Combe Martin: Trade & Settlement

This walk takes you from sea level at Combe Martin’s lovely beach, which once bustled with coastal vessels, to the hills up high behind the village for stunning panoramic views down the valley to the sea. It offers a fascinating insight into the industries, trade and patterns of settlement in this beautiful valley over the centuries.

Start Location: Kiln Car Park, Combe Martin
Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Green lanes, farm tracks, public footpaths, country lanes. Going fairly uneven underfoot.

Hillsborough (Ilfracombe): A Coast in Conflict

This trail guides you along a dramatic coastline that has been in conflict for centuries; from the prehistoric hill fort of Hillsborough, smuggling, wrecking, naval activities, and fortifications, to fist-fights on the beach!

Start Location: Hillsborough Car Park, Hillsborough Road, Ilfracombe Distance: 1.5miles (2.5km)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Coast Path and public footpath. Some rocky, uneven, slippery and muddy patches.

Discover some of Devon’s hidden gems. North and South Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have jointly produced a series of themes trails to help you get out there, enjoy and learn more about the landscape around you.

Trail themes include:

• Man and the Landscape
• Trade and Settlement
• Coast in Conflict
• A Colourful Landscape

Use the map or scroll through the walks below to select a walk that you are interested in and at the bottom of each trail page is the option to print the details, including a map, to take with you, which we highly recommend.

Key to the grades of trails:

Easy: Straightforward walking on reasonably even ground, with few or minor obstacles. Suitable for most people in reasonable health: sensible footwear should be worn.

Moderate: These walks are suitable for anyone in reasonably good health, wearing sensible outdoor footwear.

Strenuous: Walks requiring a reasonable degree of physical fitness and sure-footedness. Supportive walking boots should be worn.

Hartland: Trade & Settlement

An exciting journey through Hartland’s rich history of trade and settlement. Hear about the seafarers who braved this treacherous coastline, stories of pirates, convicts, smuggling and wrecks, and the folk who lived and worked in what was once a very remote outpost.

Start Location: Top car park at Hartland Quay.
Distance: 6 miles (9.5km); shorter route 3.5miles (5.5km).
Grade: Full route: strenuous. Short route: moderate to strenuous.
Terrain: Coast path, public rights of way, surfaced road. Most is reasonable underfoot with some tricky footing on the Coast Path.

Brownsham & Clovelly: Colourful Landscape

Be dazzled with colour as you walk through some of North Devon’s finest landscapes, including National Trust land and the Clovelly Estate. The trail takes you through Culm grassland, woodland and heathland, all rich in plants and wildlife, with an opportunity to visit the charming village of Clovelly.

Start Location: Brownsham Car Park
Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Coast Path, public rights of way, surfaced road and green lane. One rocky and uneven stretch and some slippery patches in wet weather.

Bucks Mills: Trade & Settlement

Step back in time at Bucks Mills and take in the rich history of trade and settlement along this stunning coastal stretch, which includes National Trust land. This walks takes in spectacular coastal views and stories of the local people and how they made their living here, before turning inland to stroll through Peppercombe, one of Devon’s finest wooded valleys.

Start Location: Bucks Mills Car Park (7 miles west of Bideford off the A39) Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Coast Path, public rights of way, surfaced road. Mostly reasonable underfoot. Some slippery stretches on Coast Path in wet weather.

Abbotsham & Westward Ho!: Trade & Settlement

Follow in the footsteps of authors Charles Kingsley and Rudyard Kipling and take in the spectacular views of the Westward Ho! coastline.

Start Location: Kipling Tors Car Park, Westward Ho!
Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)
Grade: Easy to moderate
Terrain: Quiet country lanes, public footpath, green lane and coast path. Fairly even going underfoot, with a few wet or muddy patches in damp weather.

Croyde & Saunton Down: Man & the Landscape

Learn how man has shaped the landscape through the ages, on this fascinating walk that looks down upon the country’s first newly designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Braunton Burrows. This walk takes in both coastal and inland views, of this internationally important area.

Start Location: Croyde Village Car Park
Distance: 3.5 Miles
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Coast Path, Public Footpath, surfaced road. Fairly uneven under foot, with a few slippery stretches

Lee Valley & Bull Point: Colourful Landscape

Stroll beside a glittering sea through this vivid landscape of wildflowers, woodland and coastal heath and hear colourful stories of smuggling and wrecking.

Start Location: Lee Cove Car Park
Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Grade: Moderate to strenuous
Terrain: Coast Path and public footpath. Some rocky, uneven, slippery and muddy patches