Larkstone Beach is about a kilometre to the north-west of Hele, near the entrance to Ilfracombe harbour. There is an old lime kiln here, no doubt serviced from the sea. Coal was delivered here for the Gas Works at Hele until 1962 when the works closed. Nearby are Larkstone Terrace and Laston House.

The earlier spellings show that the origin of the place name is probably from Lastage, one meaning of which is 'ships ballast'. Ballast was required to make up an empty load and was simply dumped when it was no longer required. Larkstone Beach, just outside the harbour, would have been a convenient dumping ground and there are said to be many unusual stones on the beach there.

Lathstone [sic] is so-called on the first OS map of 1809, probably in error. The 1839 Tithe transcription refers to Larkstone; The Ilfracombe 1841 Census has Lastone [house?] and Lastone [cottage?]; The 1851 Census has Lastone House, Larkstone Farm House and Larkstone Cottage; Stewart's map of Ilfracombe from end of 19th century shows Larkstone Kiln, Lastone House and Lastone cottage; Larkstone Beach, Larkstone Lime Kiln, Laston Terrace and Laston House are so-called on the OS map of 1891, where Larkstone Cottage is called Hillsborough Cottage.

 "Chambercombe, the site of the mansions of the Champernons erewhile lords of the manor of Ilfracombe, is a beautiful valley, reached by passing along the road at the back of Lastone Terrace (a row of large houses overlooking the harbour), and after reaching a thatched cottage close to the road, taking the first turning to the right." (Walters 1884 p 31-32)

"The word Larkstone is from last stone or lastage stone; that is ballast; and some pretty geological specimens from foreign parts can be found there where ships dumped them long ago" (Boyle & Payne 1952 p201)

Lastage, Middle English 1. A toll payable by traders attending fairs and markets. 2. The ballast of a ship 3. A port duty for liberty to load a ship, levied at so much per last 4. An impost levied on the catch of herrings at so much per last 5. Tonnage 6 Garbage (SOED 1987 Vol 1 p 1180)