Cliff railway reopens after rocks stabilised

A cliff railway is reopening a month later than usual this year after it had a "difficult winter" involving unplanned rock pinning work.

Ashley Clarke, managing director of Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway in north Devon, said unstable rocks were identified during routine maintenance checks.

He said geologists were commissioned to assess the cliff and strengthening work costing more than £30,000 had taken place.

Clarke said: "The railway is 136 years old this year, so we've got to expect some movement of some kind."

The Victorian cliff lift in Lynton and Lynmouth is one of the world's only water-powered funicular railways.

Rock pinning involves drilling long steel rods into unstable rock to anchor it securely to the cliff face.

Clarke said the cliff railway had closed for its annual maintenance on 7 November, when the issue was found.

"We had to have a geologist in to assess the work," he said.

"They came up with a plan of works for the contractors to drill in four-metre rock pins as anchors, then grout those in, and then large plates and netting are attached to the outside of that to hold all of the rock in place."

Specialists used rope access to attach netting towards the lower part of the lift and 14 pins were drilled into the rock to stabilise the cliff.

Clarke said the railway usually attracts about 300,000 visitors in a season, and due to the delayed reopening they expect to have up to 15,000 fewer visitors this year.

"It's work we weren't expecting," he said.

"But the wider knock-on is to the economy of Lynton and Lynmouth. All the businesses wait for us to open in February and we are around about a month late opening.

"The local businesses are very good. We all work together closely. They understand the implications, of the work that we've had to do.

"It's far better that it's done now, obviously, than something happening in mid-season... which would have far-reaching implications."

Clarke said the team were glad to be opening.

"They've had four months of hard work in quite inclement conditions with all the rain," he said.

"The staff are really looking forward to getting back to running the railway and welcoming our visitors back."

The railway is now fully open for the 2026 season, with staff preparing for the Easter tourism period.

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