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Lee Bay

Lee Bay is a small village on the North Devon coast near Woolacombe.

The South West Coast Path National Trail runs through the village, and gives access to walks along the rugged North Devon coast.

The village of Lee is slightly removed from the bay itself, at the foot of what is known locally as the Fuchsia Valley. The village consists of around 100 properties, mostly old in style, and is served by a combined pub, post office and shop, The Grampus; also the Fuchsia Tea Rooms, St Matthew's Church and other local businesses such as a gift/craft shop, operating from the old schoolroom adjoining the church.

Within the bay itself (accessed by road, or by a level footpath of approximately a quarter of a mile) there is a hotel (visible as the main building in the picture) with extensive and well-tended grounds, and around 10 privately owned properties. Up to the late 1980's many of these were in use as tea rooms, restaurants and gift shops. The beach has a very gentle slope; at low tide, a large expanse of sand emerges from among the rocks, as does a footpath round to neighbouring Sandy Cove (also accessible from the clifftop at Damage Barton via a National Trust maintained path and staircase down the cliff face). At extremely low tides (on only a handful of occasions each year) a path opens to the east which leads (eventually) to Broador Bay; research and a current tide timetable are recommended before setting out, as the rescue helicopter is summoned many times each year.

The history of the village is largely centred around smuggling, Lee being one of the many villages along this stretch of coastline running to Bull Point Lighthouse where ships were frequently run aground on the rocks. The Lee Bay village website (http://www.leebay.co.uk) gives more information about village history and current events.

Towns and Villages in north Devon
Appledore | Barnstaple | Berrynarbor | Bideford | Braunton | Clovelly | Combe Martin | Croyde | Dolton | Fremington | Georgeham | Great Torrington | Hele Bay | Ilfracombe | Instow | Kentisbury | Knowle | Saunton | Landkey | Lee Bay | Little Torrington | Lynmouth | Lynton | Mortehoe | Northam | Parracombe | West Down | Westward Ho! | Woolacombe | Yelland

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