West Challacombe Bothy

This basic stone bothy is a great base for walkers exploring the North Devon coast. It’s just five minutes from the South West Coast Path, in a remote spot surrounded by fields – a quiet place to spend the night.

The bothy is a small, one-room shelter with a wooden sleeping platform. You can leave your tent at home but should bring all the other things you need to camp, including sleeping mats and cooking equipment. There’s no electricity, lighting or heating, and the parking space, flushing toilet and water source are 400 metres away, across two rough and hilly fields.

You’ll be on the fringes of the Exmoor National Park, surrounded by lush countryside, rolling hills and dramatic coastline. Here, the coast path meanders through moorland, where golden beaches are in hidden coves below the craggy cliffs. The National Trust cares for about half of the Exmoor coast and your stay will contribute to conservation work in the area, including the land surrounding the bothy, where we’re working to restore the farm to nature.

Combe Martin village is a 20-minute walk away, with shops, places to eat and a sandy beach. A hike up the steep Hangman Hills nearby gives expansive views of the coast and on a clear day you’ll be able to see as far as Wales.

For a walking holiday exploring this stretch of coast, book other bothies along the coast path. First, head to Heddon Orchard Bothy (sleeps four, dog friendly), then either Berry Lawn Linhay Bothy (sleeps four, dog friendly), Foreland Bothy (sleeps four, dog friendly) or Butter Hill Barn (sleeps six, dog friendly).

Layout

Ground floor: Stone room with a wooden sleeping platform (3.6m wide and 2.1m deep) for up to four adults.

Outbuilding: Flushing toilet and tap with drinking water in an outbuilding 400m away from the bothy, near the parking space.

Outside space

Unenclosed field, wetland and woodland.

What is a bothy? Bothies are stripped back accommodation in remote locations. Simple structures, they offer a 'camping with walls' experience. All of our bothies are self-clean and do not include caretaking. 

In keeping with the ethos of a bothy stay, we ask our guests to leave West Challacombe Bothy in a clean and tidy condition for the next guests. Thank you.

Facilities: The building with a flushing toilet and tap with drinking water is 400 metres away from the bothy, across two fields with uneven tracks. There is no shower.

Parking: There is a parking space for one car 400 metres away from the bothy, across two fields with uneven tracks. The toilet is near the parking space. It is not possible to drive directly to the bothy.

Luggage: There is no offloading or parking possible directly outside the bothy. Please make sure you can carry all your equipment, including drinking water, to the bothy.

Bedding/linen: No bedding or linen are provided in bothies.

Heating: No heating is provided.

Electricity and lighting: There is no electricity or lighting in the bothy. The trail to the bothy is not lit, so please bring a torch. We recommend arriving in daylight.

Dogs: There is no enclosed garden and there may be animals in the surrounding farmland.

Transport: The nearest train station is in Barnstaple. If you're planning a holiday without your car, we recommend using Traveline to find public transport options before booking to check availability on your chosen dates.

Please note: For your safety, please do not cook inside the bothy.

There are two National Trust holiday cottages near the parking space and toilet, West Challacombe Cottage (sleeps four) and West Challacombe Manor (sleeps five).