East Lyn River
The East Lyn is a river which rises high in Exmoor in Somerset and which flows down through the East Lyn Valley in Devon. It joins the West Lyn River to enter the sea at Lynmouth.
Contents
History
The Lynmouth Disaster of 1952 occurred on the East Lyn River[1] due to rocks and fallen trees having been washed into the West Lyn river. These formed a log-jam near Watersmeet, forming a landslide dam. When the pressure behind the dam increased to uncontrollable levels, the water broke out of the dam, and rushed down the East Lyn (by way of the convergence of the rivers) into Lynmouth, obliterating houses and ultimately resulting in 34 deaths. Boulders from the incident can still be seen today, lining the banks of the East Lyn as it travels into Lynmouth today.
Watercourse
The river is formed as the Upper East Lyn at Malmsmead from two minor tributaries, the Oare Water and Badgworthy Water. It flows westwards and less than a mile below Oare it enters Devon.
The East Lyn cuts a steep valley westwards through Devon never more than a mile from the coast, and flows for several miles, past Brendon, and makes confluence with Hoar Oak Water at Watersmeet, where Watersmeet House is situated.[2] The river then passes through a narrow gorge section, before flowing downstream for a further two and a half miles until the river meets with the West Lyn River and flows into the Bristol Channel at Lynmouth.[3]
Recreation
Angling
Angling interests especially in the summer are targeted towards the salmon which migrate up the river to spawn. There is also trout fishing.[4]
Walking
It is popular for walkers with the Two Moors Way near to much of the river.
Whitewater kayaking
Whitewater kayakers frequently run this river in the winter when seeking a challenging Grade 4 paddle.[5]
Outside links
- Watersmeet - National Trust
References
- ↑ "The 1952 Flood Disaster in Context". Exmoor National Park. http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/environment/climate-and-weather/lynmouth-flood-1952. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "Watersmeet". National Trust. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/watersmeet/. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "River East Lyn". Somerset Rivers. http://somersetrivers.org/index.php?module=Content&func=view&pid=11. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "The East Lyn". Fishing the West. http://www.fishingthewest.co.uk/?page_id=276. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ↑ "River East Lyn - Brendon to Watersmeet". UK Rivers Guidebook. http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/south-west/river-east-lyn-brendon-to-watersmeet. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
