Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches, Combe Martin, Exmoor National Park
Superb, private beaches with great facilities
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches are superb, private beaches on the western side of Ilfracombe. They take their name from the 1820s tunnels that provide access to this stretch of the North Devon coastline. Note that charges apply to use the sand, stone and rock beaches. There’s a sea pool and restaurant/cafe as well.
There's a small car park near the entrance. Wander through the tunnels to get to the coves.
Location of Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches are situated west of Ilfracombe Harbour, Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach, Ilfracombe The Landmark Theatre and Ilfracombe Museum. There’s a reasonably unassuming entrance to the tunnels opposite Bath Place car park. Look out for the sign above the entrance that reads: ‘Est. 1823. Tunnels Beaches. Hand carved tunnels leading to unique sheltered beaches & tidal bathing pool.’
We’ve located Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Directions to, and parking at, Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Drive or walk along Wilder Road to Bath Place car park and the entrance to Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches. Again, we’ve located Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches on Google maps. Zoom in on the ‘Satellite’ setting to see its location.
Use Bath Place car park across the road from the entrance to Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches. If this small car park is full then try roadside parking nearby. Alternatively, use the car parks by Ilfracombe The Landmark Theatre and Ilfracombe Museum and wander across.
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches are sand, stone and rock beaches typical of the many beaches that line the North Devon coast between Combe Martin and the Bull Point area. These beaches are very different from the huge sand beaches that face the Atlantic to the west. Great for swimming, sunbathing and rock pooling. We’d recommend Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches for a family day out.
There’s a sea pool in which to swim at high and low tide. Clearly, it becomes visible around low tide when the sea retreats from the coastline. It’s similar to one at Bude on the North Cornwall coast.
You can enjoy great food and views on site in the restaurant/cafe.
Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches is a private visitor attraction so charges apply. ‘Your fee is necessary to keep the tunnels and beaches open to the general public, to maintain a very high standard of facilities, to clean the beaches and protect our beautiful coastline and its wildlife. Your fee provides lifeguard cover during the summer school holidays to ensure safety and security for you and your family. The fee is also critical to allow maintenance of the tidal pool, which often suffers from severe storm damage.’ (Source: Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches website)
Note that Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches is a wedding venue as well.
Beaches near Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches
Beaches on the coastline east of Ilfracombe Tunnels Beaches:
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach
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 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 Tunnels Beaches
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 Tunnels Beaches
Ilfracombe
Lee
Mortehoe
Woolacombe
Combe Martin
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