CRANHAM HOUSE is situated near the village of Welcombe in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within an 800 metre walk of the Atlantic sea shore at Welcombe Mouth. The house sits on the border with Cornwall within a wooded valley or ‘combe’ that is the last in North Devon. The National Trust manages both the beach and coastal path as well as large parts of the valley. The whole of the Hartland Peninsula is included in the world class ‘biosphere’ of North Devon.
If you enjoy nature and getting away from it all to walk, watch birds, surf, ride, cycle and fish or to visit exciting places and gardens you will love this unique part of South West England.
AONB, Nature Reserves, Unesco Biosphere Region
Welcombe Mouth is designated an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Its tidal rockpools, waterfall, cliffs, pasture, coastal heathland and oak woodland provide habitats for a rich variety of Devon’s plants, birds and animals. The Marsland Nature Reserve, in the next valley south, and our gateway into Cornwall, is a habitat for rare butterflies including marsh fritillaries and is especially outstanding in late April/early May when the woodland is carpeted with bluebells.
(Photograph of Welcombe Mouth by Paul Jenner. A regular exhibitor at Welcombe Open Studios)
The sand dunes of Braunton Burrows now have something in common with Ayers Rock in Australia and Yellowstone National Park in the USA. All have been give biosphere status by UNESCO in recognition of their world class environmental importance.
The North Devon Biosphere stretches from Lynton to us in the Hartland Peninsula. Why not experience this precious resource for yourself and use Cranham House as your base.
Geology: Our stretch of coastline is considered one of the most dramatic in the entire British Isles. Welcombe Mouth is visited by geologists, artists and photographers who are particularly interested to see its spectacular rock formations of folds and faults created over 300 million years ago.