Shipload Bay is a small secluded cove situated to the east of Hartland Point which can be viewed from the South West Coast Path. At low tide there is a fine sandy beach, the only one guaranteed between Westward Ho! and Welcombe. The name may be linked to the smuggling trade. The original path to the beach, a pack horse track, was lost to cliff erosion. In the 1980’s the National Trust constructed some steps onto the beach, but these have also been lost through cliff erosion. Owing in part to its inaccessibility, the Bay is frequently visited by grey seals and it is one of the few places on the North Devon coast where they can regularly be seen.

Beach Information
Weather & Tides