Hello to all our lovely readers and greetings to those who are visiting for the first time. Today we wanted to bring you a post all about Ilfracombe, a little seaside town on the North Devon Coast. Discover why it is one North Devons gems and find out why you might just want to visit it.
Explore
Ilfracombe is a beautiful harbour town that boasts fantastic views, food and attractions making it a great choice for those visiting on holiday. The town is surrounded by stunning coastal cliffs and beaches. To one side you have Hele Beach and Sandy Bay while the other side leads to Lee Bay and Woolacombe. In addition to these beautiful beaches, you have the famous Tunnels Beaches. The Tunnels Beaches are small private cove beaches that are accessible via hand-carved tunnels! It is also a beautiful wedding venue due to its secluded location and picturesque views. The area was a victorian hotspot and each tunnel would take you to a different beach. In the victorian era, there was a ladies’ beach and a gentleman’s beach. To learn more about Tunnels Beaches, admission and more click here.
Ilfracombe is also home to one of Damien Hirst’s statues, Verity, a beautiful and unique statue that is made from stainless steel and bronze and stands at 20.25 metres tall at the entrance to the harbour.
Furthermore, the food in Ilfracombe is something that attracts visitors alone. There are lots of fantastic restaurants, cafes, tearooms and pubs.
Key Attractions
As well as the beaches, the art and the food, Ilfracombe has some fantastic attractions to visit too. Up first is the Ilfracombe Aquarium, located in the old lifeboat house. The main attraction is currently closed due to renovations but will reopen February 2021, however, the cafe with its harbourside view and Funky Fish gift shop is open.
Watermouth Castle is another great family attraction with the victorian castle full of treasures, displays and a theme park for those wanting some adventure. It is currently closed but hoping to be open soon in the future.
The Ilfracombe Museum is a great spot for those wanting to delve deeper into the history of Ilfracombe. They have an amazing collection from natural history, archaeology, art and more. Again, unfortunately, due to Covid-19 this museum is temporarily closed but keep your eyes peeled for when they reopen. Plus you can currently view their collections online, just click here.
Finally, Chambercombe Manor is an interesting place to visit. A property steeped in history and beautiful gardens. Plus, for those feeling particularly brave you could visit one of the paranormal events at the manor as it is well known for its paranormal phenomena.
Further Information
We hope you have enjoyed today’s blog and who knows, perhaps a trip to the North Devon Coast is something you might just have to plan. If so, be sure to take a look at our accommodation in North Devon to see if you can find something you fancy.