Places to see
The Ilfracombe area is renowned for it's outstanding natural beauty and is popular with walkers, hardly surprising with so many coastal and moorland villages to explore. Follow the Atlantic Highway south towards Clovelly, or venture eastwards over Exmoor's 267 square miles of striking landscape; stop and enjoy a Devonshire cream tea at a moorland retreat before heading back to for dinner at one of Ilfracombe's many restaurants. This diverse landscape of forested glens, cliffs and hidden valleys along the Bristol Channel coast offer so many options for days out, you'll have to return again and again if you really want to see it all!
Start with a walk from Cove View to Hillsborough, passing the remains of the double earthworks from an iron age hill fort, thought to have been in use between 300 B.C. and 50 A.D. A small Bronze-Age burial chamber was discovered here in the 1930s. The views are simply outstanding, and Lundy Island can often be clearly seen in the distance. Rest assured there's a bench at the top!
Start with a walk from Cove View to Hillsborough, passing the remains of the double earthworks from an iron age hill fort, thought to have been in use between 300 B.C. and 50 A.D. A small Bronze-Age burial chamber was discovered here in the 1930s. The views are simply outstanding, and Lundy Island can often be clearly seen in the distance. Rest assured there's a bench at the top!
Lynton and Lynmouth offer a selection of good lunch options, or you may instead like to make use of the picnic bag (you'll find it in the kitchen of the apartment). Here you are entering Charles Kingsley Country.
Park at the National Trust car-park near to Watersmeet House (Open seasonally), and walk through the wooded valley all the way to the sea. Stop at the visitor centre on the seafront, or try out one of the local tea-rooms for light refreshments before taking the funicular railway up to Lynton. For a longer day out, and for the more energetic - carry on along the South West Coast Path to the Valley of the Rocks. Perhaps if you prefer to conserve your energy, you'll take the car, but you'll miss some spectacular vertiginous views. There is plenty of parking in and around Valley of the Rocks, and more limited pay and display parking near to Watersmeet House. Lymouth also offers a couple of car parks if you prefer to walk up to Watersmeet House and Tearooms from a coastal direction.
Park at the National Trust car-park near to Watersmeet House (Open seasonally), and walk through the wooded valley all the way to the sea. Stop at the visitor centre on the seafront, or try out one of the local tea-rooms for light refreshments before taking the funicular railway up to Lynton. For a longer day out, and for the more energetic - carry on along the South West Coast Path to the Valley of the Rocks. Perhaps if you prefer to conserve your energy, you'll take the car, but you'll miss some spectacular vertiginous views. There is plenty of parking in and around Valley of the Rocks, and more limited pay and display parking near to Watersmeet House. Lymouth also offers a couple of car parks if you prefer to walk up to Watersmeet House and Tearooms from a coastal direction.
Why not leave the car at home for the day? Cove View Apartment has it's own generous sized parking space in an off road private car-park. Leave the apartment and walk 50 yards to the bottom of the road to join the South West Coast Path.
Head in a south-westerly direction towards the Landmark Theatre and gardens, past the Tunnels Beaches, and on up the hill to the entrance to the National Trust Torrs Walk. Follow the path as it wends it's way zig-zagging up the cliff to sit a while by the toposphere at the summit. Take in the vast uninterrupted views towards Lundy Island, particularly enchanting and romantic as sunset approaches, before heading through the cliff top meadow on the path to Lee Bay. All 630 miles of the south west coast path is well sign-posted. No traffic, few people, outstanding scenery, what more could you ask for?
Head in a south-westerly direction towards the Landmark Theatre and gardens, past the Tunnels Beaches, and on up the hill to the entrance to the National Trust Torrs Walk. Follow the path as it wends it's way zig-zagging up the cliff to sit a while by the toposphere at the summit. Take in the vast uninterrupted views towards Lundy Island, particularly enchanting and romantic as sunset approaches, before heading through the cliff top meadow on the path to Lee Bay. All 630 miles of the south west coast path is well sign-posted. No traffic, few people, outstanding scenery, what more could you ask for?
