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Hartland Quay & Hartland
Point The
coast around Hartland Point is one of Britain's most treacherous.
At least 36 ships were wrecked on the 4 miles centred on Hartland
Quay alone between 1800 and 1920. This small museum tells it
all, and also has displays on the little port itself and its
smuggling days, natural history, and the incredibly contorted
rock layers hereabouts. Six circular walks start from the museum.
The beach at Hartland Quay is rocky with numerous pools and the
cliffs are spectacular with contorted rock formations. There
are lovely views from Hartland Point although you are unable
to climb down to the beach below.
Northam Burrows 1.5 miles
of sandy beach protected by a ridge of huge pebbles. Ideal for
swimming, surfing and sail boarding. There is a visitors centre
explaining the ecology of the sea and surrounding area. This
is open Easter - September 10am - 5pm, although the park is open
all the time. There is a car park behind the pebble ridge and
toilets at the visitors centre.
Westward Ho! A seaside resort with all the features one
expects - amusement arcade, putting green, playground, beach
shops, snack bars and seaside pubs. The beach - sand/pebbles
- is easily accessible from the car park and is ideal for swimming
and surfing. There are also pools in the rocks which have been
adapted for swimming
Instow from which the beach is wheelchair accessible.
Although it does have a sandy beach it is not really for sunbathing
and surfing as it is in the estuary. It is however great to play
on, fly kites etc. It is an attractive area and has always been
popular with artists. When the tide is out it is very pleasant
walking along the beach by the edge of the river Torridge with
picturesque Appledore on the opposite side. The children find
this fun too as there are lots of pools in the soft sand, many
of which contain attractive seashells. There is car parking in
the village There is also a car park behind the dunes.
Saunton Sands 3 miles of flat sand backed by massive sand dunes.
Excellent surfing beach and ideal for all water sports. Manned
with lifeguards. Wheelchair accessible. Shop, toilet etc. at
car park end of beach - However you can get away from the crowds
by just walking further along the beach. Try to arrive early
as car parking space is limited and can fill up on busy days.
Croyde This award winning sandy beach is just around
the corner from Saunton Sands, but because it is smaller it can
get crowded. However it is easily accessible, there is plenty
of car parking and it is excellent for swimming, surfing, windsurfing
etc. The beach is manned with lifeguards. At one end of the beach
there is equipment hire, a shop, refreshments and toilets. From
here the beach is wheelchair accessible
Putsborough (At the southern end of Woolacombe Sands) Another
award winning sandy beach manned with lifeguards. Again ideal
for surfing, swimming and water sports. There is a beach car
park but access for wheelchairs is difficult. Toilets and snack
bar.
Woolacombe A modern settlement rather swamped by hotel
accommodation, B&B accommodation and caravan parks. However
once you get past all this you come to one of the finest beaches
in the West Country. 3 miles of golden sand with numerous awards.
It is very clean and tidy, has good toilet facilities, first
aid, life saving equipment and even a lost children service.
There is a large car park near the beach which is easily accessible
to wheelchairs. Woolacombe is ideal for all water sports and
there are lifeguards on the beach. However attention should be
paid to warnings not to bathe at low tide
Barricane Beach (Just north of Woolacombe Sands) A Small rocky
cove with a beach made of broken sea shells not native to Britain.
Rock pools amongst the flat rocks. Wheelchair access is possible
if a little difficult. Parking is on the Mortehoe road (opposite
The Devon Beach Hotel) or at Woolacombe Beach car park five minutes
walk away.Combesgate, Rockham & Grunta are all small secluded
bays which have deep safe rock pools. The only access to these
bays however is by footpath. A good starting point is the ancient
parish church at Mortehoe - St Mary's. The Chichester Arms in
Mortehoe provides an excellent lunch.
Tunnels - Ilfracombe An aging holiday resort which was
at its best during the Victorian era. The Tunnels are passages
hewn through the cliffs to a privately owned bathing beach. The
Victorians also built up walls between rocks to make two bathing
pools - One for ladies and one for gentlemen. There is a small
charge to use the Tunnels.
Lee This
pretty little village is nestled in Fuchsia Valley - a deep combe
where fuchsias grow in abundance. The beach is delightful at
low tide with lots of rock pools to explore and a stretch of
sand giving good bathing. At high tide all this is covered and
the beach becomes very uninviting.
Hele Bay (Just east of Ilfracombe) A safe shingle beach
which is popular with canoeists. There are a few amusements and
a tide filled children's swimming pool. In the village is a working
16th century watermill open April - October. There is also a
pottery at the mill where you can make your own pot. From the
village there is a paths up the impressive 447ft Hillsborough
hill which provides a good view of Ilfracombe Harbour. Its summit
is also one of the few places in the country where you can see
the sun rise and set over a sea horizon. Just yards from the
beach is the Hele Bay pub with excellent food.
Combe Martin At high tide the beach looks uninteresting
but as the tide goes out there are large rock pools to explore
and stretch of level sand appears outside a ridge of stones known
as the breakwater. The sea is free of currents and therefore
popular for bathing. Just a little to the west is Sandy Bay which
is reached by Sandy Bay Lane. Steps lead down to the beach, but
unfortunately there is no sand. However it is a great spot for
picnic. In Combe Martin itself there is a large beach car park
which provides easy access for wheelchairs. Next to the car park
is a Motorcycle Museum. There are also a variety of shops and
cafes on what is said to be longest main street in the country.
Wild Pear Bay A delightful beach often used by naturists.
Although steps have been cut into the cliff down to the beach,
the descent and climb back are quite arduous. The beach is a
mixture of sand and pebbles and on the north side is a stream
of drinking water. The nearest car park is the beach car park
at Combe Martin. Take the footpath to Lesser Point which then
goes on to Little Hangman and you will come across the path down
to Wild Pear/Hangman beach.
Woody Bay A lovely sheltered bay where the steep cliffs
are covered in woods and a fast flowing stream gushes down the
hillside to the beach below. There is a small car park next to
the road and the path zig-zags down through the woods to the
beach below. The beach, made up of rocks, large pebbles and shingle,
is safe for swimming and is a lovely place to just sit, relax
and enjoy the scenery. The only disadvantage is having to walk
back up
Lee Bay A very narrow scenic road brings you from Woody
Bay to Lee Bay. Another very attractive bay with rocks to climb
and a sandy/shingle beach to play on. However bathers should
beware of strong currents. Car parking is in a field near the
bay and there are some facilities.
Wringcliff Bay This secluded little bay is surrounded by high
cliffs. The path down to it is quite steep and not really suitable
for very young children. There is a car park in the Valley of
the Rocks and the path is sign posted from the little roundabout
near the car park.
Lynmouth Bay This charming village sits on the mouth of
the River Lyn and attracts many visitors. It is very pretty and
has an excellent museum, a cliff railway linking Lynmouth to
Lynton, a brass rubbing centre and lovely woodland walks by the
waterfalls in Glen Lyn Gorge. The pebble beach however has little
to offer apart from a tide filled bathing pool on the Eastern
Beach facing the Manor Grounds.
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