Section: Exmouth to Sidmouth

Length: 13 miles (20km)

Distance from Minehead to Exmouth: 516.7 miles (826.8km)

Distance from Sidmouth to Poole: 103.9 miles (166.3km)

Grading: Moderate to strenuous

Height gained (and also lost): 1743ft (531 metres)

Summary:

The South West Coast Path offers gentle walking out of Exmouth as it enters the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Geoneedle at Orcombe Point marks the beginning of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
This beautiful and dramatic stretch of coast is of international importance and provides walkers with an incredibly special sense of time: endurance as well as transience. The Path avoids Straight Point, which is used as a Royal Marine firing range, and soon becomes quite rugged on the cliff top approach to Budleigh Salterton.
An easy walk along the promenade sets you up for more variety ahead, including crossing the River Otter at the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve (a good place for bird watching), open field walking, woodland and high cliffs, culminating in a descent to the Regency town of Sidmouth, with it’s attractive Esplanade, shops and restaurants.

Highlights along the path:

• Exploring Exmouth’s rock pools at low tide.
• The dunes and marine grasses of The Maer.
• Looking ahead from Orcombe Point, knowing you are standing on 250 million year old rocks and are about to set off along part of the 95 miles of cliffs of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. These cliffs contain unique evidence of our planet’s history and were awarded World Heritage status in 2001.
• Walking along the seafront at Budleigh Salterton and admiring the fantastic mix of architecture.
• Enjoying the names of offshore rocks and headlands, including Twopenny Loaf Rock and Little Picket Rock.
• The tidal mudflats, freshwater reedbeds and saltmarsh of The Otter Estuary Nature Reserve. The Reserve supports an extensive population of wintering birds. Look out for redshank, common sandpipers and curlews.
• The spectacular red sandstone stacks of Ladram Bay and the views ahead to Sidmouth.
• Walking through the woods to High Peak, the site of an Iron Age settlement.
• Sidmouth: Home of the famous International Folk Festival and striking regency architecture, this seaside town is the ideal place to end your day. There are interesting shops, parks and gardens, plenty of opportunities to find refreshments and a long stretch of beach perfect for throwing pebbles and resting your feet.

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

• Taking in the views from Mutter’s Moor.
• The Norman packhorse bridge at Sidford.

Shorter option:

Stop at Budleigh Salterton (5.4 miles, 8.7 km)

Longer option:

Continue to Beer (an additional 8.8 miles, 14.2 km)

Public transport info:

There is a mainline train station in the cathedral city of Exeter. From here you can take the short train or bus journey to Exmouth. The Stagecoach bus number 157 runs regularly between Exmouth and Sidmouth, stopping at Budleigh Salterton and Otterton. The 52B service runs very regularly between Exeter and Sidmouth and takes just under 40 minutes. For further details visit Traveline

Refreshments:

Refreshments can be purchased at the beginning of the day in Exmouth, which has a range of shops, pubs and cafes. Further on you can find refreshments in the shops and cafes of Budleigh Salterton and there is a pub at Ladram Bay. Sidmouth has a good selection of pubs, cafes, shops and restaurants and nearby at Sidford there is the award winning Taste of the West member The Salty Monk, which specialises in using local produce, tel: 01395 513174.

Nearest Car park:

Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Ladram Bay and Sidmouth.

Toilets:

Exmouth, Sandy Bay, Budleigh Salterton, Ladram Bay and Sidmouth.

More information:

Exmouth Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01395 222299
Budleigh Salterton Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01395 445275
Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01395 516441. To find out more visit the Jurassic Coast website.

Booklets available: A 128 page guidebook to ‘The Jurassic Coast, The Red Coast Revealed’ is available from local Tourist Information Centres or can be purchased online from the South West Coast Path Association webshop for £9.95.

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