Choose the right official start for Mortehoe village, Morte Point and the coast path towards Bull Point.
Start here
For a visit to Mortehoe village, Morte Point or the coast path towards Bull Point, use the public Mortehoe car park on North Morte Road, EX34 7DT. It is a practical base for the village and signed walks towards the headland, including careful plans for Rockham Beach parking.
This is not a place to improvise with narrow lanes, verges or private spaces. Park only in the signed public car park, check the noticeboard and payment information when you arrive, and leave enough time to get back before your parking session ends. Terms, availability and temporary changes can change, so the council’s current car-park page is the final word before setting off.
If you are deciding whether to begin here, from Woolacombe, or nearer Bull Point, start with the destination below. This page is about choosing the right parking base; follow the linked walk guides for the route itself.
The public option
North Devon Council lists Mortehoe car park at Mortehoe, EX34 7DT, on North Morte Road. The National Trust also identifies it as the village car park and says it is council operated rather than National Trust managed. When you are checking the current conditions, use the council listing, signs and payment instructions rather than assuming a National Trust membership benefit applies.
It is the sensible choice when you want a single base for the village and coast path. You arrive at the village rather than at the beach, so it works well for a walk with a stop in Mortehoe before or after. The National Trust notes that the public toilets are at the main council car park, which can make it a more convenient starting point for a longer outing.
Do not treat the Village Hall as an alternative. The National Trust specifically says parking there is not public. The same rule applies to informal roadside stopping: it can block a lane, residents’ access or a working route even when it looks empty. If the public car park does not suit your visit, change the plan rather than creating your own parking space.
Match the start
Park at Mortehoe car park if the village itself is the destination, whether that means the Heritage Centre, a pub or a look around. It places you at the entrance to the village.
For the wider picture of what is in the village and how it relates to the coast, read our Mortehoe village guide and Mortehoe guide. Those pages cover the visit; this one helps you choose the sensible place to leave the car.
For Morte Point, park in Mortehoe. The South West Coast Path’s Morte Point walk lists Mortehoe Village, EX34 7DT as both its start and nearest car park. The National Trust’s Morte Point and Bull Point circular route also starts and finishes at Mortehoe village car park.
That makes the village car park the cleanest start: begin on foot from the village and return to the same base, rather than trying to drive down towards the headland. For terrain, turning points and the route itself, use our Morte Point walk guide.
Mortehoe car park is also the practical public base for the walk towards Bull Point. The National Trust circular walk begins in the village car park and follows the coast path through Morte Point to Bull Point and its lighthouse.
Starting in Mortehoe is different from treating Bull Point as a drive-to attraction. It gives you an official parking point and a walk from the village. For the longer coastal circuit, see our Mortehoe to Bull Point walk guide.
From Woolacombe
If the plan is a one-way or out-and-back walk between the beach and village, decide which end you want to start from before you park. Mortehoe car park makes sense when the village, Morte Point or Bull Point is the main event. A Woolacombe start makes more sense when your day is centred on the beach and seafront.
Do not leave a car in Mortehoe merely to avoid choosing a legal base at the other end. Our Woolacombe to Mortehoe walk guide explains the walking connection; use it to decide the direction and return plan before you set off.
Before you leave
Mortehoe car park is the straightforward answer to where to park for the village, Morte Point and the Bull Point coast path. Keep the choice simple: use the official village car park, check the current terms on the day, and let your intended walk determine how long you need.
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