Walk - Ilfracombe town, Capstone Hill and Lantern Hill
Walk information provided with help from Natural England. Map reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100022021.
- Difficulty
- Easy
This walk is likely to be suitable for people with impaired mobility or with a pushchair, wheelchair, or mobility scooter.It is graded as mostly Level 1 with a small section of Level 3 (Lantern Hill) which can be bypassed – see map for details. Refer to: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/accessibility-grading for full definitions of categories and scooter recommendations.
- Start
- Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, EX34 9BZ
- Finish
- Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
- Length
- 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
- Summary
This circular walk skirts the coast and follows a level path around Capstone Hill towards Lantern Hill. Here it is possible to follow a zig-zag path (Grade 3 due to the slopes) towards St Nicholas’s Chapel, from which there are good views of the coast and Lundy Island. The path then goes around Ilfracombe Harbour to Larkstone beach at the far side, for good views of the working harbour and ‘Verity’ artwork before returning to the start via St James Place. A short extension takes the walker around Jubilee Gardens.
To download our Access guide, click here where you can find additional mapping and photographs showing gradients, path surfaces and other detailed information such as parking and toilet provision.Checked by SWCPA Volunteer - October 2021.
- Public Transport
There is a regular service between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, with stops on Wilder Road, next to the Jubilee Gardens Car Park.
- Nearest car park
Jubilee Gardens car park (payment needed 8am to 6pm, at time of writing) in front of the Landmark theatre has 31 spaces, and 7 disabled bays.
- Nearest toilets
Fully accessible toilets are available at the Landmark Theatre, and at the Pier Car Park, at the bottom of Lantern Hill.
- Nearest refreshments
There is a café at the Landmark Theatre, and numerous cafés, pubs, and shops on the route, or nearby.
Route Description
- Facing the Landmark Theatre, turn right to the Promenade, and follow it around Wildersmouth Beach, towards the prominent Capstone Hill.
Originating in Saxon times, Ilfracombe is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The harbour was important for fishing and commercial traffic and had a quay in the Middle Ages. There is still a commercial fishing harbour. It developed as a seaside resort in the 1800s and greatly expanded following the opening of the railway from Barnstaple in the 1870s. This is shown by the dominance of Victorian architecture in the town.
- Follow the lower path around Capstone Hill, avoiding the steep, narrow path up the hill.
There are information boards to help interpret the seaward view, and views back over the town and Landmark theatre.
- Continue around Capstone Hill to where the paths meet; turn left to follow Coast Path sign into Capstone Road.
Along here you will pass the home of Henry Williamson (author of Tarka the Otter) on the righthand side.
- At the end of Capstone Road, turn left on The Quay, keeping the prominent Britannia Hotel to your right. Carry on, heading for the tall “Verity” statue, which stands at the end of the Pier.
This 25-metre bronze and stainless-steel sculpture is of a pregnant Amazonian figure with a sword gazing out on the Bristol Channel by Damien Hurst, was erected in 2012.
- Here it is possible to take the zig-zag path up Lantern Hill to the base of St Nicholas’s Chapel, on the top of the hill, and enjoy the fine views of the coast. The path sloping up is Grade 3 due to its steepness but is tarmacked.
- From the Pier, walk back around the harbour, returning to the Royal Britannia Hotel, then turning left on Broad Street. At this stage it is possible to turn almost immediately right on St James Place to return to the start of the walk.
- Take the first left on Hierns Lane and follow it onto Marine Drive. Follow Marine Drive around the harbour, and up the hill.
There are good views over the harbour to Lantern Hill.
- This walk ends by the Landtrain bus stop, where the Coast Path leaves the main pavement of Marine Drive to drop down to Larkstone Beach. Beyond here the Path is narrow and stepped. Retrace your steps by the Harbour and back to Broad Street, then left on St James Place.
- After passing the large church, the two towers of the Landmark theatre will be seen, to guide you back to the start, keeping the Crazy Golf course to your left.
- From the start, it is easy to make a small extension to visit Jubilee Gardens.
Nearby refreshments
There is a café at the Landmark Theatre, and numerous cafés, pubs, and shops on the route, or nearby.