MORTEHOE

Mortehoe is a village high up in the roller coaster stretch of coast between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe.  The village is a short distance from Morte Point, which can be reached via a circular walk from the village, also taking in Bull Point with its lighthouse, which came into operation in 1974 and became automated in 1995.  A lighthouse is needed along this coast, which is notorious for shipwrecks.  The Mortehoe Museum tells the story of these and other aspects of village history.  There is a pub in the village called The Ship Aground, which has an anchor outside from one of the shipwrecks, the S. S. Collier, which ran aground at nearby Rockham Bay in 1914 on its way from Milford to Avonmouth.  The village used to be the haunt of wreckers as well as smugglers, but is now a peaceful farming and holiday village.  The parish church of St Mary has parts dating back to Norman times and fine Tudor bench ends.  Like Ilfracombe, Mortehoe used to be accessible by rail via the Ilfracombe branch line, which opened in 1874.  The 1 in 36 gradient on the line between Ilfracombe and Mortehoe was one of the steepest sections of double track railway line in the country.  The line closed to passenger traffic in 1970 due to the massive increase in car use by would-be passengers.  To the south of Mortehoe is Barricane Beach, which is known for its exotic shells brought over from the Caribbean by sea currents.  Aside from coastal walks, another leisure pursuit available in the village is the Woolacombe and Mortehoe Golf Club.

Map of the area.

Morte Point, from Woolacombe