My late wife and I spent many an enjoyable hour in and around Ilfracombe in 2009 & 2010

Used to come to Mortehoe,Woolacombe and Ilfracombe camping as a child and then brought my children. Now it’s me,the missus and the dog!! We love it there. Love from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Spent many wonderful days here, Ilfracombe , woolacombe and Croyde bay. Every holiday since 1973. The best days of my life spent in North Devon with all my family ❤

I love this place. It's perfect. Thank you for sharing. Love you two

When you've had such a happy childhood you remember how every day especially when you are on holiday felt so exciting. You never really have that same feeling as an adult. I use to love our family holidays when I was a child in those glorious summer school holidays. We would often pack the car up and drive to Devon and Cornwall.

This one brought some great memories back. Aside from visiting Devon as a child, Ilfracombe was the first place I went on holiday to with a girlfriend. We were both in the RAF and went camping nearby. As is common it poured with rain so much that we went to the tourist information office and asked for a cheap B&B. We were given an address nearby and got what we asked for! We were in a tiny attic room with a window that barely kept the storm at Bay. The room had a single gas burner that was controlled by a slot meter! The bed looked like something out of a black-and-white film and the floor sloped so much that if you put an orange in one corner on the floor, it would roll all the way across the room! Despite all this, it was still drier and a little warmer than our tent, and we still had a memorable holiday, as proven by the fact that this was 40 years ago!😂

Been there today and had a coffee at the Lime Kiln Cafe, sitting outside enjoying the sea and the sunshine...beautiful...saw people going out on boat trips too...

Yep definitely

Lovely town, I would have liked the opportunity to travel by train there but sadly the railway was closed, the views from the railway would have been a treat.

My Mum & Dad used to have a guest house in Fore street called Smugglers Cottage, used to have half an anchor in the porch !!

Weve been to Ilfracombe on many occasions and although it’s changed over the years ,hasn’t everywhere!! We stay at Damage Barton. Beautiful North Devon

That was such a stunning place, and being let into your childhood was an honour. Thank you. I did enjoy that very much.

Spent a few family holidays when they were a lot younger so thanks for the reminder

One of your best. Very well put Together. Full of enjoyment.

Seeing you back then Ken, as a young lad, got me thinking of my youth. I spent alot of my school summer holidays at Bridport, staying at my aunts. It was great, on the beach each day, and it never seemed to rain, always sunny and warm 🌞 great memories 👍🐸

What lovely memories.

What a lovely trip down memory lane. I enjoyed the old pictures of you as a child and Carol's parents/grandparents. Memories can be beautiful, but also painful (thinking of loved ones, who are no longer with us😔). I'm not a fan of the statue, but I don't hate it 😅

Thanks for sharing those old photos! I have lovely memories of family holidays in North Devon, camping in Woolacombe, and days out to Ilfracombe, Clovelly, Lynton and Lynmouth. Good times 🙂

Lovely video Loved going to the seaside when we were children. How things change it's strange when you look at old photograp😊

What lovely memories you shared with us.

Wow that was amazing to watch, what a beautiful place! Your photographs are great to see, just love them, you can't beat memories. They need preserving always for generations to come!

I'll always have fond memories of this place. We used to jump off the pier when the harbour master wasn't around 😅. I also remember the waverley paddle steamer ship. Shes still going to this day, but no longer in Ilfracombe. Thanks.

Love the history. Thank you

What a brilliant vlog! So nice you sharing those old family photos too ❤

My daughter and I, a few years ago, stayed in the area and visited Ilfracombe twice. We loved it there and the harbour was very busy and fun to people watch. We were in two minds about the statue and came to the conclusion that it was just in the wrong place.

My hometown, although very rarely able to visit now. Last there in 2022 for a long weekend. The high street has seen better days but Wildersmouth, Capstone, the harbour, and Hillsborough (the elephant) are unchanging. Still unsure about Verity though.

i love Ilfracombe , best visited in the winter . Cosy pubs , lovely food .

I can say I have zero memories of the place as I’ve never been there! I’d love to visit though! I love seeing your old photos. A link to the past to help bring back good feelings. Mary

Thanks for the memories, I went to my first Radio 1 roadshow in Ilfracombe.

Love Ilfracombe, some great holiday memories with my best mate and his parents, staying in Slipway cottage. The two of us still have an annual pilgrimage there to rekindle our youth clambering over the rocks 😊

Such fond memories. Feels a privilege for you to share old photos with the audience so thank you. Ilfracombe has a special place in my heart too. My grandparents loved this place as did my grandmothers sister. They lived quite a way from each other, but one day, whilst on holiday, my grandmother heard her name being called in Ilfracombe town. It was quite a surprise. I visited when I pregnant with my son, and re-visited several times since. We stayed in nearby Combe Martin (if you ask my son it is one of his favourite family holidays we’ve ever had!). Did you visit Chambercombe manor? Apparently it’s haunted!! 😅. Brought back some happy tears and lovely memories of Grandma Violet and Great ain’t Stella ❤ Love Claire x

I went to primary school in Braunton just down the road as dad was based at RAF Chivenor, happy days! We went to Ilfracombe many times, a bit hazy on the old brain cells but have gone back a few times, not so much now that I’ve children of my own! Ironically, I was sorting through some old photographs the other day and came across some old photos. Some of me with my beloved Mark 2 Ford Granada 2.8i S ex South Wales CID car in the harbour car park at Ilfracombe. I miss that car! As for the statue, I’ll pass thank you!

Lovely place Carol & Ken 😁

We don't have memories of Ifracombe becuase we grew up in a different part of the country but we know exactly what you mean. For us it was Blackpool, Filey, Bridlington. Still feel the same now. Especially loved the picture of the ship in this one.

I visited Ilfracombe as a child (in the 1960s) returned in my early twenties, and again about 2014. Time hasn’t been kind to the area but the worst thing is the lump of scrap metal in the harbour. I thought they prosecuted fly tippers? I recommend Damage Barton, near Woolacombe. A very good site.

Nice video, I must say the car behind you with the fish looks fantastic

Carol's Dad very handsome, we saw that statue have to say dont like it but each to there own. Love Devon but roads have so many bends and hills.❤

I can remember being taken to Ilfracombe for holidays by my Nan and Pop. Every day seemed sunny and lasted forever. I loved scrambling over the rocks and hunting in rockpools for lost mermaids and treasure. Lol, I had a vivid imagination. Regarding the statue, I like it but think it's a strange place for it.

Hi Carol and Ken You rekindled memories from me also. When I retired from the job in 2009 we moved to Mid Devon and I worked in Barnstaple as a P/T Driver for a High Street Chemist. I sometimes visited Ilfracombe twice a day amongst other towns and villages in Mid and North Devon. We spent 9 happy years in Devon and we holidayed at The Woolacombe Bay Hotel many times, one of our favourites. Damian Hurst owns many properties in the Ilfracombe and Coombe Martin area for information. As you know we are now settled in West Sussex by the sea closer to our family. PS If you fancy a trip to Bramber, West Sussex there is a 11th Century castle in ruins can recommend a meal at the Castle Inn where we spent three nights over Christmas. Happy New Year Crawford

I used to have a two great Aunts who lived together at Ilfracombe. We visited them on summer holidays. Mom thought the beach at Woolacombe was better and we all found it a bit hilly for walking. Remember the Torrs walks and playing crazy golf on the front.

Hari OM We did have one family holiday down to Lands End... but I don't recall ever touching the northern coastal towns, it was more moors and Cheddar Gorge focused and down to Falmouth and Looe. That lunch looked lush!!! YAM xx

Ilfracombe ❤. When my son's were growing up we spent many a happy hour in Ilfracombe and the surrounding area, we loved it and it offered many excellent photographic opportunities. Spent a lot of time fishing off the harbour next to that horrendous statue 😅. We usually stayed at Hidden Valley camping site and used that as a base of operations and struck out from there visiting the surrounding area, thank you for the memories 😄😄. PS, our order is in for our NV 200 🎉🎉

Hi both, yes there's a signpost to Ilfracombe on my memory lane too. Had great fun there when my two granddaughters were small. I had a Caravan then and used to take it to a site on the top where the road splits for Ilfracombe and Woolacombe. Mullacot cross I think ut was called. One summer it was really rainy and we had an awning for the van which I absolutely hated having to put up as it was quite tricky and like fetching water or emptying the chemical toilet( which everybody wants to use. Because we haven't got one in our tent etc) nobody volunteers to help with. The gale was so bad the first night that we had to stuff all the apertures where the frame passed through with scrunched up polythene bags and the like because we had a camp bed in there for father in law. In the middle of the night it was so bad it nearly fell to bits with the shaking. Checked on George a few times and he just said "I'm alright boy, I was in the the bloomiin' war. We had worse than this and we never had no fancy camp beds neither. I suppose he was a year or two younger than I am now back then so you could say he was a game old boy. Well we all made it through the night and went down into Ilfracombe in the morning and it was mostly dry until the evening time. On the way back to the carpark it rained so heavy we were all wading through a blinking river singing campfire songs as we went. Eldest granddaughter, Katie on my shoulders and her baby sister in a buggy. Her father said he wanted to pack up and go home as soon as we got back to camp and Katie wasn't having that, she said " My not go, my stay wiv bampy", so that was that. She was a tomboy and my shadow but if she didn't want to do something you'd have a hard job changing the little monkey's mind🤣. Well to cut this short the rest of the week was just as wet but wwe managed to enjoy ourselves with days out and even a boat trip and I thought they all had a good time. Funny thing though, none of them(apart from Kate ever wanted to go camping again 🤣. I got rid of the perishing awning and before the next summer I had traded in the the 4WD and Caravan for an Auto sleepers Duetto. We had a holiday each summer with Louise and the two granddaughters for one or two weeks and she bought a frame tent and would drive her mother whilst my shadow sat in the passenger seat and navigated ( that's shorthand for fell asleep for the whole journey ) using the fiesta. When pitched up as transport. They still don't want to go back to Ilfracombe though but i have been a few times. Happy days 😂

Born and dragged up in Combe! Left at 21 for the dark side across the Tamar, although all my family are still there.

We didn't get away much when we were kids we were a big family , but a day trip to the seaside was the best 😊

I went as a child 3 times in the 70's. We used to playon raparee beach, it had a shop going down the steps onto the beach

Yes been to Ilfracombe was lovely, brought back seeing your trip great video thanks for sharing 😊

Yes we lived in Torrington in my early years 1960s to 1970, My mum was The District Nurse so we were a well known family. I was 10yrs old in 1965, and spent a lot of trips to Ilfracombe, I remember getting a swimming badge for swimming the length of the swimming pool, had a photo of me and my 3 brothers sat on the harbour wall looking across to the busier side I was 11 or 12yrs old still have the photo, and to my children's delight I'm wearing a pair of black converse style pumps. Yes we loved going to Ilfracombe I probably wouldn't remember any of it now it'll have changed quite a lot. My happiest days were living in N. Devon.

How lovely to visit those places where happy memories were made. Have to say I didn’t like the statue myself ☺️ Lovely photos. Em

I have a similar affinity for Salcombe and Kingsbridge for exactly the same reasons. Visited many times in the 70's growing up. Crabbing was a real pleasure as were all those Cornish pasties.

I love illfracombe we were going to purchase the pub at the end of the harbour 14 years ago but didn’t I often wonder if we made the wrong choice.

Great memories for you both to recall. I believe the picture at 1:18 is Brixham harbour not Ilfracombe

Lynn here on Hubby's phone 😏, Hi Ken and Carol , hope your well , we've never been to Ilfracombe because were in Yorkshire , so my memories of going to the coast are of Flambrough on the East Coast near Bridlington its a small fishing viliage my mum and Dad had a caravan there in the sixties and all through the seventies Ive been going there since I was two week old , we had a caravan there too twenty five years, just got rid at tge age of 58, thinking of going up Scotland this year 🤔🤞, Loved hearing your memories too 😊, can't wait to see your travels in your new van , maybe a trip to our coast ? Happy Traveling 🤗

I was very young when we came over on the mumbles ferry other than spending lots of time in Hammersmith London , it was my first beach type holiday outside of wales. I was surprised to come across the pebble beach compared to the Gower beaches , but I loved it , funny enough we camped there and welcomed relatives who came over for the day( just like you ) it was a great service. Your video made me want to go back now but probably not on the ferry, I think that the ferry was the Waverley check it out on the net very interesting vessel. Thank you well done and good luck 👍👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇨🇦🦢

Ah hello North Devon! Happy days! I thought I'd hate Verity but when I saw her 'in the flesh' I was surprised that I was quietly impressed by her.

This was a very nice coastal town.

Seems like I am in the minority but I liked the statue, and I really like you guys too.

Never been to Ilfracombe but it certainly looks very nice 😊❤ great seeing the old pics from days gone by 🙂 my fond memories are of the East Coast Seahouses & Bamburgh ❤❤ that statue🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔mmmmmm....going out to stock up with some essentials for the long weekend with cake & chocolate on my shopping list 😋 😂😂 have you munched all your stock ????????

Thanks for sharing. I don’t think I visited as a child but went a couple of times as a young adult, I remember staying in a lovely b&b right by the harbour. We would drive over to Woolacombe where there was a very sandy beach and a small holiday camp. I expect lots has changed since then 😮. 🌈🧶🍓💙

Gotta say you showed Ilfracombe in a good light there. 😂Shame you didnt walk to the tunnels beaches. Love or loath her Verity has been very good for the town 😂

Nice vid of ilfracombe 👍👍

The food looked amazing at the restaurant so that gets the thumbs up. As for the statue. No. I think it was designed to be controversial. I like my statues to be in remembrance. Each to his own though. Nice video. 🐶🐶🐶🚐🧙‍♂️

I would have gone for the sea bass filet too! My sister lives not far away from Ilfracombe and I have been there a couple of times. It seemed a bit run down but then it was a January and it was grey and cold. I love the rugged coast though and the beaches are amazing. Saunton Sands is the closest to where she lives and she goes swimming there all year round!

Verity is by far one of my favourites.

Enjoyed viewing thanks. I can tell from your voice Ken that you have a deep soft Spot for that area. Preferred the look of Carol's lunch tbh, 😅. The helicopter was a Wessex, I qualified to maintain them for the RN back in 1995, brilliant helicopter and hence the drone hobby. Thanks both. ❤

Yes childhood memories. I learnt to swim in the salt water swimming pool. Got a swimming certificate. Cheers from old George. Ps split my head open when I fell out of bed and hit a disused gas tap on floor near fireplace. Blood everywhere. 😢

Very different to when I was there as an evacuee in 1941 during WW2

Been there this year was OK statue a must to see nice on the front back streets ruff still OK.

Went there around 1966/7 for a week from Scunthorpe

Not keen on the statue lovely video as usual 😊

cool vid on channel thanks lee

Remember Ilfracombe well, we bought our very first cottage 250 years old in Braunton North Devon. 1972 Happy days. Not keen on the statue.😊😊😊

There's a video on KZfaq showing cars being thrown about in that cheyne car park with the rough sea some time this year i think it was someone's motor home was seriously damaged

No. But i live there so im biased XD

You look the same now n then

My husband and I met on Lundy Island. He was the head chef. We have owned our own pub in North Wales for 20 years, but we have fond memories of travelling to Lundy on the Oldenburg