![\"Art](\"http:\/\/www.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Art-Culture-blog-Header-2.png\")
<\/p>\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”4px|||||” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you are currently in the planning stages of your holiday in North Devon, you will probably be doing some research on what to do in the area. Well, you can rest assured that there are plenty of activities you can enjoy here and plenty of great places to visit in North Devon.<\/p>\n
There is so much to do up here on the North Devon coast, that we can’t possibly cover it all in one post. So for now we will explore some of the popular art and culture activities in Ilfracombe you might want to consider if you are staying here or simply visiting Ilfracombe for the day.<\/p>\n
If you are passionate about art and culture, Ilfracombe won’t disappoint you. The natural beauty of the North Devon coastline has inspired generations of creatives, so it’s no wonder the area is full of highly talented artists, writers, craftspeople and artisans.<\/p>\n
![\"Verity](\"http:\/\/www.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Verity-Damient-Hirst-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
We couldn’t do a post about art and culture activities in Ilfracombe without mentioning Verity<\/a>. The 20m stainless steel and bronze statue was created by world-famous artist Damien Hirst in 2012 and was loaned to the town of Ilfracombe for 20 years.<\/p>\n Once the tallest statue in the UK, Verity depicts a pregnant woman holding a sword up in the air while carrying the scales of justice and standing on a pile of law books. The statue has always been a controversial addition to the town. Half of the sculpture shows the internal anatomy of the pregnant woman, with the\u00a0foetus\u00a0clearly visible.\u00a0 This has led to critics believing the artwork to be “distasteful” or “grotesque”.<\/p>\n No matter what people think of Verity, it is definitely worth a visit to see how this magnificent piece of art stands on the pier at the entrance to the harbour, looking out over the Bristol Channel towards South Wales.<\/p>\n Paul Swailes & Heather McNeilly, two of the four co-founders of The Pier Gallery<\/a> in Ilfracombe<\/em><\/p>\n Whilst Damien Hirst might be the most famous artist to live in the area, he certainly isn’t the only one. If you happen to be visiting Ilfracombe in Spring you should check your diary and make sure you’re around when The Ilfracombe Art Trail<\/a> is on.<\/p>\n For one weekend in May each year, local artists and makers in Ilfracombe open their homes, studios and galleries to the general public. Visitors can see how and where the creatives work, talk to them about their creative processes and also view and purchase a varied collection of their arts and crafts.<\/p>\n We feature lots of artwork from local artists at The Carlton<\/a> so pop in for a look if you are in the area. Likewise, if you are looking for an art break in North Devon, The Carlton is a great base for your art and culture activities in and around Ilfracombe. Book your stay here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Photo by Richard Brannen<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Aside from Verity and the Art Trail, there is another prominent tourist attraction that entices people to visit Ilfracombe. The Landmark<\/a> is North Devon\u2019s iconic seaside theatre located on the seafront.<\/p>\n And don’t worry about finding it as the 483-seat arts and entertainment complex is not something you could easily miss. With its distinctive double-conical design, the sculptural form of The Landmark Theatre towers over the shoreline.<\/p>\n So, whether you’d like to watch a film, a musical, a play, a concert, a dance performance or enjoy a spot of comedy, the Landmark can quench your thirst for art and culture activities in Ilfracombe.<\/p>\n If you’d like to combine your theatre trip with a pre-show supper, don’t forget that we offer a Landmark Theatre discount here at The Carlton. All ticket holders receive a 10% discount off our full menu, including food and drink, when you dine at The Brasserie before your show.<\/p>\n If history is one of your interests, make sure Ilfracombe Museum<\/a> is on your list of places to visit in North Devon. Founded in Mervyn Palmer in 1932, the museum houses many eclectic collections across eight different rooms. From natural specimens, maritime models, and technology, to Victoriana, tools and ceremonial objects, and wartime memories, there really is something for everyone.<\/p>\n The museum is family-friendly with activities such as quizzes, sending morse code messages and bronze rubbing to keep kids occupied and interested. It is the perfect wet-weather activity for those times when the sun refuses to come out.<\/p>\n If historical monuments are more your thing, a short 10-minute drive around the coast will take you to Watermouth where you will find a Victorian Castle full of eclectic treasures and vintage curios. With stunning views of Watermouth Cove and the North Devon coastline and beautiful landscaped gardens to wander around, Watermouth Castle<\/a> makes for a great day out.<\/p>\n There is also plenty to do for the children as the outdoor theme park hosts a whole world of rides, attractions and play structures. From toboggan runs, mazes, river rides and crazy golf to swing boats, steam carousels and a gnome village, kids will be in their element.<\/p>\n Whether you are planning to book a holiday in North Devon or you\u2019re simply planning to visit Ilfracombe for the day, The Carlton can accommodate you to stay in our coastal hotel<\/a>, or serve you a delicious afternoon tea or three-course dinner<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you are currently in the planning stages of your holiday in North Devon, you will probably be doing some research on what to do in the area. Well, you can rest assured that there are plenty of activities you can enjoy here and plenty of great places to visit in North Devon. There is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":281220,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Ilfracombe Art Trail<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Paul](\"http:\/\/www.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Paul-Swailes-Heather-McNe.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLandmark Theatre Ilfracombe<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"http:\/\/www.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/richard-brannen-At3dQoKCHnY.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIlfracombe Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Watermouth Castle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Morte Point, Mortehoe Village<\/span><\/h1>\r\nEnjoy a challenging walk through a rare spot of coastal heathland which provides the wonderful backdrop for a wealth of wild flowers and wildlife. \u00a0You might even be lucky enough to spot some of our infamous sealife including dolphins and seals. This wonderful dog walk will take you out into the fresh country air and really give you an opportunity to get the blood pumping with steep ascents, steps and descents to challenge you along the way. \u00a0Adventurers will be rewarded with the discovery of some hidden beaches along the way and for those who enjoy a bit of history, discover why Morte Point has been responsible for many a shipwreck throughout the centuries.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Saunton Sands<\/span><\/h1>\r\nA short drive or long walk along the South West Coast Path and you arrive at stunning Saunton Sands. \u00a0This particular beach is a favourite for dog walks\u00a0as it welcomes dogs year round. Saunton Sands employs\u00a0easy to follow zoning sections where just the car park and first 5 minutes of your stroll requires that your dog is kept on the lead. \u00a0From here you have the next 3.5 miles of golden sands to explore and enjoy with your four legged friend.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Hillsborough Nature Reserve<\/span><\/h1>\r\nKnown to the locals as 'the sleeping elephant', Hillsborough Nature Reserve offers a short but testing walk for you and your dog. \u00a0This dog walk takes you past beaches which are also dog friendly so offers plenty of opportunity for a run and a dip in the sea for both of you - especially welcome during those warm summer months! The views provided by this dog walk are glorious - a bird's eye view of Ilfracombe, out to Lundy Island and even as far as the South Wales coast. \u00a0There is so much for nature lovers to enjoy along the way too with an array of wildlife and their habitats to be seen.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Baggy Point<\/span><\/h1>\r\nAs well as providing a dog friendly route, Baggy Point is also an easy access route which is especially important in opening up our beautiful countryside walks to as many people as possible. \u00a0Considered an easy route, Baggy Point lends itself to those pups who cannot manage a challenging route but still enjoy the great outdoors. \u00a0It is also considered equally good for young children. Baggy Point might be a shorter, easier dog walk than others on our list, but nonetheless it delivers in breathtaking sights. \u00a0The views along the way extend along the coast and out to sea\u00a0and you can also enjoy sightings of our diverse wildlife and sealife - there's plenty to keep everyone captivated along the way.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
The South West Coast Path<\/span><\/h1>\r\nThe Carlton Hotel is delightfully situated in Ilfracombe town centre where you can begin dog walks\u00a0in any direction to end up on the beautiful South West Coast Path. \u00a0Here we have miles and miles of stunning countryside and coastal walks to explore and discover your very own favourite spot. Whilst we have only covered our top 5 dog walks\u00a0in this blog, there are of course so many dog walks here to enjoy and far too many to list . \u00a0The South West Coast Path website<\/a> is an excellent place to begin to plan your local dog walks when you visit us here in Ilfracombe.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Carlton Hotel is a dog friendly hotel which welcomes well behaved humans and their four legged friends. \u00a0Our aim is to make your break as pleasurable for your dog as it is for you. \u00a0Inform us when you book<\/a> and we will endevour to ensure all your needs are met, including bowls and dog beds in your room. We look forward to welcoming you and your dog to The Carlton Hotel.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column][plethora_button button_text=\"Book your dog friendly stay here\" button_link=\"url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk%2Fbook%2F|||\" button_size=\"btn-lg\" button_style=\"btn-primary\" button_align=\"text-center\" button_with_icon=\"0\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"3\/4\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","_et_gb_content_width":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[258,259,261,201,713,714,709,712],"class_list":["post-284157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-area","tag-art","tag-art-break","tag-art-holiday","tag-ilfracombe-art-trail","tag-ilfracombe-museum","tag-landmark-theatre","tag-verity","tag-watermouth-castle"],"yoast_head":"\n