Locations in North Devon for your engagement shoot or wedding photos
Home to some absolutely stunning stretches of coastline, quaint villages and rolling green countryside, you are fairly spoilt for choice in North Devon when choosing a location for your wedding or engagement photos. Here I have compiled a list of 10 of my favourite locations in North Devon that could be perfect for you!
1. Baggy Point, Croyde
It’s a beautiful walkout to Baggy Point from Croyde beach along the south-west coastal path. In 20/30 minutes from the car park, you reach the point itself, a rocky headland with epic views out over the cliffs and the ocean beyond. It’s a perfect spot for sunset! If you don’t fancy the full walkout, just a short way along the coastal path gives you some amazing views looking back over Croyde, or even staying by the beach could be a great idea, particularly if it’s for your wedding photos to avoid you having to walk too far.
2. Woolacombe Beach
Probably one of the most beautiful beaches in North Devon, Woolacombe would be an incredible spot to visit on your wedding day or to come for a good walk to take your engagement photos. There is plenty of spots to park, though it is worth avoiding on a busy day or peak hours, as it can be very popular. Again, this one is definitely best visited at sunset when the light is good and the visitor numbers are lower.
3. Blackchurch Rock
Blackchurch rock is an epic arched sea stack rising right out of the rocky shore at Mouthmill Beach. Make sure to time your visit with low tide, otherwise, you won’t be able to get up close to the stack. I use Surf-Reports to check tide times, the closest nearby spot on the is Westward Ho! (the only town in the UK to have an exclamation mark as part of its name…). You can park at the National Trust Brownsham Car park and take the short walk (15/20 mins) down to the beach through Brownsham Wood. There is a map in the car park with a few options for a loop walk.
4. Clovelly
Probably one of the most idyllic villages in North Devon. Winding cobbled streets and the cutest terraced cottages, Clovelly is a must-visit for anyone coming to Devon and would be a beautiful spot to have your wedding or engagement photos. The village has a rich history as well as some great pubs with amazing food! There is a small admission charge to the village and you may need to enquire with the managers of the village to check it is ok to have your photos there. The cobbled street is steep, so might be a good idea to wear flat shoes. They do however run a Land Rover service down the private road from the top to the bottom which may make photos on your wedding day a bit easier.
5. Bucks Mills
The quieter and leafier version of Clovelly. Bucks Mills is often overlooked for its more popular neighbouring village, but it’s probably my favourite of the two. Bucks Mills is a beautiful village that feels set into the nature that surrounds it. Catch glimpses of some of the stunning thatched cottages on your way down, before you reach the square at the bottom, where the road then becomes a slipway down to the beach. Follow the slip-way down, past a historic artists retreat, to the beach. Take a right and you’ll see the waterfall pictured here cascading from the river above. There is a free car park at the top of the village that is well signposted and located here. From the car park, just wander down the road and you will quickly be into the village. A great one for your wedding day as you don’t have to walk very far at all before getting into the village and the road is properly tarmacked so no slipping in those nice shoes!
6. Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall
Devon is home to a fair few waterfalls, but Speke’s Mill Mouth takes the crown as the most impressive I’d say! After three visits to this place, I am yet to see it not under a thick cloud, rain and howling winds, but it’s always left a good impression on me regardless. To get there, drive to Hartland Quay and walk south along the coast path. It is about a 30-minute walk along the coast to the waterfall from the car park so best for an engagement shoot where you have more time.
7. Blackpool Mill
A remote beach tucked away on the Hartland Coast, this quiet beach is one of the real hidden gems of the north coast. Home to a small cottage that is actually available to rent, which would be a perfect spot for a getaway for your wedding night or just a trip away to coincide with your engagement shoot. The cottage itself has featured in a number of films and TV series, including ‘The Night Manager’ with Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman and Tom Hiddleston. To get here, drive to Hartland Quay and walk north along the coast path. You’ll find the footpath to the left of the building at the top of the hill down to the car park. Walk along the coast for about 20 minutes until you come to the beach with the cottage. Walk up the other side of the small valley with the cottage to see the view across the cliffs.
8. Valley of Rocks
Located just outside of the coastal village of Lynton is the Valley of Rocks, an epic dry valley with incredible views over the sea and out towards South Wales on a good day. It is also home to a few goats, which are great fun to watch play. There is parking right in the valley so access is fairly easy. There is a great walk from Valley of Rocks into Lynton along the coast path, which would be great for an engagement shoot.
9. Broadsands Beach
A tucked-away cove on the north coast, Broadsands looks like it could be somewhere in the pacific north-west. There are some great views from the top, but down on the beach is where it feels pretty special, with the steep, green sides of the cliffs towering above. This is one for those who don’t mind a fair few steps down to the beach, although it’s the journey back up those steps that may be the struggle…
10. Instow Beach
Finishing off with a local favourite. Instow is just a short walk from my family home and I have walked here on many a morning or evening stroll. Easy parking along the front and access to the beach, Instow would make for an excellent spot for your wedding or engagement photos with a bit of variety of backdrops of the beach, in the dunes or along the back streets of the village. Top it off with a hot or cold drink and cake from Johns.
