Walk - Capstone Hill

Route Description

Although now North Devon's largest holiday town, Ilfracombe has its origins in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. During the medieval period it had two centres, around the church and around the harbour. It was important as a fishing harbour and commercial port and there was a quay here in the Middle Ages.

Ilfracombe began to develop as a holiday resort in the early 1800s, although it was the coming of the railway in the 1870s which really marked the beginning of the town's large-scale expansion. As a result of this it is now one of Devon's best examples of a town dominated by Victorian architecture.

Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter, lived in a cottage on the left-hand side of Capstone Road towards the end of his life, from the mid 1950s until 1976. He used the Royal Britannia as his local.

There are superb views from the top of Capstone Hill along the coast, but this is also a superb location to look over Ilfracombe. As noted earlier, much of the town dates from Victorian times, when it grew rapidly as a holiday resort, but some of the prominent sea-facing terraces are earlier, from the 1830s, when it began to develop as a select resort.

1. Capstone Hill has a circular walk which for the most part is level or has minimal gradients. The walk is at a low level round the base of the hill.

Public transport

Local Ilfracombe and Barnstaple bus services. 3,21a,30,31,32,35,300,& 302. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

The Landmark Theatre Carpark parks 51 & 48 spaces with additional 7 accessible bays available, all near to Capstone Hill. Postcode for Sat navs - EX34 9BX