Great South West Walk

Sunday August 5

Section 10. EXMOUTH TO SIDMOUTH. Miles: 13.1. Grading: Moderate

Start time and location
Could you please report for registration at the Ferry Steps in Exmouth at midday.
The walk will commence at 12.30am.

Parking
Plenty of parking avaialble at start points.

Bus Services
The East Devon coastline is accessible by bus from Exeter, Ottery St Mary, Honitor and Axminster. The principal services are: X53 Exeter to Beer and Seaton; 57 Exeter to Exmouth, 157 and 357 Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth; 52 Exeter to Sidmouth; 382 Ottery St Mary to Sidmouth; 350 Honiton to Sidmouth; 885 Axminster to Seaton; 30 Taunton to Axminster (change at Axminster for service 885).
On summer Sundays service 378 operates along the East Devon coast from Sidmouth, Seaton and Axminster.
It is essential that you obtain confirmation of bus services from traveline on 0870 608 2608 www.traveline.org.uk

Trains
It is possible to get a train to Exmouth from Exeter, but you will need to get a bus from Sidmouth to Honiton station to return. For information you should ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950.

MAPS
Ordnance Survey Landranger series (scale 1:50,000) number 192, Exeter and Sidmouth.
Ordnance Survey Explorer series (scale 1:25,000) Number 115, Exmouth and Sidmouth.

General Information
Exmouth: accommodation, shops (including a chemist), pubs, cafés, toilets, car parks and public telephone.
Sandy Bay: café and toilets.
Budleigh Salterton: accommodation, shops (including a chemist), pubs, cafés, toilets, car parks andpublic telephone.
Ladram Bay: café, public telephone and toilets.
Sidmouth: accommodation, shops (including a chemist), pubs, cafés, toilets, car parks and public telephone.

AIRPORT
For information contact Exeter International Airport, Exeter, EX5 2BD, telephone 01392 367433.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
Exmouth, Alexandra Terrace, EX8 1NZ (Telephone 01395 222299)
Fore Street, Budleigh Salterton, EX9 6NG (Telephone 01395 445275)
Ham Lane, Sidmouth, EX10 8XR (Telephone 01395 516441)

The Route
Red sandstone cliffs accompany you for the entire length of this section. Once away from Exmouth there are glorious coastal views to delight your eyes. There is only one not so pleasing aspect in the form of the ranks upon ranks of caravans at Sandy Bay; you can get a good swim there though.
Budleigh Salterton is historic and attractive and the walk arorund to the first bridge of the River Otter gives chances of seeing a variety of bird life.

EXMOUTH

Exmouth was first a hamlet, then a small town, a busy port and today is a pleasant seaside resort. The town first became fashionable during Napoleonic times. There is a row of elegant Georgian houses on the Beacon, where both Lady Nelson and Lady Byron lived. The wide sandy beach is superb for the family holiday. Do watch your bed and breakfast accommodation during the peak holiday times.

EXMOUTH TO BUDLEIGH SALTERTON

Leave the town by the sea promenade walk until you reach the Foxhole Café, just past the road to Budleigh, and walk across the car park into Foxhole road. The official route starts here at a tarmac path and is waymarked.

The path climbs steadily above the eastern end of the sea front. Between Exmouth and Sidmouth there is a considerable improvement in the quality of walking from what you have experienced so far, most of it along the cliff tops. On reaching Orcombe Point there is a splendid view back across the estuary.

At Straight Point you encounter the one unpleasant part of the walk. On the landward side a huge caravan site, one of the biggest on the South Devon coast, and, on the point itself, a Commando firing range - a very strange mixture. Needless to say, the range is out of bounds! However this is soon passed and the path drops down to Littleham Cove and the Floors; some wonderful cliffs here composed of iron-rich Keuper marls.

A stiff climb brings you to the top of West Down Beacon (425 feet; 130 m), with its Trig Point and the East Devon golf course which borders the path some of the way into Budleigh Salterton.

West Down Beacon was once a fire beacon and was also a site for a telegraph station in the Napoleonic wars.

From here the path gradually drops down to the sea front at Budleigh
Salterton, with brief glimpses of the sea.

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON

The town is very picturesque with some fine Georgian and Victorian buildings, not over commercialised, a long pebble beach but limited bed and breakfast
accommodation.

John Millais the artist painted the famous picture ‘The Boyhood of Raleigh’ near the west end of the sea front in 1870: Raleigh was born nearby at Hayes Barton.

In medieval times, salt pans were in operation, near the estuary, hence the name of the town.

The river has to be crossed at White Bridge, as there is no bridge at the river mouth. Do not attempt to wade as the channel is deceptively deep.

After crossing the bridge, pass over the cattle grid, turn right and walk down the east bank of the river on top of some low cliffs.

The coast is reached again at Otter Head, and between here and Sidmouth you encounter the best coast path walking in this section: Brandy Head, an obvious connection with past smuggling, Chisel Bay, and then into Ladram Bay.

Here you will find a caravan site, a seasonal pub called The Three Rocks; refreshments and a small beach, which becomes overcrowded at times, especially at high tide. In the bay are several spectacular sandstone stacks, used by herring gulls as nesting sites.

Leaving Ladram Bay there is a steady climb ahead, the path finally turning inland into a conifer plantation. (For the energetic a track can be located going off on your right which climbs to the top of High Peak, with its Trig Point and Neolithic settlement, most of which has now fallen into the sea due to cliff erosion. Charcoal taken from the site had a carbon dating of
3860 BC.)

The coast path itself contours round High Peak, and on emerging from the wood, turns right to face yet another steep climb to the top of Peak Hill, part of Mutters Moor and owned by the National Trust. On a clear day Haytor rocks on Dartmoor are visible to the north-west from this hill top.

Connaught Beach, Sidmouth

High Peak, Peak Hill and many of the other East Devon hills display a common structural feature: there is a steeper section on the upper slopes, followed by a flat top hill. This step marks a layer of greensand, which produced poor soil and is often associated with conifers and heathland. On top of the hill is a layer of clay and flint, the remnants of the chalk which once covered this area but long since eroded away.

A steep descent through some woods brings you to a road. Turn right, go downhill and through the gates, before reaching a broad green sward alongside the cliff edge, affording fine views of Sidmouth and the coast eastwards.

At the bottom of this grassed area descend to beach level via a zigzag path between beach huts. At the small esplanade area turn left and continue towards Sidmouth almost at sea level along the splendid Clifton Walkway path.

SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth is a town dominated by Salcombe Hill to the east and Mutters Moor to the west. It has a very special charm with many attractive buildings built in the early part of the 19th century. Queen Victoria spent some of her early childhood in the town. It plays host to an International Folk Festival each year attracting performers from all over the world. The western beach is composed of sand, but the town beach is shingle, the height of which has fallen by many feet, due to the severity of the recent winter storms. This in turn has exposed the sea front promenade to storm damage during high tide gales.

At Sidmouth there is a natural break in the cliff between Peak Hill and Salcombe Hill known as the Sidmouth Gap. This break in the cliff line is visible from Five Barrows on Exmoor 40 miles (65 km) away.

Sidmouth is a convenient stop in your walking. The next section of the coast path to Seaton has some considerable ascents and descents to negotiate. So rest here awhile and enjoy the charm of the town, especially early spring or late autumn.

If you have any question on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact one the event organisers found on the Contact us page click here

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