Highfield House Ilfracombe: Your Dream UK Coastal Escape Awaits!
Highfield House Ilfracombe: Your Dream UK Coastal Escape Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Highfield House in Ilfracombe. Forget those sterile, corporate reviews – this is going to be messy, honest, and hopefully, hilarious. This is my take, after all. So, let's see if this coastal escape really awaits, shall we?
Highfield House Ilfracombe: Your Dream UK Coastal Escape Awaits! – My Unfiltered Review
Right, first things first. I'm imagining myself here, picturing the cliffside views, the salty air… deep breath Okay, let's do this.
Accessibility (and the Joy of Finally Getting Around!)
This is HUGE for me. I need to know it actually is accessible, and I'm not getting some corporate-speak promise. I'd want to know about…
- Wheelchair Accessible: This is a must of course, let's make sure there are smooth paths, ramps, and elevators. It would be fantastic to see specific details about the rooms, specifically if there are accessible bathrooms, lowered sinks.. the little things!
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Are there specific rooms catered for people with disabilities, and what kind of additional comfort/convenience is there? Are there parking spaces, is the front door easy enough?
- Elevator: Does the hotel have elevators throughout?
- Exterior Corridor: This adds to accessibility as well.
Internet Access & Tech Shenanigans (Pray for Speed!)
Okay, so I might be on vacation, but a girl's gotta have her internet. And with me typing reviews, I'm going to need it. Oh, the struggles of the modern traveler.
- Wi-Fi [free]: The main priority!
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Praise be!
- Internet: If the Wi-Fi fails me, what are my other options? (I have tried to tether to my phone on the beach, and it didn't end well, I will tell you).
- Internet [LAN]: For those of you who like to old-school, it's here apparently!
- Internet services: What other options are there? Are there any options?
- Wi-Fi for special events: If I was hosting a seminar or a fancy party, is the Wi-Fi up to snuff?
Cleanliness & Safety (Because Nobody Wants the Dreaded Gastric Distress)
Let's get real: in the current climate, cleanliness isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a MUST. I want to feel safe, not like I'm on a biohazard episode. This is where I get judgy.
- Cleanliness: Is the hotel up to scratch?
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good. Very good.
- Cashless payment service: Fantastic. I hate fumbling for cash.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Gotta love it.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Comforting (though, hoping I don't need them!).
- First aid kit: Standard, but important.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere, please and thank you.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Essential.
- Hygiene certification: Excellent.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Safer.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: A must.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Good to know.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I am a fan of this!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Absolutely.
- Safe dining setup: Yes.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Crucial.
- Shared stationery removed: Smart.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Good.
- Sterilizing equipment: A good sign.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Because… Vacation!)
Okay, FOOD. This is where I get excited. Vacation is about food. And alcohol. Don't judge.
- Restaurants: How many? What kind of food are we talking?
- A la carte in restaurant: Nice.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Important for me and my ever-evolving allergy list!
- Asian breakfast: Okay, this is interesting! Very interesting.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: More, please!
- Bar: Duh!
- Bottle of water: Always appreciated.
- Breakfast [buffet]: I love a good buffet. (Are there any croissants?)
- Breakfast service: Can I get breakfast delivered to my room?
- Buffet in restaurant: I really hope there is a buffet!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Necessary.
- Coffee shop: Coffee is a must!
- Desserts in restaurant: Oooooh…
- Happy hour: Count me IN.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Variety is the spice of life!
- Poolside bar: Yes, please. Sun, cocktails, and general bliss.
- Room service [24-hour]: This is genius.
- Salad in restaurant: Gotta pretend to be healthy sometimes.
- Snack bar: Perfect for those mid-afternoon cravings.
- Soup in restaurant: Comfort food! Perfect for a cozy evening.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Options are always welcome.
- Western breakfast: Gotta have it!
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Good to know.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Make a Big Difference)
The details. The little things that make a hotel stay go from "meh" to "amazing."
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential, especially in summer. The UK can get surprisingly warm.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Good for business or celebrations.
- Business facilities: For the workaholics, like me.
- Cash withdrawal: Useful.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: YES!
- Convenience store: Snacks!
- Currency exchange: Handy for international travelers.
- Daily housekeeping: I love a clean room!
- Doorman: Nice touch.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Essentials!
- Elevator: Always a plus.
- Essential condiments: What does this entail?
- Facilities for disabled guests: Important!
- Food delivery: If I don't feel like going out.
- Gift/souvenir shop: For those last-minute gifts.
- Indoor venue for special events: For fancy parties.
- Invoice provided: Useful for business trips.
- Ironing service: Essential if you're aiming for a perfect look!
- Laundry service: Handy to stay clean!
- Luggage storage: Useful for early arrivals or late departures.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery: Great if you are traveling for business.
- On-site event hosting: Good to know!
- Outdoor venue for special events: Perfect for weddings or parties.
- Projector/LED display: Useful for business meetings.
- Safety deposit boxes: Always important.
- Seminars: Interesting!
- Shrine: I like the variety!
- Smoking area: Depends on your preference.
- Terrace: I love a good terrace.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Good to know.
- Xerox/fax in business center: Important for some.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Ah, the Sweet Release of Leisure!)
Okay, the good stuff. What's the actual vibe of this place? Does it feel like a relaxing getaway? Or is it all business?
- Body scrub: Ooooh!
- Body wrap: Sign me up!
- Fitness center: I should probably use it.
- Foot bath: Intriguing…
- Gym/fitness: Well, maybe I'll actually use it.
- Massage: YES!
- Pool with view: Beautiful!
- Sauna: Love it.
- Spa, Spa/sauna: More relaxation!
- Steamroom: Excellent!
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: Gotta have!
Rooms: The Heart of the Matter (And Let's Hope They're Nice)
Okay, this is where it really comes down to brass tacks. What about the ROOMS? Are they worth the money?
- Available in all rooms: What's available
- Additional toilet: Luxury!
- Air conditioning: Essential.
- Alarm clock: Useful.
- Bathrobes: Cozy!
- Bathroom phone: Luxury!
- Bathtub: Love a nice bath.
- **Black
Highfield House, Ilfracombe: God, Where Do I Begin? (A Trip Report)
Okay, so, Highfield House, Ilfracombe. Right. Let’s just… delve in. It’s not going to be pretty, I can tell you that. The whole thing was a bit of a beautiful shambles, really. Just like me.
Day 1: Arrival (and a Whole Lotta Doubt)
- 1:00 PM: Arrived in Ilfracombe. The drive? Oh, the drive. Mostly winding, stomach-churning roads that made me question every life choice I've ever made. And the sat nav? Bless it, kept trying to take me down what looked suspiciously like goat tracks. Finally, finally, we arrived at Highfield House. First impressions? Charming. Very Victorian. Maybe a tad… intense? Like, the curtains are probably as old as my grandma (who's also intense).
- 1:30 PM: Check-in. The owner, Sarah, was lovely, bless her. Super friendly and helpful, and gave me the key. I swear, the key itself was heavier than my handbag. First impression: “Right, okay. Now to find the room, and hope I don’t end up in a closet.”
- 2:00 PM: The room. OH. MY. GOD. Victorian charm, overload. Four-poster bed (which I almost face-planted on when I tried to get in), ornate wallpaper that was probably designed by a madman, and a view… well, a view of the car park. But still, a view! And the tea-making facilities were, thankfully, modern. Coffee was a must. I needed to power through this anxiety attack from the road trip.
- 2:30 PM: First walk around town. Ilfracombe itself is…quirky. Lots of little shops, some selling genuinely interesting things, others selling… well, let's just say souvenirs that haven't been updated since the 1980s. The harbour view cheered me up, though. The air was salty, the seagulls were relentless, and the whole thing just felt… alive.
- 3:30 PM: Fish and Chips. Gotta do it, right? Found a chippy by the harbour and got what seemed like a family-sized portion. Ate half of it, the rest went to the seagulls. Fair trade, really.
- 4:30 PM: Walk along the coast. The sea was a brilliant blue, the cliffside was stunning, and I was feeling a smidge less stressed. Found a bench to just sit and soak it all in, then this random dog came and sat by me. Good boy, good vibes.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at the hotel. Which was actually really tasty. Decent food, relaxed vibe, and I was starting to actually relax. Still, I was worried about the evening. What do you do in a Victorian house at night? I’m not sure.
Day 2: The Woolacombe Incident, and a Day of Sea Breezes
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at Highfield House. Full English! And it was pretty good. The perfect start to the day with a full stomach.
- 9:00 AM: Off to Woolacombe. The drive? Less scary this time, but I kept getting distracted by the fact that every other car was a Land Rover. I felt very underdressed in my tiny hatchback.
- 10:00 AM: Woolacombe Beach. Magnificent. HUGE. Golden sand stretching as far as the eye could see. The waves! They were wild. So much better than the quiet beach I was picturing.
- 10:30 AM: THE WOOLACOMBE INCIDENT. Okay, so I’m at the beach! Sun's out. I'm wearing my new sunglasses. I’m feeling good. And then… BAM! A rogue wave, a HUGE one, comes and completely soaks me. Head to toe. Including my phone, which (shocker) died. Now, I'm not a drama queen…okay, maybe I am. But I lost it. "This is it." I thought, "I'm going to be stuck here, with ruined sunglasses, and no way to contact anyone. The start of a true disaster." So I did the only thing a sensible, drenched woman could do - I laughed. I laughed until my sides hurt. I was wet, freezing, and slightly mortified, but I couldn’t not laugh. I mean, what else was there to do? Plus, I knew the story was gold.
- 11:00 AM: Finding a cafe. I needed warm clothes, and a hot drink desperately. Found the most amazing cafe that sold hot chocolate. Went to the bathroom, and felt a new resolve.
- 12:00 PM: More beach time (from a safe distance, this time!). The sun dried me quickly and it was pure bliss.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch. More chips (I know, original). This time, they were extra delicious.
- 3:00 PM: Return to Ilfracombe. Sun, sand, and the sea are a combo for the win!
- 4:00 PM: Getting into my cosy Hotel room. Feeling refreshed from my day.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a local pub. Proper pub grub, loud conversations, and the kind of atmosphere that just makes you feel… at home. Got talking to some locals, who told me stories about their lives and the town. I felt like I was starting to get Ilfracombe. Then, back to Highfield House… ready to hide under the covers.
Day 3: The Landmark Theatre and a Final Farewell
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. This time I had a muffin! They were delicious.
- 10:00 AM: Taking a stroll around the local shops. Purchased some souvenirs, including a mug and a postcard. Maybe I could decorate my desk with them.
- 11:00 AM: Going to the Landmark Theatre. What an interesting building. It looks like a massive, concrete seashell. Watched a show, which had been recommended to me, and was very pleased.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. I had a sandwich from a local shop. Sitting in the sun, enjoying the sea view.
- 2:00 PM: Packing. I had such a good experience, I thought it would be a shame to go.
- 3:00 PM: Leaving Highfield House. Saying goodbye to Sarah. She was extremely kind. The place was lovely, and I think I might miss it.
- 3:30 PM: Drive Home. The drive back was a lot smoother, although I still needed to call my mechanic. But, I now feel more confident in life's journey.
Final Thoughts:
Look, Highfield House and Ilfracombe weren't perfect. But that’s what made it… memorable. The slightly wonky wallpaper, the rogue seagull that stole my chips, the Woolacombe Incident… it all added to the adventure. It forced me to relax. It reminded me to laugh. And, most importantly, it made me realize that a little bit of messy, unpredictable reality is often exactly what you need.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just… maybe take a waterproof phone case. And learn how to make a decent cup of tea. You’ll need it.
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Highfield House Ilfracombe: Seriously, is this place as good as it looks? Let's find out...
Okay, let's be honest... Is Highfield House *actually* a good place to stay? I mean, the photos are gorgeous.
Alright, deep breath. The photos? They're probably *slightly* touched up, let’s be real. But in all honesty? Yeah. It's *really* good. I mean, REALLY good. We went, expecting a standard B&B – clean, maybe with a slightly limp Full English. NOPE. This place, it's different. The view from our window (Room 4, if you're curious, which you should be) was literally breathtaking every single morning. Like, jaw-on-the-floor, coffee-spilling-down-your-chin type breathtaking. The staff were genuinely lovely too, not just the forced smile variety. So, yeah. Good. Very good. Possibly bordering on AMAZING. But, you know, don't tell everyone. We want it to stay a secret... kinda.
What's the breakfast like? Because breakfast can MAKE or BREAK a holiday, right?
Oh, the breakfast. Where do I EVEN begin? Okay, picture this: you wake up, sunshine streaming in (hopefully - British weather, you know), and you head down to the dining room. The smell is… *divine*. Not the burnt-bacon-and-sad-eggs smell I'm used to. This is the smell of proper, good-quality ingredients and someone who actually KNOWS how to cook! The Full English? Perfect. The scrambled eggs? Creamy and fluffy. The fruit salad? Fresh and vibrant. And the coffee? Seriously strong enough to wake the dead (which, let's be honest, is what I needed after the previous night's wine). I swear, I ate three sausages one morning. THREE! No regrets. Breakfast? Definitely a win. A HUGE win. Consider yourself warned.
Is it family-friendly? Because travelling with kids is... an experience.
Okay, tricky one. I went without kids. Thank GOD. But, from what I saw… They *seem* to be family-friendly. They had high chairs, and I *think* I saw a travel cot. Also, the staff were super patient with a very loud toddler at breakfast one morning, which I thought was a good sign. However… let’s just say, romantic getaway it's not. While I didn't see the chaos of a full-blown family holiday, I did notice the slightly stressed-out parents and the trail of crumbs. So, yes, probably family-friendly, but maybe bring extra wine for *yourself*. You'll need it.
The views... are they REALLY as amazing as they say? I've been promised views before and been disappointed.
Right, the views. This is what hooked me in the first place. Let me tell you, the views are NOT a lie. They are glorious. Imagine waking up and seeing the vastness of the ocean, the cliffs, the boats bobbing in the harbour... it's magic. I spent a good hour each morning just staring out of the window. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating. I even started a little sketchbook, trying (and failing) to capture the beauty. The only downside? You *might* find yourself spending so much time staring at the view that you actually *don't* leave the hotel. And honestly? I have no regrets. Just pure bliss.
Any downsides? Because nothing's perfect, right?
Okay, honesty time. There were a few… *minor* hiccups. The Wi-Fi was a little patchy sometimes. Not ideal when you’re trying to upload those beautiful pictures to Instagram (priorities, people!). And one night, the guest above us had a *very* enthusiastic foot massage session (we heard a *lot* of thumping, let's just say). But honestly? Those were minor blips. The overall experience was so good that I'm willing to overlook those little imperfections. Plus, the enthusiastic foot massage was kinda… memorable.
Is Ilfracombe itself worth visiting? Or is it all just about Highfield House?
Okay so here's the thing. Ilfracombe itself? It's... charming. In a slightly faded seaside town sort of way. The harbor is lovely, and there's a Damien Hirst statue that's either "amazing" or "hideous" depending on your taste. The shops are a bit hit-and-miss, but the beaches are beautiful (though freezing! Brrrrrrr!). I took a boat trip to see the seals, which was amazing (I can't help it, it was seriously good!). Ultimately, Highfield House is the showstopper. It makes Ilfracombe a million times better. So, go for Highfield House, but enjoy the town as a bonus.
What's the parking situation like? Because, driving and parking... ugh.
Parking… A logistical nightmare in Ilfracombe sometimes, tbh. Highfield House has a small car park and it’s first come, first served. We were lucky and got a space, but I saw some people having to park on the street, which looked… stressful. So, if you’re driving, maybe arrive earlier than you think you need to – or, better yet, ditch the car altogether and get a taxi. I didn't, and spent approximately 30 minutes circling the streets. A slight panic attack, but all's well that ends well, right?
So, is Highfield House worth the money then?
Okay, the big question. Is it worth the money? Honestly? Yes. Absolutely, unequivocally YES. It's not cheap, but you're paying for a genuinely good experience. The views, the breakfast, the staff… it’s all worth it. I’d happily sell a kidney (or two!) to go back. Seriously. Book it. Just… maybe don’t book it in the exact week I'm trying to… Kidding! (maybe...) Just go. You won't regret it. Probably. Okay, nearly definitely.
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