Combe Martin

Combe Martin is on the North Devon coast situated between Lynmouth and Ilfracombe. Its pretty harbour and bay was once busy importing coal and exporting its various produce. Because the village was built along the valley it was sheltered from the Atlantic gales this together with its mild climate made it famous for its market gardening and its strawberries were the first to ripen in the country. It was also famous for its silver mines which were worked at intervals throughout the centuries.

Today Combe Martin is popular for its tourism. It has several pleasant beaches and its sheltered bay is popular with children with inflatable dinghies. There are many pleasant walks nearby and it is a good centre for seeing all of the other popular places in this area.

It has many events going on through the year and especially the summer months. Such as “the Hunting of the Earl of Rone”, (commonly believed to be the Earl of Tyrone) this reconstructs the capture of the Earl of Rone in the 16^th century as a traitor, who was then led through the village on a donkey and killed on the beach and thrown into the sea. Today this is a spectacle with a hobby horse and a figure in sacking representing the Earl of Rone seated on a donkey with a procession passing through the village and finally ending on the beach.

During August there is carnival week with various events happening every day, including raft races, the carnival procession and on the last night a wonderful firework display.

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