Earthworks

The Iron Age fort at Earthworks sits on high ground above Ilfracombe, and the ramparts are still distinct enough to make you understand why someone chose this spot 2,000 years ago. You're looking at defensive ditches and banks that have survived two millennia - not dramatically preserved like some sites, but genuinely readable on the ground.

What you actually do here is walk the perimeter and try to imagine the settlement. There are no buildings, no finds museum, no interpretation boards - it's archaeology as it actually survives in the landscape rather than archaeology as entertainment. That makes it either fascinating or a bit underwhelming depending on what you want. History enthusiasts and walkers will find it worthwhile. Families with young children might struggle - there's no visitor facility, and once you've circled the ramparts, you're done in twenty minutes.

It's free to access, and there's parking nearby. Early morning or late afternoon light shows the earthworks better than midday. Allow an hour if you're walking from Ilfracombe itself, less if you've driven.

If you're staying at HARTA Retreat, Stowford Farm Meadows, or Longlands - all within five miles - Earthworks works as a walking morning before heading down to the coast. It's not a major draw on its own, but it's a proper bit of real archaeology if that's your thing. The views across the coast make the walk up worthwhile regardless.