For peace, nothing beats a lighthouse
ON arriving at Bull Point lighthouse and its keepers’ cottages, we were left in no doubt as to why this spectacular spot on the north Devon cliffs was chosen for a lighthouse. The views out over the Bristol Channel are wonderful and on a clear day you can see both the Welsh coast and Lundy Island.
In fact, the lighthouse is still in use (thankfully, there is no fog horn) but the cottages have been converted and refurbished to provide four modern self-catering properties that perch less than 20 metres from the cliff edge.
Peace and quiet is the name of the game, making it ideal for the frantic Londoner in search of recuperation. It’s about two miles from the nearest village and a solid 30-minute drive from Barnstaple. The only noises were the seagulls, the occasional hiker along the South West coast path and the odd chug of a fishing boat some fifty metres below. Remote is the word.
We had been warned that getting to Bull Point would not be easy, and without a car that was certainly the case. Even once you have arrived in the village Mortehoe, the surfaced access road which wends its way across the moorland is narrow and can be overgrown.
On arrival, we were greeted by essential food items, and a slightly less essential but exceedingly welcome bottle of wine. But it was the local scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam that really delighted us.
We made straight for the tiny local beach we had spotted on our way to the cottage. The cove was sandy but its location – 30 minutes on foot to the village along the coast path – meant it was only sparsely populated. Beautiful.
During the second day, we made the most of the warm weather and headed out to explore the jagged coastline and the very green Devon countryside.
Our cottage, called Triton, comfortably sleeps four. We made the most of the local seafood restaurant and pubs in the village, although walking back late at night along an unlit country path after a couple of drinks was an experience. Take a torch.
Triton Cottage, Bull Point Lighthouse in Devon, sleeps four. Rural Retreats offers three nights at Triton Cottage from £359. Two nights starts from £276 and seven nights starts from £616. To book, visit www.ruralretreats.co.uk or call 01386 701177.