Route Description

1. From Seaton, walk along to the eastern end of the seafront, and cross over the River Axe using Britain’s oldest concrete bridge which was opened in 1877. Walk upstream alongside the river for about 100 yards, and then take the track on the right signed Coast Path and Axe Cliff golf course.
   
   
2. The path climbs steadily passing the club house and crossing the course (watching out for golf balls) to then enter a sunken Devon lane, which in spring is full of flowers.
   
   
3. At the first junction take the right turn which takes you out to the top of Haven Cliff, from where you get great views along the coast in both directions. From here you also get your first impression of how unstable this section of coast is.

The geology of this section comprises of seaward sloping beds of greensand and chalk overlying clay. Rain can seep straight through the greensand and chalk, but has to flow across the surface of the impervious clay. Heavy rain can lubricate the join between the clay and greensand sufficiently enough to allow the top layers of rock to slide.

The most famous example of this happening was on Christmas Day in 1839, when 15 acres (6 hectares) weighing an estimated 8 million tons, slipped from the cliff to form a chasm 180 feet (60 metres) deep and ½ mile (800 metres) long. On the seaward side of the chasm a field stayed intact enough for the crop to be harvested later that year, and the outcrop is now known as Goat Island. At the time, the spectacle drew thousands of tourists, including Queen Victoria, and pictures of it are on display at Lyme Regis Museum.

1. After following the cliff top for a few hundred yards the Coast Path descends down into the Undercliff National Nature Reserve.

The reserve, which is managed by Natural England, is one of the largest active coastal landslide systems in Western Europe. The National Nature Reserve forms part of the 95 mile long Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and contains rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of geological time. The rocks get younger as you walk from Axmouth in the west to Lyme Regis in the east.

In addition to the geological interest, the reserve is important for wildlife. It forms part of the Sidmouth to West Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is also part of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Woodland covers the majority of the reserve and the unstable terrain is dominated mainly by ash and field maple woodland. The reserve is sheltered, south facing and often relatively hot and humid providing ideal growing conditions for ferns including the characteristic Hart’s tongue fern. Away from the path the cliffs and unstable terrain also provide a haven for a variety of specialist insects and other plants. In some parts of the reserve non-native species including holm oak, rhododendron and laurel can be seen and the spread of these is being controlled.

Walkers should keep to the footpath through the Undercliff. There are deep fissures hidden by dense vegetation and no means of access away from the coast path.

1. After emerging from the Undercliff the Coast Path turns right and descends through fields to Lyme Regis seafront.

You may recognise the harbour at Lyme Regis from its starring role in the film of the French Lieutenants Woman.
It dates from the 13th century and over the years has seen many real dramas, including its role in the defeat of the Spanish Amada, it was fought over during the 1st Civil War, in the 17th century was a major trading port with the American colonies and in the 18th century was the port of departure for many emigrants to America.

1. The Coast Path continues along the seafront to the main part of town from where you can catch a bus back to Seaton.

However, rather than rush back it is worth visiting the award winning Lyme Regis Museum where you can find great displays on fossils and the history of Lyme Regis.

Nearby refreshments

Seaton and Lyme Regis.

Public transport

The Jurassic CoastLine x53 bus runs regularly between Seaton and Lyme Regis and stops at the seafront, Castle Hill, Seaton and outside the Co-op, Broad Street, Lyme Regis. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Seaton (Postcode for Sat Nav: EX12 2LX), Lyme Regis (Postcode for Sat Nav: DT7 3BS).