The hamlet of Woody Bay was once destined as a tourist resort, but it is now a quiet residential area. A steep track runs to a rough slipway and a small beach with a lime kiln, lime burner's cottage and the remains of a pier. Hanging Water stream runs down thickly wooded cliffs to a waterfall, and there are legends of ghosts, probably put about by smugglers. A car park high above the beach gives access to the Coast Path.
Woody Bay
Three miles West of Lynton and eight
East of Combe Martin on the North Devon coast of England, stoney-beached
Woody Bay nestles among the steep cliffs of the rugged coast below
the heights of Exmoor. Although now a relatively remote and unspoilt
corner of Devon, at the edge of the Exmoor National Park and a waypoint
on the South West Coast Path, there were once plans to develop the
area to become a busy holiday resort to rival the nearby Victorian "Little Switzerland of England".
In 1885 the Manor of Martinhoe, including the then-named Wooda Bay,
was purchased by Colonel Benjamin Lake, a wealthy Solicitor from Orpington
in Kent. Perhaps in an effort to emulate Sir George Newnes' efforts
in the nearby twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, Col. Lake planned to
develop the bay as an exclusive resort. He converted Martinhoe Manor
House into an Hotel, and in 1894, opened a new golf course at Martinhoe common. Plots of land were sold off, and a number of villas started
to appear on the wooded slopes overlooking the bay.
A key to the success of Col. Lake's plans would
be to bring in more visitors, by improving communications into the
area. New roads were built and in 1895, construction of a pier was
started, to provide access from coastal steamers. In 1898, The narrow-gauge
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway arrived, with a relatively substantial station built high above
the bay, and plans (never fulfilled) for a branch line to run down towards
the shore.
In January 1897, with the pier almost completed,
a major steamship company operating in the area announced that they
would be sailing to Woody Bay instead of Lynmouth. This caused considerable
alarm among the Lynton and Lynmouth residents, and eventually, the
decision was reversed. The official opening of the Woody Bay pier
took place on 15 April 1897, however bad weather and low tides prevented
the first ships from docking, and this set the scene for future visitors
- the pier was not long enough to cater for landings at low tide.
And although there was a regular service from Bristol, fewer steamers
were calling than had been intended, and plans were drawn up to extend
the pier further out into the bay. Again apeing Sir Georges developments
at Lynton, a Cliff Railway was also mooted, to connect with the Lynton & Barnstaple
Railway, although neither plan ever came to fruition.
Woody Bay Station
On 12 January 1899, perhaps as an omen of what was to come, the pier
was severely damaged by a storm, with another a year later. It was never
repaired, and the remains were finally demolished for scrap in 1902,
although some evidence of its existence can still be seen on the shoreline
today.
The Colonel continued pouring money into the area,
in an effort to see his dream become reality. Unfortunately however,
it wasn't all his money to spend, and in July 1900, he was forced
into bankruptcy, with debts of over £170,000. He was sentenced
to twelve years in prison, for using clients' savings to fund the
Woody Bay developments, and died in 1907 along with any prospect of
further intensive developments around Martinhoe.
Although the Lynton & Barnstaple railway closed in 1935, Woody
Bay Station re-opened to passengers in 2004, as the Lynton & Barnstaple
Railway Trust and a small group of enthusiasts continue to restore,
rebuild and recreate the railway experience and eventually, fulfil part
of Col. Lakes dream to bring more visitors to this area of great natural
beauty.
J Travis: An Illustrated History of Lynton and Lynmouth 1770-1914 Breedon
Books, 1995. ISBN 1-85983-023-4
J Travis: Lynton and Lynmouth, Glimpses of the Past, Breedon books,
1997. ISBN 1-85983-086-2
As it's name may suggest Woody Bay lies below ancient woodland. This
secluded beach requires a steep walk of approximately 500 metres, to
reveal a rocky, pebbled beach with some shingle.
Woody Bay Station opened in 2004. It is a narrow guage running on the old Lynton and Barnstable line which was closed in 1935. Diesel and steam engine s carry ypasengers. It was originally classed as an attraction and so VAT had to be paid on fares but by opening a further section of line and allowing passengers to alight from the train it is now classed as transport and as such no VAT is payable to ride the trains.
Woody Bay is a superb bit of Exmoor coast (Nat. Trust) 2½ miles west of Lynton (small cliff-top town). Oak-wooded hillsides above cliffs; rock pool/low-tide-sand bays between headlands. Very few buildings. Lovely walks (wonderful views). Slow road (via spectacular Valley of the Rocks) to Lynton and Lynmouth . Hunter’s Inn, 2½ miles. Woolacombe’s superb sand/surf beaches, 16 miles (decent road). This whole coast, from Minehead to Combe Martin, is, we think, the most beautiful in the West Country.
Woody Bay is a lovely sheltered bay where the steep cliffs are covered in woods and a fast flowing stream gushes down the hillside to the beach below. There is a small car park next to the road and the path zig-zags down through the woods to the beach below. The beach, made up of rocks, large pebbles and shingle, is safe for swimming and is a lovely place to just sit, relax and enjoy the scenery. The only disadvantage is having to walk back up!
Beach Type: Shingle/Pebbles/Rock - Dogs: No
dogs permitted
OS Grid Reference: SS6748 |
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