South West Coast Path: Morte Point Circular

The circular walk around Morte Point from Mortehoe is one of the most celebrated short walks on the entire South West Coast Path, packing an extraordinary amount of natural drama and coastal grandeur into a route that takes most people around two to three hours at a comfortable pace. From the village of Mortehoe, the path leads out across the headland to Morte Point itself, a jagged promontory of hard metamorphic rock that juts into the Bristol Channel with an air of permanent defiance against the sea.

The point has a reputation as one of the most treacherous stretches of coast in the South West, and the wrecks on the rocks below tell their own sobering story. But on a fine day, the views from the tip of the headland are simply extraordinary, taking in the full sweep of Morte Bay to the south, the outline of Lundy Island on the horizon to the north-west, and the distant hills of Exmoor and Pembrokeshire on very clear days. It is the kind of view that makes you stop walking and simply stand in silence for a moment.

From the point, the path continues northwards along the clifftop before swinging back inland towards Lee Bay, where a short detour leads down to one of the most charming and secluded coves on the North Devon coast. The return leg follows quiet lanes and field paths back through the village, completing a loop that showcases the variety and beauty of this remarkable stretch of coastline.

Wildlife is a constant companion on this walk. Seals are regularly spotted in the water below the point, grey and sleek, while peregrine falcons patrol the cliff edge and choughs, with their distinctive red bills, can sometimes be seen picking through the short turf of the headland. Wildflowers carpet the clifftop in spring and early summer, adding a final touch of colour to an already spectacular scene.

Sensible walking footwear is strongly recommended for this route, as the cliff paths can be uneven and slippery in wet weather.