During this year I shall be posting photographs from places around the UK, many of which have not been published before. Where I have previously blogged about a location I will provide a link to the post, though you won’t be able to comment on it as I restrict comments to six months.
H is for Hartland Quay
The wilderness of Hartland Peninsula is well worth exporing – it is a lost world of narrow roads winding their way to the coast. Visit Hartland Point, the Quay, Speke’s Mill Mouth and the glorious Hartland Abbey where paths around the estate lead to the beach and Blackpool Mill Cottage where ‘Sense and Sensibility’ was filmed. Nearby St Nectan’s Church has been a landmark for sailors for generations with its tower believed to be the highest in Devon.
It is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the UK with the highest granite cliffs overlooking Atlantic rollers. Take a walk along the coastal path here for wonderful views of the rugged coastline, astonishing folded and compressed rock formations, jutting ribs in the sand and waterfalls and inland moorland, heath and wooded valleys.
North Devon is often overlooked in favour of its southern neighbour, but it is a stunning part of the county. And much less traffic.
TRAVEL WORDS 
This dramatic scenery seems to be my kind of place. I don’t know it at all. I barely know Devon – so far . My loss – so far.
We seriously considered North Devon as our relocation place, but the lack of decent transport ruled it out at the time. It’s much less populated than the south and wildly beautiful.
It sounds wonderful. But you’re right, public transport as we get older becomes an issue. Not that the present government seems in any hurry to protect it.
Quite how they expect people living in rural areas to give up cars beats me, and somehow manage to install alternative heating too!
Quite.
Ooh, yes, please! I could forsake my coastline for that. And do you know, for one silly moment I thought the post read H is for … Hartlepool!
Never been there, but I might know someone who has… 😅
🤣🩵
Dear friends live in North Devon and the place will always be special to us. There’s more energy in dramatic and rugged coastlines.
We’ve had a couple of holidays up there and enjoyed them both. There is definitely something about the wilder landscapes that appeals to me.
Similar to the west coast of NZ; which funnily enough has had an amazing summer this year with sun and much higher temperatures than normal, unlike us,
We’re always fascinated by the sculptures that nature creates where the ocean meets the rocks. So many designs and styles, like the ribbing feature in your photo of Screda Cove.
Thanks guys. I’m always fascinated by the rock formations along our coastline.
Bingo, Jude! I have never heard of this place and it’s in my book now. Hartland Quay looks spectacular and we will be visiting soon. Many thanks, The Fab Four of Cley x
You’ll love it there Dina. The landscape is very dramatic and Exmoor is beautiful too.
Given how scenic you’ve shown North Devon to be, why is it often overlooked in favor of its southern neighbor?
Poor transport links. No railway, only one main road. Few sandy beaches.
That relative inaccessibility might paradoxically become a draw for a certain type of tourist.
Exactly. I much prefer the wilder landscapes to the heavily populated seaside towns, which makes me wonder why I am not living in Scotland!
Midges probably! LOL! Joking aside, the landscapes are very similar but the transport problems would be the same too. We’ve thought about areas of the west of Scotland but they’d be tricky to live in.
I have been to (and stayed in) Bude, but didn’t get to Hartland Quay. It is a very impressive coastline.
Best wishes, Pete. x
I once had a caravan holiday in Bude. All I remember is watching my brothers playing on the rocks and my mother being terrified they’d be washed out to sea! Time for another visit to Bude I think.
Spectacular scenery! Would love to visit one day and walk those coastal paths💕
Don’t leave it too long, those paths aren’t easy!
I shall keep that in mind!
Another beautiful destination to add to our ever growing list.
North Devon is rather lovely.
Beautiful. The rock formations are wonderful.