St Brannoc's Catholic Church

The sandstone tower of St Brannoc's rises from the centre of Ilfracombe like something from a postcard, all weathered stone and maritime history. Inside, you'll find a proper working church with genuine medieval bones - the font dates back centuries, and there's a real sense of continuity about the place. It's not a museum piece that's been roped off; people still worship here, which gives it life.

The church sits right in town, which means it's an easy stop while you're exploring Ilfracombe's seafront rather than something that requires a special trip. If you're into church architecture or the history of Devon's coastal settlements, it's worth twenty minutes of your time. The exterior alone is photogenic if you're that way inclined.

Coming from any of the surrounding camping parks - Hidden Valley is closest at just over two miles, or Woolacombe Sands if you're based slightly further west - it's a straightforward walk into town. Park the car and have a wander. There's no admission charge as far as locals can tell, and you can pop in most days when services aren't running. It's the kind of place that reminds you why people built their churches where they did: high ground, visible from the sea, part of the community's actual landscape rather than separate from it. Not a tourist trap, just a real building doing what it's done for generations.