North Devon Coast Marathon from Woolacombe
You run the wild headland of Morte Point, where seals haul out below the cliffs and the Atlantic crashes on the rocks, wrapped into a full marathon-plus loop from Woolacombe's beach.
Effort: Ultra distance and major ascent
Underfoot: Open fell or rough terrain
E5·T3 — how we grade routesYou run the wild headland of Morte Point, where seals haul out below the cliffs and the Atlantic crashes on the rocks, wrapped into a full marathon-plus loop from Woolacombe's beach.
A 42.5km figure-of-eight from Woolacombe combining the South West Coast Path around Morte Point and Bull Point with inland lanes and trails, and around 1,130m of climbing. A big, scenic day on the North Devon coast.
The route
Start in Woolacombe and follow a 42.5km figure-of-eight that links the South West Coast Path with quiet inland lanes and trails, with around 1,130m of climbing spread across the distance. The coastal sections run north around Morte Point, Mortehoe and Bull Point, taking in Combesgate and Rockham beaches, before the route loops back through farmland and rolling countryside. It is a long, varied day: dramatic cliff-top path one moment, sunken green lane the next.
The coast
Morte Point is the highlight, a jagged spit of slate reaching into the Atlantic where grey seals haul out on the rocks below and the sea rarely rests. The coast here has a fearsome reputation for shipwrecks, and the path runs close to the cliff edge in places, high above the water. Woolacombe's great sweep of sand anchors the loop, one of the finest surf beaches in the country, and the inland legs give the legs a change of rhythm between the headlands.
Why it works
This is a route for a big, rewarding day on your feet. The coast path is largely good underfoot but relentlessly up and down, so the climbing adds up and the distance earns its marathon billing. Navigation is straightforward on the well-signed coast path, with more care needed on the inland lanes. The cliff edges are the serious hazard: keep back from them, especially in wind, and note that this is coastal ground where the Coastguard, not Mountain Rescue, is the emergency service. Woolacombe and Mortehoe have cafes, pubs and toilets for before and after. Save it for a clear day and the Atlantic views are extraordinary. It is one of the finest long coastal loops in the south west, and the sting in the tail is all those cliff-top climbs late in the day.
The coast path runs close to unfenced cliff edges high above the sea, so keep well back, especially in wind. This is coastal ground: in an emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Beaches and rocks below the path are cut off by the tide.
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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