Description:
This is a 60 mile long coast of startling, rugged cliffs pounded by the
Atlantic waves which make the area so popular with surfers. The coast
begins on the sandy beaches just north of Bude, where sunbathers gather
in force. Before you head for the beach, however, spare some time to visit
the Heritage
Coast Exhibition at the Visitor Centre in Bude.
The National
Trust beach at Sandymouth is also a popular surfing area, but be aware
that the tide can come in quickly and leave unwary walkers stranded.
At Morwenstow
you can see the graves of shipwrecked sailors in the churchyard, where
they were buried by the eccentric poet, Parson Hawker.
The stately
home of Hartland Abbey was once an Augustinian priory. The 300 foot high
jagged cliffs at nearby Hartland Quay are spectacular, and a short walk
away brings you to Speke's Mill Mouth, a dramatic waterfall splitting
the cliffs.
North of
Hartland Point, which gives the coastline its name, lies the picture-postcard
village of Clovelly, one of the most visited destinations in Devon. The
white-washed 16th century cottages of Clovelly hover on a clifftop above
the harbour. So steep is the High Street that winds through Clovelly that
cars are banned. Instead, donkeys carry visitors up and down the hillside.
Or, if you prefer less adventurous transport, a Landrover service ferries
visitors via backroads.
Area
Countryside attractions: The South West Coast Path
Easily the longest and, in places, the most arduous, of England's National
Trails. The path is actually the amalgamation of 4 paths; the Somerset
& North Devon, Cornwall, South Devon, and Dorset Coastal paths. The
route is quite popular, and it can be crowded in the summer months, though
there are always long stretches where your only company will be a chorus
of sea birds. More
...
North
Devon AONB
This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty takes in the Devon portion of
the Hartland Heritage Coast, and extends inland to include the plateau
around Hartland itself. In contrast to the rugged coast of the Hartland
Point area, the AONB also covers the extensive sand dunes of the Braunton
Burrows, and the beaches around Westward Ho!