Exmouth Seafront

Exmouth is in Devon. Exmouth is a seaside town situated where the Exe Estuary joins the sea. Exmouth is Devon’s oldest seaside resort and has a two mile long golden, sandy beach fronting the channel which attracts visitors and locals all year round. At the eastern end of the beach is the beginning of the Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site. The seafront is renowned for its fascinating rock pools, bird life and stunning views across the Exe Estuary. Exmouth has a wide range of facilities and a wonderful collection of independent shops, beautiful gardens, superb entertainment for all ages plus a wide variety of places to stay, eat and drink and has gradually built a reputation as the place to enjoy watersports, sailing, cycling, fishing, walking, eating out and the many spectacular special occasions the town has to offer. There is a full calendar of events such as the Medieval Christmas Cracker; The New Years Eve fancy dress celebrations, voted one of the UK’s top destinations in which to celebrate and Exmouth Arts Festival (end of May) which has developed over 17 years from a rich, burgeoning arts scene into the vibrant and all encompassing celebration it is today, drawing it’s audience from far and wide. Another regular occasion is the Velo Vintage cycle parade; an eccentric affair, complete with penny farthings, tweed and theatrical, handlebar moustaches! The town centre piazza style, Strand Gardens, which have recently undergone a 3 million makeover, is the ideal place to watch the world go by. Once the sun has gone down you can watch the stunning light display around the war memorial as you enjoy a coffee or cocktail al fresco in the cafe quarter. Exmouth has also benefited from the completion of the South West Coast Path, Exe Cycle Trail and an explosion of water sports, from waterskiing to kite surfing, body-boarding and sailing (Steph Bridge, five times world champion Kite Surfer is a resident). The town is surrounded by the wooded, rolling hills of Woodbury Common and is a fantastic base to explore this part of Devon's countryside and coast with many charming, quaint towns and villages nearby.

Get in

By train

Exmouth is situated at the end of a branch from Exeter, Trains take about 20 minutes and operate every half hour (Mon-Sat Daytimes, less frequent evenings and Sundays)

• National Rail Enquiries, ☏ +44 8457484950. 

By bus

The 57 bus operates from Exeter Bus station
The 157 bus operates from Sidmouth
The 56 bus operates from Exeter Airport

• Traveline South West (Bus Timetable info), ☏ +44 8712002233. 0700-2200. 
• Stagecoach South West (Bus Company). 

By plane

The nearest airport is Exeter Airport, 11 miles away.

By car

Exmouth is about 15 minutes from the M5 Motorway, leave at Junction 30 and follow the A376, it's about 10 miles to Exmouth

See

• Exmouth Museum off Exeter Road, in Sheppards Row. Open Mornings, Mo to Sa 10.30-12.30. Afternoons, Tu, We, Th. 2.30 - 4.30. Closed Bank Holidays & Su. Closed from November for the winter.

• Exmouth is home to a functioning harbour, once a small fishing dock, now mostly used by pleasure craft and the occasional trawler.

Do

• Exmouth is a popular tourist destination due to its long, sandy beach. However, swimming is forbidden on a short stretch of the beach due to fast tidal currents.
• A modest range of tourist attractions are open during the summer season, including a small boating lake, miniature golf course, model railway and amusements arcade.
• Exmouth is one end of a long and pleasant coastal walk along the cliffs to Budleigh Salterton. The walk contains steep segments, though, and includes rough ground and stiles, so is not recommended for the frail.

Eat

The town centre, inland from the beach, has a range of restaurants, cafes, takeaways and pubs, and is busy at night. The beachfront has a few cafes and restaurants open during the day but just a couple of lower-end places open at night, when the beach is nearly deserted.

• The Grove's pub food is cheap and far from impressive, but the beer garden, across the road from the seawall, is pleasant enough on a warm evening.

Sleep

• Breken Guest House, 13 Morton Road (one block inland from the beach). One of a dwindling number of lower-end B&Bs in Exmouth, run by the effervescent Tonia. Basic rooms but has wifi, full breakfast, good location, interesting guests, and is cheap. £30pp. 

Go next

Littleham is a suburb about 3 miles east of Exmouth that retains a bit of its village atmosphere and quaint old buildings (including Castle Cottages, along Castle Lane to the east) and holds an annual Duck Race & Hog Roast in September.