Rockham Bay

Finding Rockham Bay requires a little effort. There is no road to the beach, no car park at the cliff edge and no cafe waiting at the bottom of the steps. What there is, however, is one of the most rewarding and genuinely secluded beaches in the whole of North Devon. And for those who love the idea of a beach that feels properly wild and undiscovered, Rockham is close to perfect.

The approach is from the pretty village of Mortehoe, following the South West Coast Path as it winds out towards Bull Point. The descent to the beach involves a good number of steep steps, but the reward is a beautiful, sheltered bay of dark sand and smooth pebbles framed by dramatic rocky outcrops. At low tide the beach opens up considerably, revealing a wonderful collection of rock pools and a seascape that feels miles from anywhere.

Rockham faces north-west, which means the evening light catches the bay at a wonderful angle. On a clear evening in late summer or early autumn, the sunset views from the beach and the cliff path above are quite simply outstanding. This is one of those locations where arriving with a camera is very much recommended.

Dogs are free to roam at Rockham throughout the year, which makes the walk from Mortehoe an excellent outing for dog owners who want a coastal adventure without restrictions. The path itself is well marked and offers spectacular views back over Woolacombe Bay as you head out along the headland.

There are no facilities at the beach itself, so come prepared with water and snacks. The journey back up is a reasonable climb, but arriving at the top to those wide open views of the Atlantic makes it entirely worthwhile.

Rockham Bay is the kind of beach you find, love and quietly keep to yourself. Until now.