The villages of Inner and Outer Hope are separated by a hilly ridge and lie in parallel valleys that slope down to the shores of Hope Cove. Villagers used to make their livelihoods from fishing but tales of smuggling and wrecking abound. The history of this beautiful cove is well chronicled and records go back to 1281 and there are relics of a fortification on Bolt Tail that go back to an even earlier time.