Why North Devon’s Coast Is One of the UK’s Best Kept Wildlife Secrets

Ask most people about wildlife boat trips in the South West and they’ll mention Cornwall. But the North Devon coastline — rugged, dramatic, and far less visited than its southern counterpart — offers encounters with marine wildlife that genuinely rival anything the county’s more famous shores can offer.
Based in Ilfracombe, our sea safaris head out along a stretch of coastline that encompasses Lundy Island, Morte Point, the Valley of the Rocks, and some of the most spectacular sea cliffs in England.

What Makes North Devon Special for Wildlife

The Bristol Channel has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world — second only to the Bay of Fundy. This enormous tidal movement creates nutrient-rich, highly productive waters that support an exceptional food chain. Where there’s food, there’s wildlife — and the diversity of species in these waters reflects that.
Grey seals haul out on rocky outcrops along the coast in good numbers. Porpoise are regularly spotted in the channel. In summer months, basking sharks — the world’s second largest fish — are reliably encountered. Seabird colonies on the coastal cliffs host guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and in the right season, puffins at Lundy.

Lundy Island

Britain’s only UNESCO-designated Marine Conservation Zone, Lundy is one of the most remarkable wildlife destinations in England. Though our regular safaris don’t always reach Lundy itself, on special charter trips the island offers snorkelling with grey seals, extraordinary seabird colonies, and some of the clearest water anywhere on the English coast.

The Season is Open

We’re running safaris from May through September, with May being one of our favourite months — the water is beginning to warm, spring seabird activity is at its peak, and the crowds that arrive later in the summer haven’t yet arrived. Ilfracombe itself is a wonderful base for a North Devon visit, with excellent food, galleries, and the iconic Damien Hirst Verity sculpture on the harbour.
Book your Ilfracombe Sea Safari at ilfracombeseasafari.co.uk