Watermouth Castle

The first thing that hits you about Watermouth Castle is how utterly mad it all is. Built in 1862 by the charmingly eccentric Viscount Ebrington, this Victorian folly sits on the cliffs above Ilfracombe like something from a fever dream - part fairy tale, part architectural joke. It's not a castle at all, of course, but a sprawling mansion done up in mock-Gothic style, all turrets and battlements and theatrical nonsense.

Inside you'll find a theme park's worth of oddities: penny-in-the-slot machines from the 1890s that still work, a rather creaky ghost train, and rooms stuffed with curiosities from across the decades. It's genuinely diverting if you're into that sort of thing - retro entertainment that feels authentically chaotic rather than carefully curated. Kids tend to love poking around, though anyone older than twelve might find the attractions a touch thin after an hour.

The grounds matter more than the building itself. The clifftop location near Ilfracombe is genuinely cracking, with proper coastal views that make the whole visit worthwhile even if the castle itself doesn't entirely convince. There's a reasonably priced café and the place is designed as a proper family outing rather than a quick detour.

Watermouth Valley Camping Park sits just across the road at 0.2 miles away, making this exceptionally convenient if you're based there. Hele Valley Holiday Park and Sandaway Beach Holiday Park are similarly close for caravan folk. Worth combining with Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe for a proper day out.