Heddon's Mouth Beach (National Trust), Martinhoe and Woody Bay, Exmoor National Park
Pebble and rock beach below extraordinary high cliffs
Heddon's Mouth Cleave is a stunning, steep-sided wooded valley in the western section of Exmoor National Park. Cut by the River Heddon, it extends to the coat at Heddon's Mouth. Cliffs tower above the beach. The Heddon's Mouth Beach area is one of the finest places to walk in the Westcountry and the cleave, or valley, is home to one of the region's best located pubs.
Location of Heddon's Mouth Beach
The highest cliffs in England line the coast in the western section of Exmoor National Park between Lynmouth/Lynton and Combe Martin. Heddon's Mouth Beach is situated roughly between these two popular Exmoor holiday destinations. The beach is at the mouth of Heddon's Mouth Cleave. Highveer Point towers above the beach to the east and Peter Rock to the west. Hunter's Inn is inland.
We've positioned Heddon's Mouth Beach on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Heddon's Mouth Beach
Heddon's Mouth Beach is one of the many Exmoor beaches that it takes a little bit of effort to visit. Access from Hunter's Inn along the floor of Heddon's Mouth Cleave is easy. Access from the high cliffs both east and west is more difficult but the South West Coast Path in both directions is exhilarating. We describe all three routes below.
Directions from Hunter's Inn. Drive the skinny roads to Heddon's Mouth Cleave and Hunter's Inn. Use the car park across the road from the National Trust shop and cafe. Good paths run on either side of the River Heddon to Heddon's Mouth Beach and make for an easy circular walk.
Directions from Woody Bay. If you like walking, this is the route you should take to Heddon's Mouth Beach. The stretch of South West Coast Path between Woody Bay and Highveer Point is sublime. Drive to Woody Bay. Leave your car in the car parking area in the woods as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. Follow the South West Coast Path through the woods and past the Hollow Brook waterfall to Great Burland Rocks. The path is high and exposed and leads to a super viewing area above Highveer Point. You look down on Heddon's Mouth Beach. Descend the east side of Heddon's Mouth Cleave and then use the path that runs along the bottom of the valley to get to the beach. Return on the higher path that takes you under The Beacon Roman Fortlet. Use Ordnance Survey mapping for detail.
Directions from Trentishoe Down. This approach is almost as impressive as that from Woody Bay. Drive to Trentishoe Down by Trentishoe. Leave your car in the upper car parking area as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping. Follow the South West Coast Path to East Cleave and Peter Rock. The views from here are amazing. Descend the west side of Heddon's Mouth Cleave and walk the path that runs along the valley floor to get to the beach. We usually return inland via Hunter's Inn and Black Cleave. The last section of the walk is a bit of a slog but nothing too taxing. Again, use Ordnance Survey mapping for detail.
Heddon's Mouth Beach
Heddon's Mouth Beach is a reasonably large low tide rock and pebble beach. The pebbles at the back of the beach are huge.
The setting below high cliffs is extraordinary but it can get crowded owing to the area's popularity and the nearby pub and National Trust shop and cafe.
Beaches near Heddon's Mouth Beach
Beaches on the coastline east of Heddon's Mouth Beach:
Woody Bay Beach
Lee Abbey Bay Beach
Wringcliff Bay Beach
Lynmouth Western Beach
Lynmouth Eastern Beach
Sillery Sands (Beach)
Porlock Beach
Bossington Beach
Minehead Beach
Dunster Beach
Blue Anchor Beach
Kilve Beach
Beaches on the coastline west of Heddon's Mouth Beach:
Wild Pear Beach
Combe Martin Beach
Combe Martin Newbury Beach
Broadsands Beach
Watermouth Cove (Beach)
Hele Beach
Iflracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Lee Bay Beach
Sandy Cove (Beach)
North Devon Atlantic facing beaches:
Rockham Beach
Grunta Beach
Barricane Beach
Woolacombe Sand (Beach)
Putsborough Sand (Beach)
Croyde Sand (Beach)
Saunton Sands (Beach)
Northam Burrows Beach
Westward Ho! Beach
Instow Sands (Beach)
Things to do near Heddon's Mouth Beach
South West Coat Path
Hunter's Inn
The Valley of Rocks
Lynton and Lynmouth Railway
Watersmeet (National Trust)
Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor horse riding
Villages and towns near Heddon's Mouth Beach
Martinhoe
Lynton
Lynmouth
Combe Martin
Malmsmead and Oare
Photo Gallery
