Sidmouth  Branscombe

Sidmouth is located on the south coast of Devon overlooking Lyme Bay. It is approximately 10 miles from Exeter with access off of the A3052. Also within this area are the coastal towns of Seaton and Beer and Branscombe made famous by the recent beaching of the freighter MSC Napoli. 

For details of  Sidmouth Hotels and Holidays  Guest Houses and  Cottages  and attractions.  Go to Sidmouth Hotels, Guest Houses and Cottages

Sidmouth is a small, tranquil resort town that nestles between towering red sandstone cliffs. These form the backdrop for magnificent coastal views from and around the town. The seafront area itself is quite small but there is plenty of opportunity for swimming and enjoying the beach. It is an ideal area for a gentle stroll around the gardens or to explore the town or alternatively just choose  a deckchair on the seafront and admire the views.  

The hill tops offer good walking and connect to the South West Coast Path. The accent to the east of the town is steep but offers spectacular coastal views. Sailing and fishing trips are also available in the area. Sidmouth is located on the famous Jurassic Coast - the red sandstone cliffs date from the Triassic era, around 250 million years ago. 

Sidmouth was at one time a fishing village and port but trade was poor and the fishing fleet moved elsewhere. In the early nineteenth century Sidmouth became popular as a seaside resort and attracted many wealthy patrons. It was at this time that many of the fine houses were built along the seafront many of these are now hotels. The most notable of these is now the Royal Glen Hotel; which has royal connections. 

          Sidmouth beach                               Regency buildings                                       Beer

Branscombe

Branscombe, Devon is a small village that nestles in a valley that sweeps down to the sea at Branscombe Mouth around 4 miles east of Sidmouth. Branscombe hit the headlines in early 2007 when the MSC Napoli, a 63,000 ton freighter was beached just offshore of Branscombe beach. The freighter got into trouble in a storm in the English channel and was beached while being towed to Portland harbour. A great deal of flotsam and jetsam was washed up on the beach in the days following the beaching and crowds flocked there in the hope of finding some valuable booty. We are glad to say that after an initial slow and chaotic start the clean-up has gone well, such that by May 2007 most of the debris has been removed and the beach was opened to the public again in early May. There is little sign of the mess that appeared on TV and in the press four months ago. 

The Napoli is still stuck fast on rocks about half a mile offshore but most of the containers have been removed, as has most of the fuel oil. There are still a few diggers on the beach and a couple of small boats still patrol the area but the car park is open and the cafe is doing a great trade with the many visitors who still come to view the wreck. Much of the land around Branscombe is owned by The National Trust and the South West coast Path runs along here - go east to Beer, around two miles or west to Sidmouth, around four miles. The hike up the cliffs is quiet tough as they rise 450 feet above the beach! You can go along the beach - but check the tides and you need to come up at some stage. And yes they do sell beer in Beer - so you can sit and admire the view in a beer garden overlooking the beach! 

What to see in Sidmouth and Seaton

Sidmouth Folk Week - see website for details - www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre -  Ham Lane, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8XR. Telephone: (01395) 516441

Seaton Tramway - Take a tram trip along this picturesque route.

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens - Bicton Park, Bicton, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BJ Tel: 01395 568465

< Seaton and Beer Guide                                                                Budleigh Salterton Guide>

Other sections of the guide you might also enjoy - see below.

Activities

Whether your idea of an ideal activity is sunbathing or you prefer something more strenuous, the  chances are that you will be able to pursue this at the coast. There is a wide selection of activities that can be found on our coastline - these range from a gentle stroll to the next bay, to swimming and snorkelling, to more energetic activities such as sailing, surfing, windsurfing and kite sailing. See Activities section.

Attractions - see listings pages

A huge selection of attractions are available within the coastal area and this section will have details of many of them. From piers and harbours to fun fairs and roller coasters, the listings will have details of what's available in your chosen area. For details of attractions look in the resort pages. 

 The National Lobster Hatchery - Padstow

Pubs, restaurants and shopping guide

The listings section will also have details of pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and shops available in the locality. Restaurants and shops coming soon.....

                                                                                                                                            The Beach Pub - Exmouth

Features

We will bring you feature  articles  about the coastline and  news items about life in the coastal area. contributions to this section are welcome.

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