Great Walks In North Devon
We hope that you enjoy your stay at Beachside Holiday Park in North Devon, to help you get the most from your holiday, we thought that it would be useful to provide you with some suggestions of great walks to enjoy in North Devon.
There are several features that make North Devon unique, that determines the character of the landscape, the buildings and the way of life. One of these features is that the vast majority of the land around the coastline is owned by the National Trust. This has limited development, preserved the natural beauty and wildlife and also opened the coastline up for the benefit of all. The entire stretch of coastline of North Devon is covered by the South West Coast Path, a fantastic walk feature that stretches from Minehead to Poole. This path has some stunning walks that you should really try, the scenery is spectacular, the natural beauty is at your fingertips and there are great places to stop and eat.
Whilst enjoying your stay at our holiday park in North Devon, you can entertain your family without spending a fortune and we have some walks here for all. You get to explore our beautiful area and have a fun day out for free all at the same time, just take a picnic!
Morte Point to Bull Point Lighthouse
One of the finest and most spectacular walks in the South West, see the wild expanse of Woolacombe to the south and the ship wrecks off Bull Point Lighthouse to the North. There is a car park managed by the National Trust in Mortehoe which is a great place to start your walk. From there, the easiest way to access the footpaths is to follow the road by the side of the ‘Ship Aground’ pub and the church that leads to the old cemetery. From this point onwards, the scenery is amazing. On a clear day, you can easily see Hartland Point to the south and Lundy Island. There are numerous footpaths around Morte Point, the best is probably the path that follows the cliffs.
On the north side of Morte Point is a small colony of seals, they can readily be seen during the summer months playing and sunbathing or doing a bit of fishing! The path goes all around the point and it is steep and rocky in places. It then goes to the side of Rockham beach and then through National Trust land all of the way to Bull Point Lighthouse. If you really like a longer walk, you can go on to Lee Bay and enjoy a cup of tea in this stunning and unspoilt village.
At Bull Point, there is a road that takes you inland, it is a dead end road and very quiet. This road offers some great views over the North Devon countryside and leads you all the way back into Mortehoe village, infamous for its history of wrecking. The law of the age said that plunder could not be kept if there was just one survivor of a wreck. According to folklore, it was ensured by the inhabitants of the village that there were never any survivors. It has also been said that Mortehoe was deemed the most dangerous parish in England by the Excise men, who feared for their lives when checking for smugglers.
Let this not deter you, Mortehoe and the stunning walks around is a beautiful place to visit and there are three great pubs serving food and refreshments all day long during the summer months. There is also a visitor’s centre and a few shops in the village, a great and very cheap day out.
Baggy Point to Putsborough
Another great walk is around Baggy Point to Putsborough, you can park at the northern ‘Ruda’ end of Croyde and easily pick up the coastal path around the headland. There is also a National Trust car park at the end of the road but it can get busy. The walk follows a path around the headland, the drop from the path down to the cliffs is quite exhilarating and the views are outstanding. At low tide, you can almost be parallel to the surfers catching the waves and on a calm sunny day, you can often see a seal or a porpoise in the bay. At the end of Baggy Point, there are stunning sea views with Lundy in the distance, Mortehoe and Woolacombe to the north and Hartland to the south.
On a blustery and windy day, it is a great walk, it really does take your breath away. As you walk around the point, Putsborough comes into view, this is the southern end of Woolacombe beach and you can see the expanse of sand of one of the countries finest beaches. If you walk all the way to Putsborough Beach, there is a small café and shop which is reasonably priced. You can return back to Croyde by walking over the top of the headland which is a much shorter route. All of the land is owned by the National Trust and there are various walks that are visible that criss cross the headland.
Westward Ho! to Cornborough Cliffs
An easy walk and you don’t need a car if you are staying at Surf Bay Holiday Park. Great on a summers evening, this is a level walk and easy for young and old. Just head out of Westward Ho! to the West, follow the promenade past Beachside Holiday Park and the ‘haunted house’ which is very obvious! Pick up the South West Coast Path which actually follows the bed of the old railway line, hence the flat and smooth surface under foot.
This is a great walk for a family with young children, there is some fantastic wildlife in view and is superb on a warm summers evening. The paths goes on further but if you want a short and easy walk to enjoy the super views of North Devon, easily accessible form our holiday parks, choose this walk. A great end to the walk is an ice cream in Westward Ho! or perhaps more liquid refreshment for the adults in any one of the welcoming pubs and restaurants.
Hartland Point to Speke’s Mill
This is a great walk if you want to get away from the crowds, even in the summer months. We have done this walk on the busiest bank holiday weekend and it was still quiet! Take the road to Hartland Quay through Hartland village, there is plenty of parking on the drop down to the quay and a great hotel that has an outstanding reputation for its food. The walk here is quite undulating and the South West Coast Path follows the cliff edge up and down to Speke’s Mill. The really interesting element is the rock formations, formed millions of years ago that are very interesting. Gulley’s jut out to see at strange angles forming perfect lines that have been corroded by the waves over the centuries.
There is a small beach at Speke’s Mill where you can enjoy a rest. It is also frequented by the more adventurous surfers looking for a quiet surfing break when the waves are good. There is also a picturesque waterfall here, a great photo opportunity.
There are three choices at Speke’s Mill, you can follow the coast path further onwards or simply return back and follow the route that you came in on. If you love the Devon countryside and want a longer walk, head inland, there is a path that takes you to a gated lane and from there, you head inland. The roads are not particularly well sign posted so it might be wise to take a map or have GPS. The route back through the track at Wagery Farm back to Stoke or you could enjoy some refreshments at Docton Mill. It is a great walk, peaceful and rewarding and really connects you with the quiet and glorious Devon countryside.
We hope that you have enjoyed reading our page on recommended walks in North Devon and hope that you enjoy your stay at Beachside or Surf Bay Holiday Park. If you have any other walks that you would like to feature here with us, please let us know as we would love to publish more walks for all to enjoy.