Hiking Guide to Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall – Devon, England
One of Devon’s best walks is the hike to Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall.
Tucked away in a cove on the North Devon coast, it’s a short walk to get here from Hartland Quay.
The dramatic waterfall plunges 157 feet down three tiers before running off into the ocean, could this possibly be one of the best waterfalls in England? Yep, it sure is.
Hiking Guide to Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall – Devon, England
First of all, this hike is not an easy one. I would say moderate to easy. Most of the hike is on flat ground with some small inclines until you get to Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall and then there are steep, uneven stairs to go down.
The waterfall can be seen from the top of the cliff, but if you want to see all the tiers, then you’ll have to take the not-so-easy hike down to the beach.
Where is Speke’s Mill Mouth?
Believe it or not, England has some beautiful waterfalls (just look at St Nectan’s Glen).
Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall is located on the North Devon coast, on the Hartland Peninsula.
The area is known for its hanging valleys and dramatic coastline.
It’s about 1 mile to get to the waterfall and a mile back to the parking lot.
The Basics
- Entry: FREE
Parking: Free before the museum opens, £3.00 after - Distance: 2 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Wear sunblock! There’s no shade.
- Bring lots of water
- Start the walk during low tide so you can enjoy the unique coastline
Where to Park for Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall
Parking can be CONFUSING.
There are two car parks, on two different levels. The first parking lot you will come to is for the coastal path. This will lead you right to Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall.
The second parking lot is at the bottom. This gives you access to the only toilets on site, refreshments, the gift shop, the Shipwreck and Smuggling Museum, and Hartland Quay Beach.
There is a path that connects the two parking lots, just be aware, that it’s a steep climb up/down.
Starting Your Hike
Park at the end of the top-level parking lot. You’ll see a path that leads along the coast (the sea will be on your right side).
You’ll climb up a small incline on the side of the cliff and walk back down towards St Catherine’s Tor.
Just be a little cautious because the gravel trail is uneven and has big rocks sticking out of the middle of the path.
And don’t forget to take in those VIEWS!
St Catherine’s Tor
You can’t miss the giant mound lining the cliffs. In fact, you will probably recognize it as a filming location for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
If the rain has been steady in the area, St Catherine’s Tor will greet you with a waterfall cascading onto the beach.
Start walking around the Tor, through the gate, and over the small bridge.
When you come to the open area just past the Tor there are no signs. Just keep walking straight across the field and walk through the gate.
Crossing the Farmland
Walk up the slight incline to the top of the fields and continue following the coast.
You can see a big open plateau up ahead… you’re almost there!
Once you reach the edge of the cliff, you will be able to see the waterfall. Now you just have to navigate down the steep and VERY uneven steps.
Take it slow and be very careful.
Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall
You can see the waterfall from several angles around here.
Walk around to the top of the falls and look down at the three tiers, or take the steep steps down to the beach.
You can even climb down in front of the falls and get a better view.
Not only do you have a waterfall and a beach, but there’s so much open space around you.
Sit on a bench and enjoy the view, lounge on the grass and listen to the waterfall, or bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Heading Back to the Parking Lot
There is a circular walk that you can take if you turn your back on the sea, continue following the coastal path, and when it forks, stay left.
You’ll end up walking through Stoke and back to the parking lot.
If I’m being honest, taking the coastal path is more scenic, so just go back the way you came.
Once you climb back up the steep and uneven steps, the rest of the walk back is easy.
Hartland Quay
I’m not going to get too much into it.. but Hartland Quay is a beautiful beach with dramatic rock formations and cliff faces.
It’s the perfect place to watch the waves crash against the many rocks (it was a shipwreck hot spot back in the day), explore the unusual rock formations on the beach, or take a cool dip in the water.
The cove had a starring role in Netflix’s Rebecca starring Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The film crew even left behind Rebecca’s Je Reviens, the boat that they pulled from the water down at the beach. The prop can be found at the entrance to the top-level parking lot.
Are you heading to North Devon soon? Are you thinking about walking to Speke’s Mill Mouth? Lemme know in the comments below!
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Hello, thanks for the post! Is this suitable for children aged 5-10 years ? Thanks
The hike is mostly flat until you come to the end by the waterfall and then the steps are quite steep, so if your children are used to steep climbs and have been hiking before then they should be fine.