Ilfracombe is a sheltered coastal town with the largest harbor on the rugged North Devon coast of England. Hillsborough Hill, the site of an Iron Age fortification, overlooks the harbor. St. Nicholas Chapel, a lighthouse built in 1361, reported to be the oldest in England, serves as a backdrop over this small fishing and farming community.

Ship Location

Ilfracombe is a tender port.

Getting Around

The area around the harbor is walkable.

Attractions

Some of the local tourist sites are close. Within the harbor area itself, view the 66-foot tall bronze statue of “Verity,” depicting a pregnant woman carrying the scales of justice and standing on a stack of books by artist Damien Hirst. Walk to Tunnel Beaches; the tunnels were constructed around 1820 to allow swimmers access to the beaches while preserving Victorian sensibilities. Chambercombe Manor, dating from the 11th century and offers hundreds of years of architectural features, is rumored to be haunted. Try a Devonshire Cream Tea at a cafe near the Quay.

About a 45-minute drive out of town is the Exmoor National Park, 267-square miles of beautiful rolling hills, moors, and fields. Seeing the ponies that roam freely here is often a highlight of visiting this park. These are not wild ponies, although the ponies roam freely. There are about twenty different herds, all belonging to someone, that graze the pasture here and run freely on the uncultivated land here.

Staying in Touch

Some local cafes/restaurants offer WiFi, including the Hele Bay Pub that overlooks the water.