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The Hunters Inn was originally
a thatched farm cottage that became a focal point & meeting place for the local area. Probably the very first time that beer was served it would have been the the owner rewarding his
workers at the end of harvest.
In 1895 the postman saw smoke from the Inn and raised
the alarm, but to no avail - the Inn was almost totally destroyed by fire. The Berry family were the tenants at the time and
their descendants still live in the area.
The owner, Colonel Benjamin Lake, who owned most of the land within Woody
Bay and the Heddon Valley had ambitions to build a second Lynmouth at Woody Bay. He built most of the houses
there including the Woody Bay Hotel and tried unsuccessfully to build a pier to attract steam boats but it kept being washed
away. He also built the 'top coast path' which is coach-width and known as the 'coach road '. Consequently, as part of his plans the Hunters Inn was designed to
resemble a swiss chalet because the Lynton area was known as the Switzerland of England, and re-opened in 1906.
The Inn started to attract the earliest English holidaymakers when tourism was in its infancy becoming
frequented by the 'well heeled' and a number of famous people crossed its threshold. On the other side of the coin,
as horses gave way to motorised vehicles, the Inn was attracting day trippers on charabanc outings and this coach trade
continued, reaching its peak in the 1970-80's.
The Inn was also known as the 'Honeymoon Hotel' and has its own guest book
for honeymooners. We have many customers who tell us they were last here on their honeymoon or
that relations have had their honeymoon here.
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