Walk Clovelly to Hartland Quay

This section of Coast Path leads you through the stunning, contrasting landscapes of the Hartland Peninsula. You emerge from ancient woodland to follow the path through pastoral land on the open cliff tops and, on reaching Hartland Point, you turn to leave the valleys and woodland behind you as you suddenly enter a more barren and dramatic landscape along the rocky coast to Hartland Quay. Waterfalls crashing to the secluded rocky beaches of the Atlantic, wild flowers and seabirds all contribute to the sense of wilderness and distance from the busy settlements of the north coast.

Highlights along the path:

• The Angel Wings shelter above Clovelly, with beautiful wood carvings made by a former butler of Clovelly Court.

• Bird watching at Gallantry Bower. You may see stonechats, linnets and meadow pipits.

• Blackchurch Rock at Mouth Mill Cove, with its two natural archways.

• Windbury Head Camp at the summit of Beckland Cliffs: this cliff top fort stands at 142 metres above sea level. It is thought to have been an Iron Age enclosure or hill fort and unfortunately much of it has been lost to coastal erosion.

• Memories of war: the WWII memorial plaque to the Wellington bomber that crashed into nearby cliffs in the night in 1942 killing all of the crew, and the memorial to the ship the Glenart Castle which was torpedoed by a U-boat in 1918.

• Spotting the grey seals that breed in the bays and caves of Hartland.

• The extraordinary rock formations between Hartland Point and Hartland Quay.

• Hartland Point with its lighthouse built in 1874 and fantastically named Tense Rocks just beyond the Point. You will also have spectacular views to South Wales and Lundy Island.

•The views from Hartland Quay back along the rugged coast you’ve just walked and the route ahead to Bude.

• Hartland Quay Museum which has fascinating displays of photographs, artefacts and documents of shipwrecks, smuggling, geology and coastal industries. Open: Easter week-October half term - 11.00-17.00.