🏙️ Combe Martin webcams online — watch live in real time

A Village in a Valley Between Cliffs

Combe Martin is a coastal village on the north coast of Devon, tucked into a narrow valley between some of the highest sea cliffs in England. It's a place where the green slopes of Exmoor National Park descend to the bay, and the single main street stretches for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) along the valley, connecting the beach with the upper farms. The village sits on the border of Exmoor National Park and is part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

From the summit of Great Hangman, which towers above the village, there's a view over the entire valley — as if from a bird's-eye view you can see how a narrow strip of houses and shops is squeezed between two giant cliffs. This is where a section of the South West Coast Path passes — one of the most scenic walking routes in the UK. If you want to see this panorama in real time, Combe Martin webcams online allow you to watch the coastline without leaving home.

Silver Mines and Smugglers

The history of Combe Martin is six centuries of silver mining and centuries of smuggling. Silver mines were worked here for approximately 600 years, and the extracted metal went to provincial mints in England and Wales. In 1845, Lower Mill was converted into a smelting works where ore was refined on site before being shipped out through the harbour. Traces of mines, spoil heaps, and remnants of water wheels are still visible on the slopes around West Challacombe, Girt Down, and Knap Down.

But silver wasn't the only thing the locals lived on. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Combe Martin was one of the smuggling centres on the north coast of Devon. The caves and coves were ideal for illegal landings of brandy, tea, and tobacco. Smugglers used hidden trails, leading the goods away from customs officers into the interior. The era ended in 1842 when the government reduced import duties, and the black market lost its purpose.

Pack o' Cards: A House Built Like a Deck of 52 Cards

On the village's main street stands a building that's impossible to miss — the Pack o' Cards Inn, built around 1690 by local squire George Ley. According to legend, Ley won a fortune in a card game and decided to immortalise his luck in architecture. The building is constructed in the shape of a deck of 52 cards: the plot is exactly 52 feet square, 52 windows, 4 floors (one for each suit), and 13 doors on each floor.

This is one of the most unusual examples of folk architecture in England. The building has retained its historic appearance and still operates as a pub. If you're watching Combe Martin webcams online, pay attention to the main street — you might be able to spot this unique structure with its symmetrical windows and four floors.

Great Hangman: The Highest Sea Cliff in England

Above Combe Martin towers Great Hangman — a cliff 1,044 feet (318 m) high, considered the highest sea cliff in England. It's part of the South West Coast Path — a national trail 630 miles (1,013 km) long, running from Minehead to Poole. The ascent of Great Hangman starts from Kiln Car Park in Combe Martin and takes about 3 hours: a route 4.3–5.3 miles long with an elevation gain of 1,250 feet (379 m).

From the summit, there's a view over the entire North Devon coastline, and in clear weather — even the Welsh shore. Nearby is Little Hangman — slightly smaller but no less impressive cliff. Both are part of Exmoor National Park and form part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Combe Martin webcams online sometimes show these cliffs in the background — they look especially impressive at sunset, when the sun sets behind the Bristol Channel.

Wildlife and Coastal Nature Reserves

The coastline around Combe Martin is a true paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. Seabirds nest on the cliffs: eiders, guillemots, and razorbills. Seals and dolphins are frequently spotted in the sea offshore. At Combe Martin Beach — pebbles and gravel that become sandy at the water's edge — you can explore rock pools where crabs, starfish, and anemones hide.

Nearby is Horsey Island Nature Reserve — an 80-hectare Devon Wildlife Trust reserve featuring tidal mudflats, sandbanks, and salt marshes. It's one of the best birdwatching spots in Devon: thousands of wading and waterfowl birds stop here, including ospreys, spoonbills, glossy ibises, and white egrets. Inland, across the expanses of Exmoor National Park, red deer and Exmoor ponies graze.

The Hunting of the Earl of Rone Festival

Combe Martin preserves one of England's most unusual folk traditions — the Hunting of the Earl of Rone festival, held annually over the weekend closest to the spring equinox. It's one of the country's oldest folk festivals, associated with pre-Christian spring welcoming rituals.

At the centre of the festival is the figure of the Earl of Rone, a giant effigy dressed as a smuggler, carried along the village's main street accompanied by Green Men, musicians, and dancers. The festival includes processions, performances, and traditional games. If you're watching Combe Martin webcams online in late May, there's a chance you might see preparations for this event or even the procession itself — a colourful spectacle with no equivalent in other Devon villages.

St Peter ad Vincula Church and Architecture

The parish church of Combe Martin — St Peter ad Vincula — is situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by green slopes. It's a historic building that forms part of the village's heritage, though the exact date of its construction and architectural style require further research in the Combe Martin Museum archives.

Besides the church, the village has preserved many historic buildings scattered along the main street. Here you can find traditional Devon cottages made from local stone, old shops, and pubs that remember the smuggling days. The architecture of Combe Martin is a blend of practicality and folklore, where every house has its own story connected to silver mining, smuggling, or maritime trades.

What the Cameras Show

Combe Martin webcams online offer the chance to see this unique village in real time. The cameras are positioned to cover key points: Combe Martin Beach, the main street with its historic buildings, views of the Great Hangman and Little Hangman cliffs, and the bay panorama. You can watch the tides, walkers on the South West Coast Path, and weather changes along the North Devon coast.

Choose any camera from the catalogue and watch Combe Martin in real time — from sunset over the Bristol Channel to morning mist in the valley. It's a place where history meets wildlife, and six centuries of silver mining have left their mark on the landscape and architecture.