Lympstone is a village and civil parish in East Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 1,754. There is a harbour on the estuary of the River Exe, lying at the outlet of Wotton Brook between cliffs of red breccia. The promontory to the north of the harbour is topped by a flat pasture, Cliff Field, that is managed by the National Trust and used for football matches and other local events. Lympstone has rail services on the Avocet Line to Exmouth and Exeter from Lympstone Village railway station. It is known locally for Peter's Tower, an Italianate riverfront brick clock tower built around 1885 by W.H. Peters as a memorial to his wife, and for its tradition of residents drying washing on the foreshore. The riverside houses back directly on to the shore, with no continuous seawall, and the passageways between them to the beach are equipped with metal flood gates that are closed by residents when they are warned of high tides by a local alert network. Near the village is the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, the principal military training centre for the Royal Marines. The training centre has its own dedicated railway halt, Lympstone Commando, on the Exeter–Exmouth branch line.
Sport and leisure
Lympstone AFC were formed in 1906, they have sides in the Devon & Exeter Football League. Lympstone has a non-league football clubRoyal Marines A.F.C. who play at Endurance Park CTCRM. They have since folded in April 2012. The Exeter–Exmouth cycle route passes through the village. The cycle route is popular for commuters and recreational cyclists. Prior to the opening of the cycle route the only direct route to cycle between Exmouth and Exeter was along the busy A376. The cycle route passes through the centre of the village bringing custom to the shop, cafe and pubs and adds to the vibrancy and sustainability of the village centre and its businesses. Despite this, a minority group is currently campaigning to change the route and are concerned it affects the village centre and could be made safer for users and villagers. The 1st Lympstone Sea Scouts Group celebrated its centenary in 2012. It currently has flourishing Scout and Cub sections. It meets in the Scout HQ on Cliff Field. Lympstone Manor is an historical house which now provides hotel and restaurant accommodation.
