The cliff railway is the most distinctive thing about Lynton and Lynmouth, and one of the most unusual pieces of transport engineering still operating in England. Built in 1890, it connects the harbour at Lynmouth with the clifftop at Lynton — a vertical rise of about 152 metres — using nothing but gravity and water. Each car has a tank beneath it; the car going up is ballasted with water until it's lighter than the descending car, which releases its water at the bottom. No engine, no electricity, no fuel.
The journey takes about three minutes and the views across the Bristol Channel are excellent on a clear day. It runs during the main visitor season (roughly Easter to October); check current hours before you visit.