Things To Do

Entertainment

The George and Dragon pub in Fore Street, built in 1360, is steeped in history.  You can get a meal and enjoy a pub quiz here.

The Grampus in Lee (about  4 miles) is well worth a visit and on Friday evenings they have acoustic nights.  It is always worth booking a table if you want a bite to eat.  There is a pretty garden and the surrounding area is very pretty and  worth exploring.

Eating Out

Hele Billys, Hele (half a mile).  We have recommended this restaurant/bar to many of our guests who have returned time and time again.  Check out the early bird menu which offer excellent value for money.  helebillys.com

The Quay on the harbourside.   If you enjoy fish and looking at Damien Hirst's paintings, why not visit  this  restaurant/bar. 11thequay.co.uk

Relish, Fore Street.  This is a comfortable friendly restaurant with a mediteranean feel. relishbarandbistro.co.uk

Take Thyme  A restaurant with a reputation for it's fish dishes. takethymeilfracombe.com

The Terrace Tapas, Fore Street.  A selection of tapas with a good value Early Bird menu.

The Smugglers restaurant on the harbourside is popular with many guests

Lunchtime Bites

There are numerous little tea rooms around the harbourside and up in the high street, not to mention Hele Corn Mill in Hele, where you can find the most delicious cakes and cream teas.

We understand from locals that the best breakfast in Ilfracombe can be had at Brain Freeze in the high street.

Pubs (just a few to get you started)

The Thatched Inn (top of the road).  Full of character, very old. Usually serves food, often very good for Sunday Lunch.

Ye Old Globe, Berrynarbor. Another characterful pub from 17th Century, just a few miles down the road.

The Grampus, Lee (4 miles). Small but characterful with lovely garden and walks.

The George and Dragon.

Some hotels have public bars, the Osborne often has live bands playing.

The Strand Wine Bar.  Serves food, wine and coffee.

Places to Visit

The Dinosaur park is a firm favourite with young families.

Tunnels Beaches at the seafront. Carved out of the rocks, seashell encrusted tunnels lead down to safe bathing beaches.

Ilfracombe Aquarium.  Small aquarium, see local sea life.

Ilfracombe Museum
near Landmark Theatre.

Hele Corn Mill and Tea rooms. (0.5 miles).  You can look around the mill for a small fee. The tea room serves the most delicious split bun cream teas, Ralph thoroughly recommends them.  They have won Devon Life Magazine Best tea room/coffee shop of the year 2013

Chambercombe Manor (1 mile).  You can walk around the charming garden for free, and for admission fee, you can have a tour around the haunted manor house!  There are tearooms here.

Woolacombe Beach (5 miles) miles of sandy beach and good surfing

Croyde and Saunton Sands
(6 miles) miles of sandy beaches and sand dunes

Marwood  Hill Gardens and Tea rooms (7 miles).  Near Barnstaple. Charming gardens, not too big, but cut into the hillside. Some interesting specimen trees and wonderful hydrangeas.

Arlington Court (10 miles) You could  include a visit to Exmoor Zoo (12 miles). as they are close to each other.

Hunters Inn, Parracombe (10 miles).  Spectacular views of the coastline if you turn off the A399 above Combe Martin into Shute Lane.  Fantastic walks. Drop down into a magical ancient wooded valley,  the sides are carpeted in bluebells in the spring.   You can enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat and look out of the huge window over their gardens.  Even better when you have walked to Heddons Mouth and back along the footpath beside the Inn.  Can incorporate a visit to Lynton and Lynmouth below.

Barnstaple (12 miles)with it's pannier market is a popular destination for shoppers. Bideford  (22 miles) has a large covered shopping area, useful in inclement weather.

Lynton (16 miles) charming little hilltop village, visit Valley of  the rocks and Mother Meldrums tea rooms, walk through valley of the rocks down the hill and on to Lee Abbey.  The views are breathtaking.  Yet another tea room at the bottom of the hill.

Lynmouth (17 miles). Famous sea front village.  Take a walk up the picturesque Exe valley to Watersmeet, where the National Trust have a tea room and shop.

RHS Rosemoor, near Torrington (24.7 miles) The RHS flagship garden.  Fantastic gardens, tearoom, cafe, shaded parking.

Hartland Abbey, tea rooms and Gardens.(26 miles)  A wonderful day out.  The Abbey has more to offer than it looks, and the gardens are lovely.  One of the Sense and Sensibilities was filmed here.  Hartland Quay is a must if you have got this far too.  The pub there serves fantastic sunday lunches. The geological rock formation is fascinating.

Docton Mill.  Charming gardens and tea room. Also at Hartland.

Clovelly.  (41 miles).  Run by the National Trust.  Popular destination.  Steep cobbled street can be difficult to walk on.  A landrover can transport you at cost.  Pricey.         Close to the Milkyway theme park for children.