Four adult male burials were recovered from a low promontory at the beautiful Downend Point in the late 1990s. One appears to have been wearing sea boots and other associated artefacts include pewter buttons, that suggests a 16th- or 17th-century date. The quality of some of the buttons seems to imply relative affluence of their owners. The burials are considered to represent the impromptu burial of four seamen or ship’s passengers found washed ashore nearby.

Downend Point is a great place to see major faulting in the rock formation. Here you can find huge tears in the rock layers – ripped out of alignment. Downend is also a great location for evening contemplation on one the benches or for a spot of fishing. Surfers can be seen off the point in certain favourable conditions.

Access Downend Point via the Coastpath from Croyde or Saunton, or from the scenic laybys off the coast road. Please take extreme care if close to or crossing this road – the road between Saunton and Croyde can be very busy, with fast moving traffic.