Beaches and attractions within 15 miles 

Last updated 17/01/07

Landscapes of East Devon

The local area forms the oldest part of the Jurassic Coast , recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site is also in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty A.O.N.B. next to an RSPB bird sanctuary and area of  Special Scientific Interest. 

     Click on map for larger version

The local museum at the Sid Vale Heritage Centre, in Church Street, offers valuable information and a fascinating insight into the local area. The centre also offers guided walks around Sidmouth every Tuesday and Thursday. Much of Sidmouth's history is recorded in the blue plaques on the buildings, built when members of London's high society came here. Fortfield Terrace is one example of the elegant Regency style. Here, a double-headed eagle commemorates the stay of the Grand Duchess of Russia in 1831.

The architecture throughout the town is varied and interesting, and provides many clues to the development of Sidmouth. There is so much to enjoy in this lovely town, including beautiful parks and gardens and two lovely beaches.

Panoramic View of Sidmouth Town

Budleigh Salterton's location is ideal for walking and bird watching. Salterton is derived from the days when the main industry of the area was salt-panning - in those days the town was known as Ottermouth.

The beach at Budleigh Salterton is a steeply shelving crescent of pebbles, overlooked at the western edge by high red cliffs. The beach is famous for its fat round pebbles - 'like buns or muffins'. Though the beach is quite steep, the swimming is safe - for those who require a sandy foreshore, a short walk westwards will bring them to the small sheltered beach at Littleham Cove.

In the centre of Budleigh Salterton is the Fairlynch - a small museum with displays of local and natural history of the area as well as a display of Devon Lace and a fine collection of costumes.

Next door to the museum is the Octagon where the artist Sir John Everet Millais stayed during the creation of his famous painting, 'The Boyhood of Raleigh' - which can be seen in the Tate Gallery in London.

Sir Walter Raleigh was born just two miles away from Budleigh Salterton at Hayes Barton.

Ottery St Mary (4.6miles) A town steeped in history and legend Ottery St Mary was the birthplace of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was born in 1772 and penned such famous works as the 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' and 'Kubla Khan'.

The beautiful medieval Church of St Mary, modelled on Exeter Cathedral, has been voted one of the top 20 finest churches in England. The interior of the church is a fine example of medieval craftsmanship, containing an astronomical clock dating from that time and still in working order. The ancient stocks used for public punishments in Ottery St Mary's past are located in the churchyard.

Ottery St Mary has a range of shops and restaurants, a monthly farmers` market. a leisure centre and places to visit that include the Tumbling Weir, built in 1790 to harness the River Otter and so supply power to a Georgian textile factory.

Sidmouth

Sidmouth

Budleigh Salterton

Ottery St Mary

                     Sidmouth Town Beach

Sidmouth has two beaches, the town beach is about a mile long, fairly sheltered, mainly pebbles, occasionally sandy when the tide recedes. Jacobs ladder beach is in a sheltered bay with high red sandstone cliffs. Access is from the town end where there is parking. Large expanse of sand and rock pools when tide recedes. The end of the beach furthest from the town is empty even at the height of summer. ANOB

Panoramic View of the town beach at sidmouth

Otterton Ladram Bay (5.1 mins) Small sheltered cove, approached through large caravan park, shingle beach. Rowing boats, motor boats. canoes for hire. Can be a bit grotty

Salcombe Regis (5.7miles) partly owned by the National Trust. Very quiet away from it all sloping pebbly beach. Approached from footpath through fields from village (1 mile) where there is a small car park

Weston Mouth (6.2 miles) Very quiet sloping pebbly beach, cliff back drop. Pebbles can shelve under water. Partly owned by the National Trust. Access from hamlet of Weston (approx 1 mile). Small car park at Weston.

Exmouth 2 miles of flat sandy beaches, overlooking the Exe estuary. No bathing between red flags. Parking available along the sea front. More commercialised than the other beaches but lots for kid to do and quieter coves accessible during low tide away from town beach with rock pools. 

Exmouth Sandy Bay (9.5 miles) Half mile sandy sheltered cove with sandy beach. Car parking above beach in Sandy Bay caravan site. Parascending, pedalos, and canoes for rent. 

Beer ( 11 miles) Sheltered Cove backed by limestone cliffs. Sloping pebbly beach. Take care bathing as beach selves steeply. Lots of rock pools when tide recedes. Motor boats with fishing tackle can be hired by the hour. Also fishing trips from the beach. 2 good cafes on the beach, recommended for breakfast. Good Real ale pub (Fountain Inn) Working fisherman activity. Small self drive wooden motor boats can be hired by the half hour. Rock pools at low tide.

Seaton ( 12 miles) 1 mile long bay, gently sloping, pebbly beach, in unattractive town.

Branscombe

Beer

Beer

Devon Foot Paths Devon County Councils interactive map of Devon listing all public rights of way

Woodbury Castle

Attractions - Of interest to adults and older children 

Otter Mill (3.9m) Art Gallery and cafe serving cream teas. Next to the river Otter with riverside walks leading to Budleigh Salterton. Bakery on site making bread and cakes using flour ground on site.  With free access to the working mill.

Cadhay Manor House(4.9m)just outside of Ottery St Mary dates back to the 14th Century. The main part of the present house was built about 1550  retaining the 'great hall' of the earlier house, of which the fine timber roof (1420-1470) can be seen. An Elizabethan Long Gallery was added  early in the 17th century, thus forming a unique and lovely courtyard. It is privately owed and has very attractive gardens.                                                        Admission Adults £4.00 Children £2.00

Killerton House (11.3m) is owned by the National Trust and is set within beautiful countryside, close to the Cathedral City of Exeter. The elegant eighteenth century house which still retains a warm friendly atmosphere, with a large hillside garden which slopes down to spreading lawns and herbaceous borders with extensive views over the Devon countryside.   Landscaped from the 18th century the garden contains a wealth of rare trees and gems like the Victorian rock garden, an impressive ice house and bear's hut and wonderful woodland walks in the surrounding parkland. On display in the house are treasures from the renowned Killerton dress collection, one of the finest collections of costume in the South West with different exhibitions each year. There is also a shop selling plants and other nick  knacks in the old stables.                                                Admission Adults     Children                                                 

 
Al La Ronde  (7.3m) on the outskirts of Exmouth is a unique 16-sided house built on the instructions of two spinster cousins, on their return from a grand tour of Europe. Completed c.1796, the house contains many 18th-century contents and collections brought. The fascinating interior decoration includes a feather frieze and shell-encrusted gallery which, due to its fragility, can only be viewed on closed circuit television. Nice view from the gardens of the Exe Estuary and pleasant tea rooms.                                                                               Admission Adults £3.40; child £1.70

The Old Bakery (9m) in Branscombe is a stone-built and partially rendered building beneath thatch, which until 1987 was the last traditional working bakery in Devon. The old baking equipment has been preserved in the baking room and the rest of the building now serves as a tea-room. Manor Mill, still in working order and recently restored, is a water-powered mill which probably supplied the flour for the bakery.                                                                      Admission Free to the bakery & £1.00 to the mill

Sand

Fairlynch Museum (6m), Budleigh Salterton, is one of few thatched museums in existance and houses collections depicting all aspects of the history of the Lower Otter Valley - a river and estuary acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful and historic in the country. Open 2:00 - 4:40 daily. Tel 01395 442666               Admission Adults £2.00 Child £0.70

Beer Quarry Caves (11m) Quarry Caves:  Vast underground caverns dating from Roman times to the beginning of the 20^th century. Guide conducted tours and museum exhibits. Open daily from Easter.
Tel: 01297 20986

 Marine House Gallery in Beer has a wide and constantly changing range of painting, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, glassware, jewellery and more, made by new and established local and international artists. Open daily Admission Free

Stuart Line Cruises offers River Cruises and Fishing Trips From Exmouth and Topsham. Discover the History, Beauty and Wildlife of the River Exe
Tel: 01395 279693

Allhallows Museum of Honiton Lace and Local History, Open from early April. Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm.
Tel: 01404 44966

Ark Pottery  Studio & Pottery Shop: Open daily 10am - 5pm. No admission charge. Hand made pottery, sculpture & fun ceramics.
Tel: 01404 81268 

Sidmouth Museum Hope Cottage: Open daily, Easter - October. Sun / Mon 2pm - 4.30pm. Tues - Sat 10am - 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm. Town guided tours led by museum staff on Tuesdays & Thursdays, leaving Museum at 10.15. Tel: 01395 516139

Otterton Bridge

Cadhay House

Killerton House

Sand House and Gardens

Bicton Gardens (2.9m) features sweeping lawns, elegant water features, fragrant English borders and the formal Italian Garden, laid out in around 1735 following the design of Andre Le Notre, who had planned the gardens at Versailles for King Louis XIV. It has a Country side museum packed with traction engines, vintage machinery, tools, and a host of intriguing Victorian artifacts. There is a miniature steam railway which takes a circular route around the park small extra charge), indoor and outdoor play areas. There is also a restaurant and small garden centre. Plenty for children to do in very pleasant surroundings. Only 5 mins from Hollytree. Entrance Adults £4.75 Children £2.75 Family (2 adults 2 children) £12.75 - Recommended

Donkey Sanctuary has lots of Donkeys in various states of repair. Between Beer and Newton Poppleford about 20 mins away. Admission free

Radway Cinema (3.8m) was built in the 1920's and has recently been refurbished. It has very comfortable seats with a coffee bar upstairs.

Crealy Park (5.3m) is a Farm Theme Park 15 min away, between Exeter and Newton Poppleford. It has a huge indoor play area and lots of attractions. Under 12's have a great time, Adults less so. Admission for over 3 years old is £5.99 each, under 3 free.

Pecorama (11m) Model Railways, and gardens in Beer 20 mins away. Good value afternoon out with indoor set ups of model railways, and outdoors nice gardens, and miniature steam train. Admission Children under 4 free, 4-14 £2.95, Adults £4.50

Museum of County Life just outside Exmouth has a quite good exhibition of country life as well as adventure play grounds, softplay areas, and pets centre.                                         Admission Adult £5.75 Children £4.75 Family Ticket (2 adults 3 children £19.50)

Sidmouth Swimming Pool Rectangular hole in the ground indoor pool near the sea front.

Tel 01395 577057.     Admission Adults £2.70 child £1.35

Escot Country Park & Gardens has 220 acres of 18th century parkland and gardens, with walkways, vistas, a lake, lawns and picnic places. There is a pet and aquatic centre as well as wild boar, red squirrels, and falconary displays.                         Admission Adults £3.50 Child £3.00

Other

Steam Railway at Pecorama

Bicton Gardens