South West Coast Path: Exmouth to Lyme Regis - 5 Days

Arrive in the seaside town of Exmouth, where the river Exe meets the English Channel. Exmouth is a lively coastal town in East Devon, known as the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast. It’s one of the oldest seaside resorts in the UK, popular since the 18th century for its long sandy beaches, mild climate, and scenic seafront promenade. The town itself has a relaxed, traditional feel, with Victorian architecture, gardens, independent shops, and a growing food scene. Exmouth is easily reached from nearby Exeter by regular train services running alongside the estuary. Trains run frequently and take around 30 minutes. Exeter itself is well connected to London Paddington via Great Western Railway, with direct services taking just over two hours. This makes Exmouth a convenient and picturesque starting point for exploring the Jurassic Coast. Accommodation: Overnight in a welcoming small hotel.

Your hike today follows a spectacular 12-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path, combining dramatic red sandstone cliffs, sweeping sea views, and fascinating geological features. The route traces the River Exe estuary and Exmouth Beach, passing the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clock and Maer Rocks before reaching Orcombe Point—marked by the Geoneedle sculpture, unveiled by Prince Charles in 2002 to mark the start of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The path climbs above a holiday park and golf course before descending into Budleigh Salterton, a charming seaside town with a long shingle beach and access to the Otter Estuary, a haven for waders like curlew and redshank. From here, the trail continues past Chiselbury Bay and Ladram Bay, where sandstone sea stacks rise from the water—remnants of the Triassic period some 220 million years ago. The final section offers fine viewpoints from High Peak and Peak Hill before arriving in the elegant Regency resort of Sidmouth. If you'd prefer a shorter walk, regular local buses connect Budleigh Salterton with both Exmouth and Sidmouth, making it easy to tailor the route to suit your time or energy. Accommodation: Overnight in a local hotel with comfortable facilities close to the sea.

Starting from Sidmouth’s elegant seafront, backed by regency buildings and bookended by towering red cliffs, the path quickly climbs Salcombe Hill for sweeping views across the Jurassic Coast towards Budleigh Salterton and Sandy Bay. The trail undulates steeply, dipping down to the remote shingle beach at Salcombe Mouth before rising sharply over Dunscombe Cliff. From here, the path drops again to Weston Mouth, another secluded beach accessible at low tide. Continuing over a steep ascent, the trail levels out and heads towards Branscombe, one of Devon’s prettiest villages, with thatched cottages and a beach café —making it a great rest stop. Beyond Branscombe, walkers can choose a high cliff-top route with panoramic views, or a lower path that skirts the edge of a holiday park, both converging at Beer Head. From this exposed promontory, the views stretch west to Sidmouth and east towards Seaton. A gentle descent leads to Beer, a charming fishing village nestled between white chalk cliffs, with traditional boats drawn up on its shingle beach and a good choice of pubs and cafés. Accommodation: A friendly local B&B in the village.

Starting from the pebble beach in Beer, the trail climbs gently up white chalk cliffs—an unusual sight for South Devon—and curves along to the edge of Seaton Bay. From here, the path drops to beach level, offering a low-tide walk along shingle into Seaton. Watch as the cliffs shift from chalk to the classic Devonian red sandstone, a visible transition through millions of years of Earth’s history. In Seaton, there are plenty of cafés and shops for refreshments before continuing along the promenade. The path crosses the River Axe at Axmouth via the old road bridge before turning inland through a golf course and rejoining the cliff edge. From this vantage point, the views back to Beer are impressive. Soon after, the trail enters the Axmouth–Lyme Regis Undercliff Nature Reserve—a dense, otherworldly forest formed by a massive landslip in 1839. This 6-mile stretch is remote and often muddy. It’s wild, atmospheric walking, with limited views but a sense of being completely removed from civilisation. Eventually, the trail emerges above Lyme Regis, dropping down to the famous Cobb harbour.

Tour arrangements end after breakfast. You can spend further time exploring Lyme Regis independently (ask our team about adding extra nights). To return to London from Lyme Regis, take a local bus to Axminster —a 25 minute journey—then catch a South Western Railway train to London Waterloo, which takes around 2 hours 45 minutes with hourly departures.