Challenging – Moderate to strenuous
09 July 2024
This is what makes the rugged stretch from Ilfracombe to Woolacombe such a rewarding and memorable walk — a journey through Victorian engineering, ancient rocks, seal-haunted cliffs, and panoramic views over the Bristol Channel and Atlantic.
Points of Interest: Ilfracombe to Woolacombe
Here’s what to look out for along the way:
Torrs Walk
A Victorian-era cliff promenade built in the 1880s, offering elevated views back to Ilfracombe and out across the sea. This early climb sets the tone for the walk.
Slate & Volcanic Formations
Outcrops along this stretch reveal the tortured legacy of ancient geological upheaval, with dramatic folds and ridges that rise up to 140m (460 feet) above sea level.
Lee Bay
A peaceful, flower-filled hamlet often called “Fuchsia Valley,” with a quiet, rocky beach and a smuggling past hidden in the caves and coves.
Damage Cliffs
A windswept stretch of coast between Lee and Bull Point. This area marks a transition from wooded valley to exposed cliff-top walking with wide western views.
Bull Point Lighthouse
An active lighthouse originally built in 1879 and rebuilt in the 1970s after a landslip. The site is surrounded by maritime grasslands and home to rare flora and nesting seabirds.
Morte Point
An exposed, wave-lashed headland named after the Latin for “death,” thanks to its shipwreck-prone reefs. Formed from ancient Morte Slates, it’s also a great spot for seal watching—and, if lucky, dolphins or porpoises.
Mortehoe Village
A short detour inland leads to this hilltop village and the Chichester Arms — a perfect refreshment stop before the final leg of the walk.
Woolacombe Bay
A spectacular finish: the path winds down to reveal a three-mile beach of golden sand framed by cliffs, dunes, and sea views stretching far into the distance.
Logistics
| Dog Friendly Accommodation | Shoreline (Holiday Apartment), Woolacombe We did 2 walks during a family holiday |
| Snacks and Sandwiches | Lots of opportunities around Woolacombe too many to mention! |
| Transport back to Ilfracombe | Ezee Cabs (07966 548303) https://ezeecabs.co.uk/ |
Alternative: Travelling by Stagecoach involves a change at Twitchen Cross. The 303 bus leaves Woolacombe at 7:56 or 9:55. You’d then need to change to the 301 with journey times of between 50 – 96 minutes. Taw and Torridge have a direct service, the 31, at 9:35.