Mortehoe is a lovely picturesque village with an interesting history, a heritage centre as well as a couple of good pubs! It is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are wonderful views, including an abundance of wildlife and flowers, as you walk out to Morte Point. For the able-bodied there is a lovely secluded beach at Rockham Bay with plenty of rock pools and sand as the tide recedes.
Mortehoe is listed in the Doomsday Book, as is the nearby town of Woolacombe. It has been notorious for smugglers and shipwreckers in the past, and graves of sailors from the wrecks can be found in the 13th Century church of St Marys.
Woolacombe holds the 'England for Excellence Gold Award' for best family resort 1999 and was voted the Best British Beach in the Mail On Sunday - October 2000. Its beach has been voted one of Britain's best and lies between Morte Point and Baggy Point. This three-mile long stretch of golden sand has won both the blue flag and Premier Seaside Beach awards for it's cleanliness, water quality and facilities. Life guards ensure safe family swimming during the summer and surfers come from all over the country to enjoy the great waves and clean water.
Ilfracombe is the main town and approximately 15 mins drive away. It’s a Victorian town with a rich history and boasts the Landmark theatre which supports a wide range of local and national attractions. The picturesque harbour is home to fishing vessels and pleasure craft. Boat trips operate from the modern jetty, including excursions to Lundy Island on the traditional MS Oldenburg. The harbour also features Damien Hirst's restaurant, The Quay. At the famous Tunnel Beaches, there is an new indoor soft play centre with a cafe/bar.
There are many beautiful walks in the area. The North Devon Coastal Path is part of the South West Coastal Way, which stretches from Minehead all the way round to Dorset, passing through Cornwall, and can easily be embarked upon from our apartment. The nearby Exmoor National Park offers ramblers a wide choice of walks along the Exmoor Trails.
For cyclists, The Tarka Trail cycle route follows lines of the old railway between Braunton and Meeth. The trail forms part of the off-road coast to coast cycling route between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. The Tarka Trail is also suitable for walkers.
Other nearby attractions include Braunton Burrows, Exmoor Bird Gardens, Watermouth Castle, Marwood Hill Gardens, Arlington Court, The Milky Way, The Big Sheep and Clovelly, as well as the nearby towns of Lynton, Lynmouth, Bideford, and Barnstable for shopping.
There are lots of events going on during the year.
Further Information:
Woolacombe Tourism Board
3 Barricane House, Mortehoe, Devon EX34 7DR
© 2010 Gail Doran, Paul Jennings and Cliff Jennings. All rights have been asserted.
Barricane House, a self catering holiday home in Mortehoe, North Devon.