Imagine standing on the cliffs of North Devon, watching the sun set over a little town where the sea curves into a river, and the waves crash into the secluded beaches surrounding it. The wind picks up, your eyes start to water from the salty sea breeze, and you wander 5 minutes back past a church to an old English pub.

You open the pub door to the warmth of the wood burning stoves, the settled bags of other ramblers, and the wagging tail of a black lab. You’re welcomed by a friendly woman who walks you up the stairs, through a winding corridor and into a classic cottage bedroom showing the storm you left behind.

Back down the stairs, you sit with your book, partner and pup by the fire of this bustling country pub. Settled in the knowledge that this is home for the night.

After a day of walks across the Valley of the Rocks, Lynton, Lynmouth, Watersmeet and the surrounding Moorland, there truly is nowhere better to escape to for an English Countryside Exmoor Adventure than the Blue Ball Inn.

Key Info

Location: The Blue Ball Inn, Countisbury, Lynmouth, EX35 6NE, UK
Room Type Reviewed: King Sized Scenic Room
Average Price: From £110 per night
Pet Fee: £15 per night (dog-friendly rooms available)
Check-in + Check-out Times: 3pm – 10:30am
Closest Transport Links: Barnstaple Railway Station (35-minute drive), Exeter Airport (1-hour 30-minute drive)
Parking: Free on-site parking available for guests
Bonus Points: Traditional thatched coaching inn full of charm, cosy open fires, hearty pub food, scenic coastal walks from the doorstep, dog-friendly bar, and panoramic views over Exmoor National Park
Perfect For: Cosy countryside getaways, walkers exploring the South West Coast Path, romantic escapes, pub-lovers’ weekends, and anyone seeking a warm Devon welcome with character and comfort

Book your stay

The Location

The Blue Ball Inn is a six minute drive from the centre of Lynmouth, and perfectly located for spectacular hiking and walking trails. I’ve already highlighted the stunning coastal view that’s a matter of minutes from the pub, but I really must emphasise how much I recommend you take that short walk to see it.

For the eager walkers among us, I’d strongly recommend doing a circular walk from the pub to Watersmeet. It’s a challenging walk over the hills and down steep ancient woodland, but the river at the bottom and the views on your way back up are spectacular.

You can also drive down to Watersmeet and enjoy the view from the comfort of their historic tea room, with a cosy seating area inside the building and an extensive outside area right next to the river.

I’d also strongly recommend visiting Lynton and Lynmouth, parking in one and getting their famous Cliff Railway ride to the other. And visiting the famous Valley of the Rocks, which you can do so by foot from one of the towns, or driving over.

The Dog-Friendly Scenic Room

We stayed in Room 10, with the bedroom window facing the front and the bathroom showing the rolling fields surrounding the terrace.

Our king sized bed was prepared with soft bedding, plumped pillows and a wool blanket. Next to the window was a reading chair with a whole box of goodies for our dog, Scruffy. This included a soft blanket, treats, doggy wine, a towel and a ball that she carried with her for her entire stay. (Yes, this includes dinner and breakfast.)

The bathroom had a modern shower and a bath perfect for a tall person like myself. The perfect combination of a late night relaxing soak from a day of battling the elements on epic hikes, and a shower to hastily boost yourself back out there again.

The stormy weather was hammering against the windows the night we stayed, making the cosy cottage aesthetic of the room feel all the more idyllic.

The Food and Drinks

The Blue Ball Inn is partnered with St Austell Brewery, offering the very best drinks of the South West. A special mention to their Proper Job IPA 0.5, which was perfectly cooled and a delicious low-to-no alcohol alternative.

As an overall point, the bar and restaurant staff at the Blue Ball Inn were incredibly welcoming and friendly. With a special mention to the our dinner servers (you know who you are), who took great care of my allergy and treated everyone around us with great kindness.

Dog owners will also be delighted to know that their four legged friends are treated like royalty. You’ll find treats all over the pub, and you can even buy them their own doggy wine. They’re also allowed in the restaurant, with blankets offered for them to sit on.

Top tip: It’s a very popular place to eat, so booking in advance is absolutely essential.

Dinner

For dinner, I chose the Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Tender Stem Broccoli, Chantenay Carrots and Cider Gravy. It would usually come with Mashed Potato, but due to having a cow’s milk allergy, I was given chips as a potato alternative. I very quickly tipped said chips out of the bowl and smothered them in gravy after taking this photo. Mashed potato may be delicious, but chips and gravy hold a special place in my heart.

My partner went for the chicken, ham and leek pie; the pastry was a little dry but the filling was deliciously buttery. It was served with a creamy mash with the same Chantenay Carrots and Tender Stem Broccoli as me.

The cookery skills of the Pork Belly, vegetables and gravy give me great hope for their Sunday Roasts; something I look forward to trying on a future trip. But the true highlight of the whole meal was the gravy, which was highly flavoursome and layered in great complexity.

Breakfast

Breakfast included extensive options of cereals, hams, cheese, toasts and cooked breakfasts. I went for a vegetarian breakfast, whilst my partner went for avocado and poached eggs on toast. Other options included a Bacon Waffle, Fruit Waffle and Breakfast Bap, which included a local Exmoor Pork Sausage.

I particularly loved sitting by the window fuelling myself with coffee and breakfast with a luscious countryside view. Yet another reminder of how this pub offers the English getaway experience.

Why you should stay at the Blue Ball Inn in North Devon

As you’ve read, I was a huge fan of the Blue Ball Inn. From its location, to its staff and its cosy English countryside aesthetic. But as a final wrap-up, I wanted to summarise the core reasons why you may want to (and should) stay here.

It’s dog friendly: It’s £15 per dog per night, but unlike most establishments that treat this as just an extra charge, the Blue Ball Inn provides extra blankets, towels, bowls, mats, treats, dog wine, and a ball for their four-legged guests.
It’s a cosy English escape: I keep coming back to this point, but the Blue Ball Inn truly does provide the perfect countryside getaway with its moorland views, roaring fires, blankets and black beams decorating the pub.
It’s perfectly located for walkers: From Watersmeet, to coastal walks, to Valley of the Rocks and a meander through Lynton and Lynmouth, you could book a week there and still find more walks you haven’t done!
They put on lots of events for couples and families alike: We stayed during Halloween week, when they hosted a series of Pumpkin Carving, Pumpkin Painting and Halloween Movie events. They were also advertising their Fireworks Night on Saturday 8th November, and their Instagram showcases past events like music nights, pizza on the terrace (another perfect addition for the summer), and football screenings.

Celebrate Christmas at the Blue Ball Inn

For those looking to do something different this Christmas, I wanted to highlight their festive offering. They’re offering a three day all inclusive Christmas experience on 24th, 25th and 26th December for £479 per person. This includes meals, drinks receptions and entertainment throughout your stay. I, for one, would love nothing more than seeing that beautiful coastal view on Christmas morning.

Find out more about their deals and offers over on their website.

Book your stay

Review and photography by Pippa Moyle

Disclaimer: This experience was gifted in exchange for a review and contains affiliate links.

Dog-Friendly Hotel Review: Blue Ball Inn, North Devon