Walk at Hartland Quay, North Devon
This is a 4 mile circular cliff walk, starting and finishing at Hartland Quay.
It will take 2 to 3 hours
- Park at the car park above Hartland Quay. Go up the hill, and you can soon
turn right onto the Coast Path which is well trodden.
- The coast path will take you round the headland, and down round St Catherine's
Tor. Although much of the land has now fallen into the sea, it is believed
that there was a Roman Villa, or a chapel on the Tor
- The coast path is easy to follow, and you are soon descending via a steep
path to Speke's Mill Mouth waterfall. This is a magnificent sight as the stream
falls 150 feet to the sea, in a series of waterfalls that have been cut back
along a fault line in the rock.
- From here follow another path inland, up through the valley for about a
mile until you read a road.
- You can detour slightly to the right here to get to Docton Mill, which is
a restored water mill, that now generates electricity for the house
- Back on the lane again follow it round to the left, uphill past Trellick
House and Wargery Farm
- This will take you to Stoke. When you get to the main street, turn left,
past St Nectan's Church. This 14th century church has the second tallest tower
in Devon, and a very lovely 15th century rood screen, Norman font and wagon
roof.
- The path runs parallel to the road from Stoke to Hartland Quay.
- Hartland Quay is worth an explore. There was a busy quay here for 250 years,
but it began to break up in 1893, and within 20 years the harbour had completely
disappeared. The harbour buildings are all that is left.
