest railway station in Southern England. It’s also one of the original Lynton and & Barnstaple Railway stations that opened in the 1800s but then subsequently closed in 1935. The station was bought back in 1995 and has been subject to restoration ever since and re-opened in 2004.

We visited on a sunny morning, and upon arrival, the children could see a steam train chugging into the station which they were most excited about!

The station is beautifully kept and has some vintage posters, an old style postbox and confectionary machine too.

The narrow gauge trains have been restored to their former glory, and the boys could not wait to board for the short trip. Currently, the journey is a two-mile round trip, but there have been plans to extend the line over the next few years.

 

Trains leave from Woody Bay every 45 minutes and takes a short journey to Killington Lane where it stops for a while to uncouple and turnaround.

We got out to take in the breathtaking views before heading to the front carriage where the children got to hop in with the driver.


Overall, we had spent a lovely morning there and would recommend it as a nice place to go before heading onto Lynton and Lynmouth.

We didn’t go, but the station has a tearoom of which I’ve been informed serves a good selection of sandwiches and cream tea. We did pop into the shop which stocked all sorts of train goodies, and local guides and other nick nacks though.

To ride the train at Woody Bay, tickets cost £18 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children (under 5s are free), and the ticket allows unlimited travel for the day.

We had plans to stop in again after visiting Lynton and Lynmouth, but in the end, the boys chose going back to the cottage for a swim instead!

You might also like:

11 Comments

  1. Kathy @ Hopes, Dreams and Chocolate

    We really were so lucky with the weather during the visit. Really showed off the restored carriages. We’ll have to go again for a cream tea!! Xx Kathy

  2. Glad you enjoyed your day at the railway, i was the fireman that day (with the long hair) and its lovly to see people enjoying themselves.

  3. I love Lynmouth and Lynton. The railway looks like a marvellous way to spend a few hours. Everything seems to have been sympathetically renovated. Thanks for sharing your adventure. #KCACOLS

  4. Ah this looks like such a fun day and the sort of thing I’d take Josh to when he’s older. I love the vintage signs! xx #KCACOLS

  5. Oh, this looks like so much fun!
    My husband LOVED trains as a child, and my son is quickly following in his footsteps. I know, when he’s a little older, they’d both go crazy for a vintage train station like this! Definitely something to keep in mind (: Thanks for sharing <3 #KCACOLS

  6. Love that area of the world and the train would def be on my list of things to do with the boy! #KCACOLS

  7. This looks like so much fun and a great day out. My boys love any sort of train ride so this would be something that we would be interested in. Great photos and the ticket man looks like a traditional guard.

    mainy – myrealfairy

    #KCACOLS

  8. Rachel (Lifeathomewithmrsb)

    Oh it looks like lots of fun! I’ve never been on a Steam Train before and it’s all vintage! Thank you for sharing this post, i hope that lots of people will read this and want to visit. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday x

  9. Lovely photos, very nice job. My children love train rides always have. It looks like you had a great time! Thank you for sharing #KCACOLS

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*