First, the important distinction
This is the heritage railway at Woody Bay, not the Cliff Railway
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is a heritage narrow-gauge railway based at Woody Bay Station, near Parracombe. It is the one to choose when your family would enjoy a short train outing as part of an Exmoor day.
It is not the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. That is the water-powered railway which links the high town of Lynton with Lynmouth harbour. The names are easy to mix up, especially when planning online, but they are separate attractions in different places. If your day is centred on the twin villages, start with our guides to Lynton and Lynmouth with kids and the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway with kids.
For this railway, use the operator’s Plan your visit page as your starting point. It brings together the current timetable, tickets, food and location information, which is more useful than relying on an old listing or a remembered opening day.
Family fit
Is it worth building into your day?
For children who like trains, it can be a lovely, contained part of a wider North Devon or Exmoor plan. The current operator calendar describes the usual trip as a return journey from Woody Bay to Killington Lane and back, so think of it as a focused railway experience rather than a full day of travel.
It may feel less worthwhile if you are expecting a long point-to-point journey, or if it is the only thing planned for a whole day with older children. Check the live entry for your chosen date: service days, special events and the timetable can change.
For a broader comparison of similar days out, see our North Devon heritage railways with kids guide. If you are already planning an outdoor Exmoor day, pair the decision with our ideas for Exmoor with kids.
Plan the practical bits
Check the date, the journey and your family’s needs
Start with the railway’s live timetable calendar, not a general search result. It shows individual dates and makes clear that there are days with no trains as well as standard running days and special events. Once you have chosen a date, use the operator’s current tickets and fares information for booking choices and prices.
Woody Bay Station is the main terminus and the operator recommends beginning there. Its official access statement says the station has a gravel car park with level access to the platform, while the other stop, Killington Lane, is reached by a level footpath with a gravel surface and has only a small waiting shelter. These details matter if you are choosing between a simple return ride and getting off for part of the visit.
The access statement also says that pushchairs cannot be accommodated on the trains, although they may be left at the station at the owner’s risk. If you are travelling with a buggy, ask the railway directly about the best arrangement for your day rather than assuming it will fit. It describes wheelchair spaces and a ramp on normal service trains, but notes limits inside the narrow carriages; contact the operator in advance for anything outside your family’s usual needs.
Do not build the day around a remembered price, a specific locomotive, a café opening or a parking arrangement. Those details can change. The official access statement and the Plan Your Visit pages are the right checks, especially for a buggy, wheelchair or extra support.
Make it a good day
Keep the rest of the plan flexible
This is an Exmoor outing, so give yourselves breathing room. A short train ride is easier with children when it is not wedged between a long drive, a strict lunch booking and another timed activity. Pack layers and water, then choose a simple second part of the day only after confirming the railway’s service.
On a wet or very changeable day, a railway trip can still be appealing, but the wider outdoor plan may not be. Have a nearby fallback in mind and use our North Devon rainy days with kids guide if the forecast changes. If you decide the railway does not fit, there are more family options in our North Devon day trips collection.
Quick answers
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway with kids: FAQs
Which railway is this?
It is the heritage narrow-gauge railway at Woody Bay, near Parracombe. It is different from the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, which runs between Lynton and Lynmouth.
When does it run?
Running days and special events vary. Check the operator’s current calendar for the exact date you want, then check the linked timetable and tickets information before travel.
What should we check before we go?
Check that trains are running on your date, the current timetable and ticket options, and the operator’s access information if you have a buggy, wheelchair or another specific requirement. Recheck on the morning of your visit if conditions or plans have changed.
Sources checked 15 July 2026: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Plan Your Visit, timetable calendar and access statement. Operational arrangements are variable, so always verify them with the railway before travel.