Hartland village, once called Harton Borough, is a timeless, unspoilt rural gem. For over a thousand years the village has been the hub of social and community life for the whole peninsula, so is packed with history, heritage and the kinds of shops, events and services that have served traditional village communities for centuries.
You can easily spend a day exploring the village. Follow the Harton Borough Heritage Trail to uncover the rich history and learn how to read the buildings, streets and public spaces for the stories they have to tell.
Explore the local shops including the the Pop In general store.
Spend time in the artisans workshops and galleries including: the White Hare Studio~Gallery home to Clive and Caroline Brocklehurst offering unique gifts, watercolours, prints, jewellery, cards and more; Merlyn Chesterman’s gallery at 2 Harton Manor, offering woodcuts and monoprints inspired by the sea and cliffs; The Calf Street Pottery where you can buy beautiful domestic stoneware or join in a class or workshop; Rob Seymour’s Shoreline Photography to buy original photographs and prints inspired by the coast and countryside. Look out also for the annual art trek, when local artists and artisans right across North Devon open up their studios to visitors for two weeks in the summer, the seasonal art & craft fairs in the Parish Hall and also regular open studio events – especially at Christmas.
Take a refreshing break in Coffee On The Square, sited in the old village bakery, serving delicious coffees and drinks, and serving a delicious menu made from fresh local produce. Or, on mornings when the sign is out in the carpark, take morning coffee or tea at the Church Rooms Coffee Shop for delicious home made cakes, cream teas and coffee (most summer mornings and Tues and Fri in the winter).
Alternatively relax in one of the village’s four hostelries including the very friendly Kings Arms, with its large, sheltered, sunny garden with childens’ play area. You can enjoy local ales, coffees, great pub food using local produce or sample one of their 35 gins! There is also The Hart Inn, a recently restored traditional village pub serving exceptional fresh food, local beer, great wines and a selection of local, artisan and well known spirits. The Anchor Inn has recently reopened under new ownership and the bar is open for real ales, lagers, ciders, wine and spirits of all descriptions including non-alcoholic options. The kitchen is serving breakfasts for hotel guests, meals on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a carvery on Sunday lunchtime.
Of course as the centre of community life there are also countless events ranging from markets and regular festivals, to music and drama evenings, talks and lectures, drives and fundraisers and seasonal May Day, Easter, Christmas, Harvest, Carnival and other celebrations. The Farmers Market runs on the first Sunday of the month in the Parish Hall and with 25+ local producers, it’s one of the largest true farmers markets in the South West.
Finally, the village is the centre for all the practicalities of life: post office and cash point, sports fields and clubs, doctors surgery and dispensary, places of worship, schools and so on.