Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach), Combe Martin, Exmoor National Park
Sand and rock beach by the mouth of Ilfracombe Harbour
Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach) is a sand and rock beach by the mouth of Ilfracombe Harbour. There are great views across the water to Damien Hirst's 'Verity' sculpture. Access to the beach via steps or a path. There are car parking areas above the beach.
Location of Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Hillsborough is the huge hill dominating the eastern side of Ilfracombe. Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach) sits below that.
We’ve positioned Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach) on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
If you’re coming by car, drive the A399 to the eatern side of Ilfracombe. There’s lots of parking in the area behind the beach including Larkstone/Marine Drive car parks and Hillsborough car park.
If you’re walking in, follow the South West Coast Path that runs behind the beach.
Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach) is a sand, stone and rock beach typical of this section of the North Devon coastline. These beaches are very different from the vast low tide sand beaches of the Atlantic facing North Devon coast or the beaches located below towering cliffs on the Exmoor coast.
'In 1796 a transport ship named the London was wrecked at Rapparee with great loss of life, including many locals who had tried to help. It was carrying French prisoners of war from the West Indies as well as gold and silver.
During Victorian times it was a ladies bathing beach and in 1876 it was the scene of a famous 'battle' between local boy Alfred Price and the Crown Prince of Germany (the future Kaiser Wilhelm II) who was staying at the Ilfracombe Hotel.' (Source: information board on site)
There’s good access via the South West Coast Path to the western side of the beach. You can also follow a path that drops down from Hillsborough to the eastern side of the beach. This is clearly visible on Google’s satellite imagery.
A note on Hillsborough by Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Hillsborough is the huge hill that rises above Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach).
'There is evidence that Hillsborough was used in pre-historic [sic] times. The name Hillsborough is a derivation of the name Heles Barrow. By local tradition it was a burial site for local chiefs and a small Bronze Age burial chamber was uncovered in the 1930s.
Hillsborough is the site of an Iron Age promontory hill-fort [sic], which was in use between 300 BC and 50 AD. The remains of the impressive double earthworks which surround the summit can still be seen today. The site is designated as a Scheduled Monument.
In Victorian times, the site was used for army practice and on the east can be seen the remains of a Volunteer Gun Battery which was removed in 1914.' (Source: information board on site)
We'd recommend following one of the many paths that climb to the top of Hillsborough. The view down to Ilfracombe on the west side of the hill is stunning. There are plenty of local information boards here as well. You'll see Ilfracombe Harbour and Damien Hirst's ‘Verity’ sculpture on the end of the pier at the mouth of the harbour.
Beaches near Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Beaches on the coastline east of Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach):
Hele Beach
Watermouth Cove (Beach)
Broadsands Beach
Combe Martin Newbury Beach
Combe Martin Beach
Wild Pear Beach
Woody Bay Beach
Lee Abbey Bay Beach
Wringcliff Bay Beach
Lynmouth Western Beach
Lynmouth Eastern Beach
Sillery Sands (Beach)
Porlock Beach
Bossington Beach
Minehead Beach
Dunster Beach
Blue Anchor Beach
Kilve Beach
Beaches on the coastline west of Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach):
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Lee Bay Beach
Sandy Cove (Beach)
North Devon Atlantic facing beaches:
Rockham Beach
Grunta Beach
Barricane Beach
Woolacombe Sand (Beach)
Putsborough Sand (Beach)
Croyde Sand (Beach)
Saunton Sands (Beach)
Northam Burrows Beach
Westward Ho! Beach
Instow Sands (Beach)
Things to do near Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Ilfracombe boat trips including Lundy Island
South West Coat Path
Watermouth Cove Holiday Park Watersports/Jet Ski Safari
Watermouth Castle
Combe Martin watersports
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve
Exmoor horse riding
Woolacombe surfing and watersports
Croyde surfing and watersports
Saunton Sands surfing and watersports
Villages and towns near Ilfracombe Rapparee Cove (Beach)
Ilfracombe
Lee
Mortehoe
Woolacombe
Combe Martin