Welcome back, everyone. Most people drive straight past Combe Martin on the A399, heading for the bigger names on the North Devon coast like Ilfracombe or Woolacombe.

That's their loss, honestly. This village squeezes itself into a narrow valley where the hills drop almost straight into the sea, and the high street is famously one of the steepest in England.

It's not polished or fancy, and that's exactly why it works.

Why this village feels different

You won't find a seafront promenade lined with chain restaurants here. Instead, you get a working village that happens to sit on a beautiful stretch of coast. The beach is mostly shingle and rock pools, backed by cliffs that feel like they're about to topple over.

The real draw is the coastline itself, which is part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Walk east along the South West Coast Path for about twenty minutes and you'll hit Wild Pear Beach, a quiet cove that's mostly empty even in July. That's the kind of place this is.

What to actually see and do

Start at the beach and work your way up, because the views get better with every step. The Combe Martin Museum and Information Centre on the high street is worth a quick stop, mostly for its quirky exhibits on the village's silver mining history. Speaking of which, the old silver mines at the eastern edge of the village are a proper adventure.

You can follow the marked trail up to the mine workings, though the shafts themselves are sealed off for safety. For a longer hike, head to the National Trust's Heddon Valley, about four miles east, where the river cuts a deep gorge through the cliffs before meeting the sea at Heddon's Mouth.

Plan your arrival carefully

The high street is steep, and I mean properly steep. If you're driving, aim for the main car park near the beach rather than trying to park halfway up the hill. The bus service from Barnstaple, the 301, runs roughly every hour and drops you right at the bottom of the village, which saves you the climb on arrival. If you're walking the Coast Path, you'll come in from either direction with some serious elevation change, so pack light and wear shoes with real grip.

Costs and timing that work

A day here is enough to get a feel, but staying one night lets you catch the quiet evening light on the cliffs. Parking at the main beach car park runs about £5 for the day, around 6 USD. The museum asks for a small donation, usually £2 or 3 per person. For a proper stay, a basic B&B room in the village averages around £80 a night, or about 100 USD.

The best time to visit is late spring or early autumn, when the paths aren't crowded and the weather is still decent for walking.

The whole point of Combe Martin is that it doesn't try to impress you. It just sits there, steep and a bit rough around the edges, and lets the coastline do the talking. Next time you're planning a Devon trip, skip the crowded surf towns and give this little valley a shot. You'll leave with salt on your jacket and a new favorite stretch of cliff path.