Section: Sidmouth to Seaton

Length: 10 miles (16km)

Distance from Minehead to Sidmouth: 529.3 miles (846.9km)

Distance from Seaton to Poole: 93.6 miles (149.8km)

Grading: Severe to strenuous

Height gained (and also lost): 2110ft (643 metres)

Summary:

Walking through the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is impressive at any time of year and in any weather conditions. There are some especially beautiful stretches here and so the many steep ascents and descents are certainly well worth the effort. Allow time to rest at intervals and take in the spectacular sights, including the spring and summertime butterflies enjoying the masses of wild flowers on top of the red cliffs at Branscombe, the extraordinary change in geology around Beer and keep a look out for the occasional peregrine.
Leave the red cliffs of Sidmouth as you set off along this rugged section of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, crossing 200 million year old rocks. The red Triassic earth gives way to striking white chalk around Beer before you arrive at the mouth of the River Axe and the rich red cliffs of the village of Seaton.

Highlights along the path:

• Enjoying the architecture in the Regency town of Sidmouth.
• Looking out for linnets and stonechats in the yellow gorse.
• Views from Salcombe Hill Cliff back along the South Devon coast to Torbay and ahead along the red cliffs towards Dorset.
• Crossing the wild little valley of Lincombe, an area visited by green woodpeckers.
• Resting on the pebbly beach of Weston Mouth.
• The exquisite flowers, grasses and butterflies of the Weston Wildflower Meadow.
• The remains of Berry Cliff Camp: An Iron Age hill fort.
• Resting on the beach under vast cliffs at Branscombe Mouth. Once a busy area for smuggling, the seas here have been more recently known for the stricken container ship the MSC Napoli.
• Looking down to the breathtaking views from Hooken Cliff. This dramatic slope of woodland and white rock was formed by a landslide in 1790.
• Views from Beer Head over Seaton Bay.
• The dramatic, exposed chalk cliffs of Beer: This fishing village, which was the birthplace of the notorious smuggler Jack Rattenbury, also known as "The Rob Roy of the West", is protected from winds by the enormous cliffs. The creamy white stone from Beer Caves has been quarried for centuries as it is very easy to carve, and can be seen in the cathedral of Exeter, as well as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s. You can visit the Beer Caves, which were first used by the Romans, open daily from March to October.
• The traditional seaside town of Seaton: Here you will find welcome refreshments at the end of your day as well as the attractive Jubilee Gardens, some interesting shops and a museum, which is open Monday to Friday from May to October and has many fascinating old photographs of the area. Further up the Axe Estuary, the Seaton Marshes teem with birdlife, dragonflies and butterflies.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• The forge and restored water wheel at the National Trust’s Manor Mill Farm. There is also a tearoom here.
• Follow the inland path through fields to the Norman church of Branscombe, one of England’s longest villages.
• Take a trip on the Seaton tramway along the Seaton Marshes.
• The attractive village of Axmouth, roughly 1 mile inland on the banks of the River Axe.

Shorter option:

Beer (8.8 miles, 14.2 km)

Longer option:

Continue to Lyme Regis (an additional tough 7.1 miles, 11.4 km)

Public transport info:

There is a mainline train station in the cathedral city of Exeter. From here you can take the very regular 52B Stagecoach bus service to Sidmouth, which takes just under 40 minutes. The regular 52A runs from Sidmouth to Seaton, as does the less frequent but more scenic Axe Valley Mini-Travel service number 899. The First Dorset X54 runs from Seaton to Exeter city bus station. For further details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

You can stock up on refreshments at the beginning of the day in the shops and cafes of Sidmouth. There is a cafe at Branscombe Mouth and additional facilities inland in the village of Branscombe. There are also refreshments available in Beer, including the Taste of West member The Barrel O Beer, tel: 01297 20099, and at the end of the day in Seaton.

Nearest Car park:

Sidmouth, Branscombe Mouth, just beyond Beer Head, Beer and Seaton.

Toilets:

Sidmouth, Branscombe Mouth, just beyond Beer Head and Seaton.

More information:

Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01395 516441
Seaton Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01297 21660. To find out more visit the Jurassic Coast website.

Booklets available: A 64 page guidebook to ‘The Jurassic Coast, A Walk through Time’ is available from local Tourist Information Centres or can be purchased online from the South West Coast Path Association webshop for £4.95.

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