Pip & Jims Ilfracombe, Combe Martin, Berrynarbor churches, North Devon

The three parishes of Ilfracombe, Combe Martin, and Berrynarbor each have their own church worth tracking down if you're spending time along this stretch of North Devon coast. They're not grand cathedral affairs - these are proper working parish churches, the kind where you might find the vicar doing the flowers or locals popping in for a quiet moment.

Ilfracombe's St Nicholas sits right in town, all medieval stone and local history. Combe Martin's church is tucked away inland from the village, while Berrynarbor's sits higher up with views that make you understand why someone decided to build a church here centuries back. Inside, you'll find the usual fonts, brasses, and memorials - the sort of details that paint a picture of who lived here across the generations.

This is genuinely worthwhile if you're the type who likes churches rather than someone doing it out of duty. They're free to visit and take maybe twenty minutes each, depending how much you linger over the stonework. The real value is combining a church walk with the coastal path or a village wander - they're not day-trips in themselves.

Staying at Hele Valley or Watermouth Valley puts you within easy reach of all three. Winter's actually best for visiting - fewer tourists and a real sense of the communities these churches actually serve rather than feeling like a museum day out.