- This iconic statue stands at the meeting of four great walks on the North Devon Coast.
Standing on the Esplanade, opposite the Pavillion at Lynmouth on the North Devon coast is a welcoming metal man , holding his hand out to greet passers-by.
This wonderful sculpture, created by Richard Graham, was unveiled in 2017 and stands proudly on the harbour edge over the summer months. He looks along the harbour wall to Lynmouth’s famous Rhenish Tower, a feature of saltwater bathing in the 1800s.
His purpose?
Well he was commissioned by Exmoor National Park and enterprise groups to mark the crossing of four great devon walks and highlight the landmark of Exmoor as a premier walking and hiking location.
The Walker stands at the junction of these walks –
- The Two Moors Way, -also known as the Devon Coast to Coast trail, that covers 107 miles from Lynmouth directly south to Ivybridge, and then the extension to the coast at Wembury. ( it does scoot slightly into Somerset en route).
- The Coleridge Way – a walk from Nether Stowey to Lynmouth following an east/west route. Its 51 miles and maps the route of famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, walking from the Quantocks to the sea.
- The Tarka Trail , which winds its way over North Devon in a figure of eight fashion. It’s a 180 mile route, inspired by Tarka the Otter, from Henry Williamson’s famous 1927 novel. The route has walking and cycle paths winding their way around the top corner of Devon, passing through Lynmouth.
- The SouthWest Coastal Path as it runs through Lynmouth. That’s a 630 mile trail around the coastline stating in Minehead in Somerset and heading west through Lynmouth as it follows the path around Devon and Cornwall, eventually ending at Poole Harbour in Dorset.
Opposite the sculpture is an Exmoor Park visitor centre, and in winter months, The Walker has a sheltered home standing in its doorway, standing away from bad weather and high tides which could damage his structure.
Richard designed and produced the sculpture from a stainless steel marine mesh, bending it to form a large guy wearing a flat cap, with walking stick in his left hand and his right hand outstretched to shake hands.
He encourages people to stop and say “hi” when they walk by. And they often do!
“The Walker “ created some stir when he arrived in May 2017, not least because he had the honour of being unveiled by the BBC’s John Craven, from Countryfile.
Maybe walk a trail and catch up with “The Walker” en route.