Before you set off
Today's snapshot
Wildersmouth, the town beach, has a poor bathing-water classification and there is standing advice against bathing there. Treat Ilfracombe as a place for boat trips, rockpools and the coast path rather than a swimming beach, and check the current Swimfo profile before going in anywhere here.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Ilfracombe's beaches sit within the town, so you park once and walk. The Cove, Pier and Wilder Road car parks are all close to the seafront.
- Parking: Use the town car parks at the Cove, the Pier or Wilder Road. All are pay and display and within a few minutes of the water.
- Dog rules: Dogs generally welcome year-round at Wildersmouth. North Devon Council-managed beach; check on-site signage for any updates as town beach rules can change.
- Accessibility: Wildersmouth is reached on the level from the seafront promenade, which makes it one of the easiest beaches here to get to.
- Lifeguards: There is no RNLI lifeguard patrol on the town beaches.
Check before you go
Tunnels Beaches
Tunnels Beaches has been closed to visitors since a rock fall in April 2025 and had not reopened at the time of writing. The site is privately run and reached through tunnels hand-carved in the 1820s, leading to two sheltered coves and a Victorian tidal bathing pool cut into the rock. It is normally one of the most interesting places to swim on this coast. Check the operator's own website for the current position before planning a visit.
Tunnels Beaches
The official site for the tunnels, tidal pool and the current closure statement.
Get on the water
Hire & lessons
Ilfracombe is a harbour town rather than a surf town, so the water activity here is boat based. Trips run from the quay through the season.
Ilfracombe Princess
Coastal and wildlife cruises along the Exmoor cliffs from the harbour.
Ilfracombe Sea Safari
Fast rib trips from the quay, including seal safaris and runs out towards Lundy.
Lundy Island
Day sailings to Lundy on the MS Oldenburg, departing from Ilfracombe in season.
After the beach
Eat, drink & stay
The seafront and harbour are lined with places to eat, all within a short walk of the beaches.
The Carlton Hotel & Brasserie
A hotel and brasserie on Runnacleave Road, a few minutes from Wildersmouth.
The Imperial Hotel
A seafront hotel overlooking Wildersmouth beach.
Local perspective
Local notes
Ilfracombe isn't a beach day in the way Woolacombe is. The beaches are small, tucked under cliffs and hemmed in by the town, and Wildersmouth has a poor bathing-water record with advice against swimming. The stronger reasons to visit are around the water - the harbour, boat trips, Verity on the pier and the coast path over Capstone Hill.
If you want a swim on this stretch, Combe Martin to the east is sheltered and monitored, and Woolacombe is twenty minutes west. Come to Ilfracombe for a boat out to Lundy, a walk and a meal above the harbour, and keep an eye on the Tunnels Beaches website in case the tidal pool reopens.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Ilfracombe?
Not at Wildersmouth. The town beach has a poor bathing-water classification with standing advice against bathing. Combe Martin and Woolacombe are better options nearby.
Are Tunnels Beaches open?
They have been closed to visitors since a rock fall in April 2025. Check the Tunnels Beaches website for the current position before you travel.
Is Ilfracombe beach dog friendly?
Dogs generally welcome year-round at Wildersmouth. North Devon Council-managed beach; check on-site signage for any updates as town beach rules can change.
What's the best tide at Ilfracombe?
Low to mid tide, when sand is exposed below the promenade. At high water the town beaches are largely covered.
Can you take a boat trip from Ilfracombe?
Yes. Coastal cruises, rib trips and seasonal sailings to Lundy Island all leave from the harbour.
Is Ilfracombe beach pram or buggy friendly?
Wildersmouth is, because it is reached on the level from the seafront promenade. I am less sure about the other coves and Tunnels Beaches, which involve steeper routes, so check before you go if you are pushing a buggy.
What facilities are available at Ilfracombe?
Public toilets, including accessible facilities, are available at Wilder Road car park and St James Place near Wildersmouth. There is no RNLI lifeguard patrol on Ilfracombe's town beaches, and the Environment Agency advises against bathing at Wildersmouth. Cafés, restaurants, and pubs line the seafront.
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