5 Half Day Walks from Ilfracombe

REVISED EDITION

5 Half Day Walks from Ilfracombe • • • • •

5 Easy-to-follow Circular Self-Guided Walks From 4 to 8 miles long All from Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre No map-reading required Part of a Series of Booklets

Devised and Written by Bryan Cath www.combewalks.com Coordinator of the North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk

Introduction Thank you for choosing this small booklet which contains five walks from the Ilfracombe TIC. The route directions are very easy to follow, involving no mapreading or other special skills. They all start from the TIC itself, enabling you to leave your car at your accommodation. Two of the walks are linear with the return journey being made by the local bus. The bus route number is included in those directions - please confirm the return times before leaving on your walk.

The North Devon coast is quite rugged in parts. This makes for some wonderful coastal scenery as well as an incredible variety of wild flowers and birdlife along the way.

Combe Walks have been guiding walkers around North Devon, Exmoor and Tarka Country since 1987. This is specifically with self-guided walking directions similar to those you will find in this booklet, and have had many hundreds of satisfied walkers.

Please wear sensible strong shoes or walking boots, take waterproofs and try to keep this booklet in a plastic bag so it does not fall apart should it rain halfway round your walk!

Enjoy your walks.

Bryan Cath Bryan also provides other self-guided walking and cycling booklets in North Devon and Exmoor and co-ordinates the North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival in late April/ early May each year. Visit the web sites for more information.

Walks booklets: www.combewalks.com Walking Festival: www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk Combe Walks, Harwill House, Victoria Street, Combe Martin, Devon EX34 0JS

Copyright Š Bryan Cath, 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder and Publisher. www.combewalks.com

Cover picture: Ilfracombe harbour 2

Contents Pages 4,5: 1, Up the Torrs Walk, to Slade and

back through the Cairn woods Distance: 4.2 miles, 2.5 hours approx.

Difficulty: A moderate climb up the Torrs, some field

walking and then easy Pages 6,7: 2, Past the harbour, over to Hele Beach, the old Corn Mill and Chambercombe Manor Distance: 4.1 miles, 2.5 hours approx.

Difficulty: A good climb over Hillsborough, and fairly steep down to

Hele. A bridleway out to Comyn could be muddy after rain Pages 8,9: 3, Up to Langleigh Park, over to the Slade Reservoirs and back along the old railway line Distance: 5.1 miles, 3 hours approx.

Difficulty: One short sharp climb otherwise undulating Pages 10,11: 4, A linear walk up to Mortehoe via the old railway line, and down to Lee, or return along the coast path Distance: 4.8 miles or 7.9 miles returning, 2.5 or 4.5 hours

approx. respectively Difficulty: A very gentle climb on the cycle/walkway, some field walking, generally easy. Some climbs if returning on foot Pages 12,13: 5, A linear walk along the coast to Combe Martin via Watermouth Cove Distance: 5.5 miles, 3 hours approx.

Difficulty: The North Devon coast is hilly! Quite a lot of steps, but worth the effort.

Pages 14,15: Notes related to these walks Distances:

All distances are within 1/10th mile, having been calculated with GPS and digital mapping provided by Tracklogs.co.uk. The timings assume an average walking speed for the terrain and some short stops along the way.

Please note:

During the summer months the paths may become overgrown between trimming by the rangers and the fields may be ploughed.

Please understand that some of these paths pass through ‘working’ countryside which will include livestock.

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1, Up the Torrs Walk, over to Slade and back through the Cairn woods (4.2 miles) DESCRIPTION: This walk takes you to the delightful Torrs Walk which gently zigzags up above Ilfracombe giving some lovely coastal views. The walk then goes inland over fields to Upper Slade eventually reaching the old railway track by the Cairn woods back to Ilfracombe.

EATING PLACES: Several in Ilfracombe, none on the walk.

TOILETS: Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe only.

DIRECTIONS: 1, 0.0 miles Turn right out of the TIC doors and shortly turn right down to the Ilfracombe Museum (open from 10.00am to 5.00pm - well worth a visit) and continue through the car park.

On exiting the car park turn right up the path into the gardens. Take the next turning hard left up the steps and straight up to the top of the gardens. At the top turn left to the gate towards the Granville Point.

2, 0.1 miles Turn right out of the gate to follow the road round by the cliff top. Keep on this road until reaching Torrs Park Avenue and follow this road signposted Coast Path and Tarka Trail, until reaching the signpost to the right ‘Coast Path’. Follow this up and round to the left, shortly turning right on to the Coast Path and follow this out to the coast.

3, 0.6 miles Now follow the zigzag path until reaching the top, passing through the gate. Ignore all paths off on the way up.

4, 1.0 mile Turn right up to the grass area and go left of the gorse down into the valley and down to the stile in the corner of the field. Cross over and follow the path ahead. Pass through the old wall and over the little stream and continue up ahead. Ignore the grass track off up to the left instead continuing ahead keeping closer to the coastal cliff on the coast path rounding the headland and back inland to the stile.

5, 1.4 miles Go over this and go slightly to the right/ahead to the steps and up on to the track. Continue up the Herb Robert grooved rock cutting and over to 4

the stile on the left, ignoring Bridleway on left.

6, 1.6 miles Now go up the field by the hedged wall on your right. On reaching the top corner go up the steps in the wall into the next field to the next stile into the next field, following the wall on your left down to the stile in the corner.

7, 2.0 miles Ignore the stile now ahead, instead taking the one on your left.

Follow the hedge on your left, ignoring the openings soon on your left, continuing ahead through the next two openings on a track. On reaching the track across you, note the field ahead and go to the gate slightly over to the right into it. Go through this gate and now bear right at 45 degrees to it to the ‘upper’ right hand corner (not the one down the field ahead), to cross an old gate down in the corner.

8, 2.2 miles Now go straight ahead ignoring the gate on the left, down between the hedge and fence, through a small gate to reach a small road. Turn right and follow this down the hill.

9, 2.4 miles On meeting the road at the T-junction, turn left and follow this road downhill. Go carefully, keeping to the apex of bends for better visibility. Pass the Slade Reservoirs/ Valley Farm road, continuing down into the village. Pass Saltmer Close and soon ignore the path over bridge on the right. You will then come to a Public Bridleway sign on your left and opposite that a Public Footpath sign on your right.

10, 2.9 miles Follow the Public Footpath sign up between the houses towards the old railway track.

Pass under the bridge and over the stile to follow the next track up into the woods.

Continue ahead and when the path divides, take the left-hand path. Follow it on through the woods, soon bearing up right to turn left on to the next path.

11, 3.2 miles Continue down here ignoring the small path off to the right, and soon ignoring the next paths off to the right. On reaching a small road/cycleway, follow a factory boundary on your left, continue down to the road by the factory entrance and now follow that road ahead.

12, 3.6 miles Continue straight ahead when Richmond Road comes in from the left down to the main road. Carry on straight ahead towards the Town Centre (blue signpost) to the traffic lights.

13, 3.8 miles Turn left into Wilder Road towards the seafront. Continue to the next traffic lights, going straight ahead until reaching the Tourist Information Centre again.

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2, Past the harbour, to Hele Beach, the old Corn Mill and Chambercombe Manor (4.1 miles) DESCRIPTION: This walk will show you the lovely Ilfracombe Harbour, the Lifeboat Station, Hillsborough with its excellent coastal views, Hele Bay, Hele’s Old Corn Mill and Chambercombe Manor, both of which offer wonderful Devon Cream Teas.

EATING PLACES: Several in Ilfracombe, Hele Old Corn Mill, Chambercombe Manor.

TOILETS: Next to the Lifeboat station, Hele Beach, Hele Mill and Chambercombe Manor (both with some custom) DIRECTIONS: 1, 0.0 miles Turn left out of the T.I.C. to pass the beach, going towards the church, passing it on its left hand side. At the end of this road, turn right at the T-junction and then almost immediately turn left towards the harbour.

2, 0.4 miles Now skirt the edge of the harbour with it down on your left and the Lifeboat Station on your right (definitely worth a visit). Continue up Cove car-park and on to the pavement on the left of the road towards the upper section of this car-park. After passing the wishing-well soon bear left down towards the toilet block. On coming to the small road by the toilet block, take the footpath ahead/left signed Coast Path (not up the steps ahead or hard left or right). Ignore the steps soon off back to the right. Continue ahead with the harbour now down on your left.

3, 0.7 miles Having reached the coastline, do not go down to the small cove, instead go up hill up the grass on your right rounding the top of the cove. On coming to the hedge across you take the path off in the left-hand corner (acorn waymarked) into the local nature reserve. At the next cross-roads of the paths go ahead up the steps and follow this path up hill.

4, 0.9 miles Hele Pottery At the T-junction by the seat, turn left up the gently stepped path. Soon ignore the path coming in from the right and shortly again ignore the grass path bearing off to the left instead keeping ahead on the main path.

5, 1.1 miles At the top take a breather and admire the view of Ilfracombe Harbour. Continue ahead ignoring the path down to the right instead following the path ahead (yellow waymarked). Soon ignore the path up to the left to the viewpoint, and then ignore the path coming in from the right. On reaching the hairpin bend go to the excellent viewpoint ahead.

6, 1.2 miles From the viewpoint return a few yards and take the path left down hill and follow it as it zig-zags down and down, keeping to the coast path.

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7, 1.5 miles At the next footpath junction turn hard left (yellow waymarked), continuing downhill.

Ignore the footpath on the right to Ilfracombe, instead carrying on down the steps to the beach.

8, 1.6 miles Now go over to the road and follow it up by the restaurant until reaching the main road by the garage. Cross over to the bus-stop and follow the Public Footpath signpost to take the path around the back of the garage by a stream. Soon you come to the Old Corn Mill where they sell their own stoneground flour and cream teas.

9, 1.8 miles Continue up the mill’s track, ignoring entrance gate on right, until reaching the road, turn right and follow it round to the T-junction. Ignore the road on the right, instead continuing ahead signposted to Littleton, Comyn and Trayne. Shortly take the track up to the left (Cat Lane), shortly signed Public Footpath.

10, 2.1 miles When this small road goes left up hill, continue ahead through a gate along the footpath/ bridleway with the valley down on your right. Can be muddy and slippery.

11, 2.4 miles At the end of this bridleway go through the gate and turn right ignoring the gates on your left and through the next gate on the right to follow the riding stables road. Keep on this road until reaching Chambercombe Manor on your right (again worth a visit and another cream tea!).

12, 2.6 miles Continue up the road away from the Manor. Just before reaching the top of this road with the buildings ahead, take the footpath down to the right. At the end of this path follow the track to the main road.

13, 3.0 miles Turn left up hill and cross over to the letter-box and then turn hard right up a small road (Hillside Road) and then turn left and left again through a small gate and up some steps.

Now go up to your right towards the swings/ slide and pick up the path going around the top edge of the field through the shrubbery, therefore passing the cricket/rugby fields down on your left.

14, 3.2 miles At the end of this path turn left and then ignore the paths down to the left and the one bearing right, instead going down the main path back towards Ilfracombe. At the cross-roads of the paths continue ahead signposted ‘Coast Path to Ilfracombe’.

Chambercombe Manor 15, 3.3 miles Soon take the coast path down to the left and return to the T.I.C. the way you came, passing the harbour and church.

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3, Up to Langleigh Park, to the Slade Reservoirs and back along the old railway line (5.1 miles) DESCRIPTION: This walk takes you inland up through some woods gaining height to reward you with lovely views over Ilfracombe and the Slade valley. It then passes one of the Slade Reservoirs before joining the cycle/walkway back towards Ilfracombe. It finishes through some pretty countryside before returning to Ilfracombe. Caution: In summer wear long trousers.

EATING PLACES: Several in Ilfracombe, none on the walk.

TOILETS: At the Landmark Theatre, none on the walk.

DIRECTIONS: 1, 0.0 miles From the T.I.C. turn right out of their door and shortly turn right down to the Ilfracombe Museum (open from 10.00am to 5.00pm - well worth a visit) and continue through the car park. On exiting the car park turn right up the path into the gardens. Take the next turning hard left up the steps and straight up towards the top of the gardens. At the top turn left to the gate towards the Granville Point.

2, 0.1 mile Turn right out of the gate to follow the road round by the cliff top. Keep on this road until reaching Torrs Park Avenue and follow this road signposted Coast Path and Tarka Trail, until reaching the signpost to the right ‘Coast Path’ by the Avoncourt Hotel. Follow this up and round to the left and now ignore the coast path signpost instead continuing ahead to follow the path up into the woods until reaching a small car park.

3, 0.7 miles At the hairpin bend ahead take the left-hand lower road. At the next junction go straight ahead, ignoring the public footpath sign on your right, soon passing the Beechwood Hotel on the right.

4, 1.0 mile Soon turn right into Langleigh Park and then take the second small road on the left which is partly unmade. At the fork of the road and track on the left, take the road ahead up the hill.

5, 1.2 miles By the Langleigh Park House Hotel sign turn left on to the Public Footpath and then over a stile (yellow waymarked) and continue up through the edge of the woods. Soon ignore the level path going across you. The path can get overgrown here in the summer. After a short while the path bears right steeply uphill to a stile.

6, 1.5 miles Cross this stile in the wire fence and turn left/ahead up towards the top of this field.

Otters by a river bank 8

Cross over the stile by the gate and old ruined building and follow the track ahead until reaching the next two gates and stile. Ignore the gate on the left and go through the gate ahead. Continue down the track towards the buildings and at the gate and stile at the bottom of the field pass through it and continue on the track.

7, 1.7 miles Pass the buildings on your left, through the next three gates/stiles and on down the track to the small road. Bear left between the houses and left on to the road. Beware of cars as you walk down the road until reaching the small road on the right to Slade Reservoirs and Valley Farm.

8, 1.9 miles Follow this road down into the valley passing the entrance to Valley Farm on the left and continuing to the bridle gate ahead. Carry on up the road until reaching the first dam and ignore the stile on your right, instead continuing along beside the reservoir.

9, 2.4 miles On coming to the top of the first reservoir and the small car park, go to the top of this car park and pass between the curved stone walls ignoring the tunnel on the left. Bear left up the track following the inset lights in the ground (Art in the Countryside). At the top by the second dam, turn left up the steps to the old railway track and turn left to follow it back towards Ilfracombe.

10, 3.0 miles After a while you pass through the old tunnel (which is only short!) and then continue down the track. Just after passing a money-box pillar on your left you cross over a small bridge.

11, 3.5 miles After crossing the bridge turn right by the information board, ignoring the path ahead and then turn immediately hard right to go over the stile and under that bridge. Follow this path down behind the houses to the road.

12, 3.7 miles Now cross straight over to the Public Bridleway signpost, passing through the small gate and follow the path in front of the houses to the next gate. Continue along the bottom of these fields until reaching a gate in the far corner of the last field.

13, 4.0 miles Pass through here and on to the small track, soon bearing right on to the next track (earlier you went up to the left). Turn right when the road becomes tarmaced.

14, 4.3 miles On reaching the next T junction, instead of going back the way you came let’s go a different way. So, turn right, cross over and turn left to follow Broad Park Avenue along the pavement on the right. On reaching the church on your left, pass through the lychgate and follow the path down to the church. Turn right at the church to follow around the edge of the building to the wide steps going down to the right. At the bottom of the steps bear right to the road and then left to the traffic lights.

15, 4.7 miles Turn left into Wilder Road. Carry on along this road to the next traffic lights continuing ahead again until you return to your start point.

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4, A linear walk up to Mortehoe via the old railway line, and down to Lee (4.8 or 7.9 miles) DESCRIPTION: This walk is full of variety, giving an easy start on the old railway line, passing the Slade Reservoirs, continuing through farmland and down into Fuchsia Valley at Lee and out to the attractive Lee Bay before returning on the local bus or along the coastpath and the Torrs.

EATING PLACES: Several in Ilfracombe, Grampus Pub in Lee. TOILETS: By first traffic lights in Ilfracombe; on the footpath down to Lee Bay RETURN BUSES: Beacon Bus 35: (Mon - Fri only) Please check times at the TIC before leaving.

DIRECTIONS: 1, 0.0 miles Turn right out of the TIC and pass by the band stand to reach the main road. Carry on until reaching the traffic lights and continue ahead along Wilder Road until reaching the next set of traffic lights.

2, 0.4 miles Now turn right and then bear left, ignoring the road up to your right, soon coming to Church Hill up to your right. Cross over Church Hill into Station Road, ignoring the main road which goes off to the left of Station Road. Carry on up Station Road, and continue ahead up Station Road when Richmond Road appears on your right. Soon Station Road finishes with factory gates ahead into the Pall factory.

3, 0.8 miles Continue ahead to follow the footpath on the left-hand side of the factory fencing signposted ‘Footpath to Mortehoe’ on the Cairn and Old Railway. Follow this along by the factory security fencing. When the cycle track bears right, follow it as it then bears left. You are now on the old railway track and will follow this now for 2.4 miles. On the way you will pass through a short section of old tunnel and then pass the two Slade reservoirs. You will notice that one of the tunnels is now bricked up except for a small hole at the top. This tunnel is now full of bats which you would only see at dusk.

4, 3.1 miles Having passed under the second road bridge over the cycleway, take the small track immediately on your right signposted to Lee. Cross the stile and then up to the next stile by the road. Now turn down to the left to Allender Farm ignoring all the gates off. At the end of this road continue ahead towards Allender Farm and as the road turns right down to the farmhouse go straight ahead and go through the gate.

5, 3.7 miles Now go straight ahead to cross the spring stream to then go up to the gate in the hedged wall ahead by the telegraph wires. Keep following the telegraph wires keeping the hedge ahead and wires on your left. Descend this field crossing the stile by the gate, continuing ahead down into the left-hand corner by the conifer wood. You will now find a gate through the undergrowth (in summer)!

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6, 4.1 miles Go through and follow the path straight down through the sitka spruce trees. When the path meets a tractor track continue down hill and almost immediately on your right there is a stile by a gate. Ignore this stile and the level track and take the path bearing right between them.

Continue down this path through the woods, the path may become a small stream while going down to the next stile.

7, 4.4 miles Cross this one and go down to the road at Lee. Turn left Lee Chapel onto the road and when the road divides take the lefthand fork to go by the Grampus pub signposted to Lee Beach. Continue down here and along the Public Footpath keeping to this path past the toilets and down to the sea. On reaching the sea by Beach House, this is where the bus turns and where to catch it to return to Ilfracombe.

If you would like to walk back to Ilfracombe from here, it is a coastal walk of about 3 miles. Follow these directions.

8, 4.8 miles Turn right and follow the road round the back of the hotel to take the steep road up to the left signposted ‘Coastpath’. Keep on this small road ignoring all roads off until reaching the top at Flat Point.

9, 5.5 miles Follow the dirt track by the fence, past the next quaint old sign ‘Public Path, keep to it’.

In a while the track goes through a small cutting, then over ridged rock. The path can then be seen to go off to the left away from the track, to a stile.

10, 6.4 miles Cross over this stile and follow the ‘Coast Path’ sign. Follow the path around the cliffs.

Continue along the path to a stile in the corner of a field, over the stile and climb the hill ahead. At the top go ahead to the small gate on the left.

11, 6.9 miles Pass through the gate and follow the zig-zag path all the way to Ilfracombe. Ignore the one small path off at one of the hair-pin bends. As you continue on down the path, there is a secluded beach down to your left.

12, 7.4 miles When the path ends, turn left down the track and then turn left by the Avoncourt Hotel, down the dirt road until you reach the road. Turn right by the Merlin Court Hotel, then hard left into Torrs Park.

13, 7.6 miles Follow this road down into Ilfracombe, where you go straight ahead for the Museum, amusements, theatre, harbour and tourist information centre, or across the traffic lights and up Northfield Road to the High Street shops.

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5, A linear walk along the coast to Combe Martin via Watermouth Cove (5.5 miles) DESCRIPTION: This walk will show you the lovely Ilfracombe Harbour, the Lifeboat Station, Hillsborough with its excellent coastal views, Hele Bay, Watermouth Cove and Castle and the coast-path to Combe Martin.

EATING PLACES: Several in Ilfracombe; Hele Beach; several in Combe Martin.

TOILETS: Next to the Lifeboat station, Hele Beach; at Combe Martin main car park.

RETURN BUSES: 301, 300. Check return times before leaving the TIC. DIRECTIONS: 1, 0.0 miles Turn left from the T.I.C. passing the beach and going towards the church, passing it on its left-hand side. At the end of this road, turn right at the T-junction and then almost immediately turn left towards the harbour. Now skirt the edge of the harbour with it down on your left and the Lifeboat Station on your right (definitely worth a visit).

2, 0.4 miles Continue up the Cove car park and on to the pavement on the left of the road towards the upper section of this car park. After passing the wishing-well soon bear left down towards the toilet block. On coming to the small road by the toilet block, take the footpath ahead/left signed Coast Path (not up the steps ahead or hard left or right).

Ignore the steps soon off back to the right. Continue ahead with the harbour now down on your left.

3, 0.7 miles Having reached the coastline, do not go down to the small cove, instead go uphill up the grass on your right rounding the top of the cove. On coming to the hedge across you take the path off in the left-hand corner (acorn waymarked) into the local nature reserve.

4, 0.9 miles At the next crossroads of the paths turn right and keep on this fairly level path ignoring all the paths off in both directions, signposted to Hele. You will pass the radio mast on the way and the path will start to descend and then go down some steps before coming to a T-junction.

5, 1.4 miles Turn right to go down more steps down to Hele Beach. Having arrived at Hele Beach there is a small restaurant for refreshments, go passed here and up the road to Hele Bay Hotel on a corner.

6, 1.6 miles Turn sharp left to go up the pavement by the main road. Soon you come to the Haggington The Old Corn Mill at Hele Point picnic area. Continue ahead 12

through the small car park and still along by the main road until the path goes slightly left to go away from the road. At the next signpost turn left down on to the path which now goes along on the seaside of a tall wall, with the road the other side.

7, 2.2 miles On reaching a small car park turn left down the coast-path by the Coastguard’s house.

Follow this path down and round to the right and after a while you come to a stile (yellow waymarked). Cross over and turn left and follow this path down some steps, up some more steps to a wonderful view over Watermouth Cove. Have a breather!

8, 2.9 miles Descend more steps, continuing to follow the path around the cove. Cross over the next stile and then the path bears left and through some woods with the cove now down on your left. When the path climbs up some steps it comes to the main road.

9, 3.4 miles Now follow the pavement towards the castle. On reaching the gate opposite the entrance to the Castle, do not go down to this gate but continue ahead by the road to the path that goes in left away from the main road, but still parallel with it.

10, 3.6 miles Go down this narrow path and on returning to the main road pass the entrance to the Watermouth Cove Holiday Park. Pass the bus-stop and soon turn left, signposted coastpath, over the next stile and up the left-hand edge of the caravan/camping site. Continue up the edge of the next field, soon with lovely views out to sea and over a secluded bay.

11, 4.0 miles On reaching the next stile with the steps, cross over this and turn left on to the track, signposted Coast Path. Carry on up this track ignoring all paths off, both left and right, until reaching a road by the entrance to the Sandy Cove Hotel.

12, 4.6 miles You cannot go straight ahead as it is closed off so turn right, ignoring the road hard back right. Go up this road signposted Coast Path, which is a cul-de-sac, to the end where it meets the main road. Turn left, past the bus-shelter and down the hill.

13, 4.8 miles Follow the coastpath sign down Newberry Close and then turn right over the stile by the Coast Path sign and down the steps to follow the path around the edge of this field.

DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO FOLLOW THE MAIN ROAD. On returning to the road pass through the two kissing-gates and continue down by the road keeping to the verge, passing the entrance to the Sandaway Beach Caravan Park.

14, 5.1 miles Take the small road ahead/left, signposted ‘Coastpath’ (acorn waymark) where the main road bears off to the right. Go down here and at the bottom turn left ignoring the track off to the right and follow this road until reaching the small path bearing off to the left above the beach.

15, 5.3 miles Follow this path above the beach until reaching the main road. Follow the pavement down to the village. The T.I.C. is part of the museum which makes a very interesting visit. You can find the museum by turning left at the back of the beach and follow this small road past the entrance to the main car park. The return buses go from opposite this small road and the top of the beach.

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Notes: Walk 1: The Torrs Walk was built by the Victorian’s during Ilfracombe’s heyday when people used to flock to Ilfracombe by train to enjoy the fresh sea breezes. There was a one-penny (1d) toll to have the privilege to walk along this newly created zigzag path. The reward at the top was a refreshment pavilion with the wonderful views that you get where the seats are found now.

Soon after passing Granville Point (c.1891) on the way out of Ilfracombe, after passing a rock face on the right, if you look over the wall on your right you will look down on the Tunnels Beaches. These used to be segregated between the gentlemen’s pool and the ladies’ pool with a bugler positioned to warn of any man daring to cross over the rocks to get a peep! These beaches are so-called because tunnels were cut through the rock face by Welsh miners in 1823 to gain access to these otherwise inaccessible beaches. They have a retaining wall that holds back sea water when the tide goes out enabling paddling to continue.

The Cairn woodland was planted with mixed deciduous and coniferous trees in 1911 and made into a ‘pleasure ground’ with winding paths and steps. It is now a woodland nature reserve leased by the N.D.D.C. to the Devon Wildlife Trust. It is a haven for wild flowers and birdlife.

Walk 2: Ilfracombe harbour has a very long history. The Chapel of St. Nicholas on Lantern Hill was built about 1320 and has acted as a lighthouse for the harbour since then.

The promenade pier was originally built from 1872 and this enabled many paddlesteamers to visit Ilfracombe harbour and offload passengers with much more ease than before. At times there could have been five paddle-steamers tied up side by side, needing the passengers to go ashore by crossing from one ship to the next until reaching the pier. Today we enjoy the annual visits of the Waverley (c.1946) which brings back the flavour of those times. Shipbuilding was a major industry in the harbour for some 250 years. The ships were built in the Cove, which is where the Cove car park is now situated. A temporary wall used to be built to keep the sea out while the ship was built, and then removed to allow the tide to float the new ship.

The tall statue of Verity was made by Damien Hirst, who is a great benefactor for the town. It was erected in October 2012.

The old Corn Mill at Hele dates from 1525, and has been wonderfully restored from dereliction over the last few years. The Mill is again producing wholemeal stoneground flour which you can buy there.

Chambercombe Manor dates from the 11th century, and contains many period pieces of furniture, as well as having a Priest Hole and a haunted room. A guided tour gives you the real feel of the place.

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Walk 3 and 4: The railway opened on 20th July, 1874 bringing further growth to Ilfracombe.

The increased traffic made it necessary to double most of the line only 14 years later. The track was singled again in 1967 and finally closed on 5th October 1970 as part of the ‘Beeching Cuts’. An attempt to acquire the line was made in 1975 but unfortunately failed and the remaining track was lifted. As you walk it you will notice the steady gradient, made obvious as you gain height past the reservoirs.

This is one of the steepest railway climbs in the country at 1:36, and needed two locomotives to haul the trains out of Ilfracombe to Mortehoe from where it was downhill all the way to Barnstaple Junction. A ticket from Waterloo to Ilfracombe in the fifties cost about 26s 6d (£1.32.5), 3rd class. The Pall factory is situated on the site of the Ilfracombe railway station.

The first and lower Slade reservoir was built in 1866 with a capacity of 33 million gallons. The rapid growth of the town after the arrival of the railway meant the second higher reservoir was needed to give better water pressure as new houses were built higher up the Ilfracombe slopes. This reservoir has a capacity of 20 million gallons; by today’s standards both are very small.

Walk 5: Watermouth Castle was built in 1825. It is now an interesting and varied attraction.

This coastline is full of stories of smuggling and shipwrecking, and a trip on one of the boat-trips from Ilfracombe harbour will show you the small inlets and caves which were so ideal for the smugglers. The coast path that you walk was originally created by the Coastguard’s on horseback to patrol the coastline on the lookout for smuggling. The Coastguard’s houses are passed soon after Hele Bay. I have been told that it was made difficult for Coastguard’s to live in the town because they were unwelcome, as smuggling brought in wealth to the local community. They were therefore located well out of the town’s environs. Another observation is that some of the names along this rugged coastline make one wonder if there is a connection with what was smuggled in, such as Sherrycombe, Brandy Cove and Scotch Rock just a thought!

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Mortehoe

Lee Bay

Ol d

Slade Reservoirs

Slade

Torrs Walk

line

rai

lw ay

The Cairn

Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre

Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre to: 1, Slade and The Cairn, 4.2 miles 2, Hele and Chambercombe, 4.1 miles 3, Langleigh and Slade Reservoirs, 5.1 miles 4, Lee Bay, 4.8 miles, and with return walk...

Lee Bay back to Ilfracombe, 7.9 miles in total 5, Combe Martin, along the coast path, 5.5 miles Coastline

Chambercombe Manor

Hele Mill

Watermouth Cove

Combe Martin