Christmas in Ilfracombe & North Devon

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.

Christmas in Ilfracombe & North Devon

After breakfast, we head along the North Devon coast to Lynton, a charming Victorian town perched above Exmoor National Park. Often known as ‘Little Switzerland’, it offers lovely views, cosy tea rooms and time to explore at a relaxed pace. We continue to nearby Lynmouth, where whitewashed cottages cluster around the harbour and the sea stretches out beyond. There’s time to browse, stroll and take in the coastal scenery before we return to our hotel. This evening, enjoy a three-course dinner followed by live entertainment as our Christmas celebrations begin.

Christmas in Ilfracombe & North Devon

Today is ours to relax and enjoy a peaceful Christmas Day at the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel. Start with breakfast and a festive gift from Santa, before sitting down to a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings – the highlight of the day. This afternoon and evening are at leisure, with a relaxed buffet dinner and light entertainment to round off the celebrations.

Christmas in Ilfracombe & North Devon

Today, we head into Barnstaple, North Devon’s historic riverside town, known for its market streets and independent shops. It’s the perfect place for a gentle Boxing Day stroll and a bit of browsing after the festivities. We return to the hotel for a light soup and sandwich lunch, followed by a relaxed afternoon at leisure. This evening, enjoy a three-course dinner, followed by a quiz and bingo.

Christmas in Ilfracombe & North Devon

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.

Toast your arrival with a hot welcome drink and mince pie in the cosy lounge of the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel. Settle into comfortable armchairs, chat with fellow travellers, and feel that first glow of holiday spirit as the coastal winter light fades outside.

This simple ritual is rooted in British seasonal hospitality—warming spices, buttery pastry, and friendly introductions that ease you into the pace of Ilfracombe. It’s a gentle, flavour-filled start to your Christmas escape.

Unwind in the hotel bar as live entertainment brings a sociable buzz to the evening. Tap your foot to familiar tunes, settle in for a friendly quiz and bingo, and enjoy a drink in the relaxed hotel bar atmosphere with new friends.

These lighthearted nights channel classic British holiday fun, mixing laughter, gentle competition, and easygoing music. It’s an inviting way to round off your coastal day without leaving the comfort of the Dilkhusa Grand.

Ride the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, a remarkable water-powered funicular that glides between seafront and hilltop. Take in cliff-edge views across the Bristol Channel as carriages pass, and appreciate the blend of Victorian engineering and dramatic coastal scenery.

This optional experience is at additional cost and can be booked on tour. The short journey adds a memorable perspective to your village visit, with time for photos at both stations if you wish.

Visit North Devon’s historic market town of Barnstaple, set along the broad River Taw. Wander through characterful lanes and independent shops, with time to discover Victorian ironwork at the Pannier Market and admire the silhouette of the town’s medieval Long Bridge from the riverside.

Centuries of trade and seafaring shaped Barnstaple’s streetscapes, where Georgian frontages sit beside old coaching inns. Expect relaxed browsing, artisan food counters when open, and easy photo stops by the water, capturing the town’s leisurely West Country rhythm.

Savour a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings in the hotel’s dining room, a warm setting dressed for the season. Settle in for courses that evoke British festive comfort—roasts, seasonal vegetables, and indulgent desserts—served with convivial cheer and the pop of festive crackers and carols in the background.

The occasion brings guests together in a spirit of shared celebration, with thoughtful touches such as a small gift to mark the day. It’s a relaxed, joyfully unhurried centrepiece to your coastal Christmas.

Explore the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth at the edge of Exmoor National Park, where a Victorian hilltop town looks down to a snug harbour on the Bristol Channel. Amble between galleries and tea rooms, and pause for cliff-top panoramas over the Bristol Channel framed by rugged headlands and seabirds on the wind.

In Lynmouth, stroll the quay and spot the distinctive Rhenish Tower, a symbol of the harbour’s resilience after the 1952 floods. The atmosphere blends sea-salt air, slate roofs, and timeless fishing-village charm—perfect for relaxed browsing and coastal photography.