Hele Bay

Popular with bathers since Victorian times

Just a five minute journey by car from Ilfracombe on the A399 will bring you to Hele and easy car parking is available and is free on Sundays. Buses also run from Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. Or walk from Ilfracombe over Hillsborough with it’s stunning views.

Hele Bay has been popular with bathers since Victorian times and the part sand, part shingle beach is great for families looking for a quiet seaside day out with facilities on hand. Explore the numerous rock pools with fishing nets and discover the secret smugglers’ caves. Then, at very low tide, clamber around the rocks to ‘Fishing Rock’ or ‘Blythes Cove’. The beach is also popular with canoeists and larger ships can be viewed out to sea, so bring your binoculars. The more adventurous can try coasteering, or hire a paddle board or kayak with Hele Bay Adventures.

After an active morning, why not visit Hele Bay Pub for lunch in their garden with views of the bay and enjoy a delicious homemade cake or Devon Cream Tea at the Hele Corn Mill, a 16th century working watermill and tearooms just 300m from the beach.