Hartland Quay Hotel

Hartland Quay Hotel

, Hartland, Hartland.

One visitor to Hartland Quay Hotel described the route to the hotel thus: “Follow the signs to the end of the world. Then it’s another three miles.” Hartland Quay is approached over a private toll-road (or along the South-West Coast Path) and stands in a position that can only be described as stunning. On a warm, sunny day the location is beautiful, and on a wild, stormy day it’s even better! The surf thunders in onto the jagged rocks and pounds against the cliffs.

It’s hard to imagine now that for several hundred years there was a small harbour here serving the trading ketches that plied their trade between Devon and Wales. In 1886 the pier was damaged by storms and the worker’s cottages became a hotel, the Hartland Quay Hotel. The main building has been a hotel ever since while its original stables have now been converted into the bar and restaurant. Above the stables were the old corn and hay lofts, now en-suite bedrooms.

The Wreckers Retreat Bar serves locally sourced food and ales all year round from 11.00am daily. Recently refurbished and full of character, the bar features memorabilia charting the history of Hartland Quay, the many films and TV shows filmed there over the years as well as details of some of the shipwrecks in the area over the centuries. There is a comprehensive pub lunch menu including soup, fish and chips, curry, scampi, chicken, sausages as well as tasty sandwiches and jacket potatoes. Dinner includes steaks, pies, vegetarian and gluten-free options and much more besides. In summer there is also a snack menu in the afternoons, much appreciated by the many walkers following the coast path.

The clean and simple guest bedrooms comprise standard and sea-view double rooms, twin rooms and a family room.They all have a private bathroom with bath or shower, a flat-screen television, free WiFi and tea-making facilities.

Visitors to Hartland Quay invariably come for the natural beauty of the coastline. The cliff walks, with their extensive panoramas and wealth of wild flowers are just brilliant. Peregrine falcons hunt the cliffs, oyster catchers, cormorants and seagulls are all around. Buzzards abound in the woodlands and roe deer are never far away. The amazing folding of the rock strata in the cliffs is something spectacular to behold. The Hartland Quay Museum tells the story of of the area from the time of Henry VIII right through to the shipwrecks and rescues on the 20th century.

Within a short drive are Hartland Abbey and Gardens, the spectacular cascades at Spekes Mill Mouth, the cliffside village of Clovelly and some more modern family attractions to amuse the children.