River Heddon

{{Short description|River in Devon, England}}

{{refimprove|July 2022|date=July 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{Infobox river

| name = River Heddon

| name_native =

| name_native_lang =

| name_other =

| name_etymology =

| image = Heddon's Mouth, Exmoor - geograph.org.uk - 363377.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Looking south up the River Heddon near Heddon's Mouth

| map = River Heddon map.png

| map_size =

| map_caption = Map of the river and its catchment

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_size =

| pushpin_map_caption=

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = England

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| subdivision_type3 = County

| subdivision_name3 = Devon

| subdivision_type4 =

| subdivision_name4 =

| subdivision_type5 =

| subdivision_name5 =

| length = {{convert|8.8|km}}

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location=

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg =

| discharge1_max =

| source1 =

| source1_location =

| source1_coordinates=

| source1_elevation =

| mouth = Heddon's Mouth

| mouth_location = Bristol Channel

| mouth_coordinates =

| mouth_elevation =

| progression =

| river_system =

| basin_size = {{convert|17.07|km2}}

| tributaries_left =

| tributaries_right =

| custom_label =

| custom_data =

| extra =

}}

The River Heddon is a river in Devon, in the south of England. Running along the western edges of Exmoor, the river reaches the North Devon coast at Heddon's Mouth.{{cite news |last1=Bates |first1=Dominic |title=The walk file: Heddon Valley, Exmoor |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fe44c06c-e858-11de-8a02-00144feab49a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/5hC2x |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=The Financial Times |date=18 December 2009|url-access=subscription}} The nearest road access to the beach is at Hunter's Inn, approximately {{convert|1|mi|adj=on|order=flip}} south of sea-fall.{{cite book |last1=Bradt |first1=Hilary |title=Exmoor National Park Slow Travel |date=2019 |publisher=Bradt Travel |location=Chesham |isbn=978-1-78477-156-0 |page=46}} The named river flows for {{convert|8.8|km}} and drains an area of {{convert|17.07|km2}}.{{cite web |title=Heddon {{!}} Catchment Data Explorer {{!}} Catchment Data Explorer |url=https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108051020500 |website=environment.data.gov.uk |access-date=1 July 2022}}

The Heddon Valley is renowned for its natural environment, with bridges and stepping stones along the river, meadows, and walks which start from the National Trust shop and information centre which has been in the ownership of the National Trust since 1963.

The cobbled beach at Heddon's Mouth is approximately {{convert|300|m}} wide and is only accessible through footpaths on the National Trust land or via the South West Coast Path. There are remains of a lime kiln on its western edge. The valley immediately landwards of the beach has steep slopes to its east and west, with the hills climbing over {{convert|200|m}} in altitude within {{convert|500|m}} of the river. The remains of a Roman fortlet are visible on the hilltop to the east of Heddon's Mouth.{{cite news |last1=Dunford |first1=Martin |title=Cool Place of the Day: Heddon Valley, Devon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/exmoor-national-park-heddon-valley-devon-south-west-outdoor-festival-dates-a7309761.html |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=The Independent |date=19 September 2016}}

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway once ran through part of the valley, halting at the small village of Parracombe.{{cite web |title=Lynton and Barnstaple railway rebuilding phase 2A (L & B Railway Trust) |url=https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/272004/11-07-Lynton-Barnstaple-Railway-_2_.pdf |website=exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk |access-date=1 July 2022 |page=19}}