Is Ilfracombe Hilly? What to Expect

Short answer: Yes, Ilfracombe is hilly — it is built into the sides of a valley running down to the harbour. But the harbour front and the seafront are level, and the walk between anywhere in town and the harbour is short.

The honest answer

Yes. Ilfracombe is built into the sides of a valley that runs down to the harbour, and several of its streets are steep. The high street climbs. The chapel on the hill above the harbour is a proper climb. If slopes are a problem, this is worth knowing before you come.

But the good bits are flat

The harbour front is level, and so is the seafront. Nearly everything people come to Ilfracombe for sits on that flat ground — Verity on the pier, the boats, the aquarium on the quay, and the cafés and pubs along the front.

The town is also compact, so the walk from anywhere to the harbour is short even when it is uphill on the way back.

Where to park to avoid the hills

Aim for the harbour end. Parking directly outside the aquarium on the quay is the most convenient and reasonably priced option, and it puts you on the level. The town beach has pay-and-display alongside it. Both fill on summer weekends.

What to skip if slopes are difficult

• The chapel on the hill above the harbour — a short but steep climb.
• The coast path east towards Watermouth — proper clifftop walking.
• Some of the residential streets above the high street, which are steeper than they look on a map.

Easier alternatives nearby

Lee Bay, three miles west, is reached through fields rather than up a cliff. The Tarka Trail at Barnstaple is flat, paved and traffic-free — the easiest long walk in north Devon. Woolacombe's seafront is level behind three miles of flat sand.

Getting around

Parking in Ilfracombe is cheaper than the surrounding villages year-round, which means you can park more than once rather than walking between ends of the town.