Exmoor’s main literary claim to fame is R.D. Blackmore’s famous romance “Lorna Doone”, set in the wild moorland between Porlock and Lynmouth. Badgworthy Water, flowing northwards between gently rounded hills, is considered to be the prototype for the Doone Valley and the water slide is linked to Lank Combe, a narrow combe on the west side of this river a mile above Malmsmead, the starting point for walks in the area.