Ilfracombe, Devon
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort located on the north coast of Devon. The parish itself contains a number of local villages close by.
Ilfracombe Harbour
Ilfracombe harbour is the largest on the coast of North Devon. It has been used as a port for many years, though is now a great attraction for many visitors who want to explore Ilfracombe and North Devon as a whole. It is the perfect way to reach a number of local destinations including Lundy Island.
The Natural Landscape
The geography and Ilfracombe as a whole is impressive, and the town lies over a kind of sedimentary rock known as the Ilfracombe slates, due to the many faults and folds they have seen.
Ilfracombe is also within the North Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, because of the dramatic coastal cliffs that surround the area, as well as the beautiful landscape. This is why Ilfracombe is so popular with visitors who love nature, and want to explore many of the nearby attractions.
The closest nature reserve is Hillsborough, located just outside of the town centre. There are a number of rare species living all along the coast of North Devon, protected as part of the North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation area.
Ilfracombe Beaches
There are a number of beautiful and famous beaches in Ilfracombe. Due to its location in the Heritage Coast of Devon, visitors can benefit from a wide range of beaches whether they want to visit the cliffs, relax on a sandy beach, or bathe in rock pools.
The Tunnels Beaches include tunnels that have been carved into the cliff to allow entry to the beach, which is where you will find rock pools that are home to wide range of sea creatures. As a result, these beaches were voted as some of the top rock pooling beaches in the UK.
Surfing is extremely popular all around the area. There are a huge variety of beaches to choose from, and it is often worth a small trip to nearby villages such as Croyde and Saunton. If you enjoy surfing then conditions are often great for it, otherwise you can relax and watch the surfers to their thing!
Tourism in Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe was always an area popular with tourists since the Victorian era, where people would come from miles around to feel the health benefits of bathing in the sea. However, tourism in the area did see a decline with the end of this period in history.
Entertainment in Ilfracombe
There is a Victorian week in June every year, where you can witness a number of locals dressed in traditional Victorian clothing. This week is important to the local residents, who enjoy celebrating their history.
There are, in fact, six carnivals in total taking place in the area. They all celebrate this early heritage, including the May Day walking celebration, a Victorian celebration, the Victorian week in June, a street carnival in August, the Lighting of the Lights in November, and the Christingle at Christmas.
There are eight small art galleries throughout the town and the Landmark theatre puts on a number of shows in the area.
Accommodation
Marsdens Cottage Holidays have a fine selection of Ilfracombe cottages available for self-catering, from cottages for couples to cottages for large groups of friends and family. Many are pet-friendly too!
