Family winter beach walks in East Devon

Winter Beach Walks in East Devon 

Taking a winter walk is a great way to blow away the cobwebs and heading for the beach is one way to drag even the most reluctant walker away from the comfort of the sofa or some new gadget received for Christmas. East Devon has many great options for walks, Boxing Day and News Year Day are especially popular along the coast.

We are always grateful for a hot drink stop and appreciate those hard working staff who are there to serve much us a needed coffee or hot chocolate from the local cafes when we are lucky enough not to be working. If your café is open please feel free to make a comment below. In the winter most of our local beaches (and many cafes) are dog friendly as well.

So here is my round up of beach walks in East Devon from Axmouth to Sidmouth, including some practical tips for parking, cafes and toilet availability – with children it’s an important planning factor (who am I kidding, I need them as well)!

Food and Drink;

Chris’s Café which has outside covered seating is next to the fishing tackle shop. It opens early and usually closes by mid afternoon. Good for a cuppa and a bacon butty after your walk, check here for details. I forgot to ask but I think there is a loo in the fishing tackle shop.

Dog Friendly;

The beach at Axmouth is dog friendly all year round but you are requested to keep your dog on a lead until you have gone past the houses as this is a working fishing harbour and errant dog poos are not appreciated by the fishermen or café. Also if you have a dog that likes to chase birds then keeping them on a lead is advised, our dog was very close to jumping into the river over the harbour wall in pursuit of the seagulls!

There is a Saturday morning 3.1 mile Park Run (along the front) for anyone wanting a really energetic start to their weekend, open to any age (under 11s with an adult), any ability, run, walk or jog, but no dogs. It starts at 9am so you might want to avoid this time if you are just wanting a beach walk.

Parking;

You can take advantage of 2 hours free parking in Tesco or 1 hour Aldi. Alternatively choose one of the car parks or parking along the sea front. There are a few free one hour spaces on Harbour Road if you are lucky.

Cafes;

Lots of choice in Seaton for coffee stops.  The Hideaway Café at the end of the Esplanade is nice and dog friendly but there are also others to choose from in the town centre itself.  Pebbles Coffee Shop on the seafront roundabout is very dog friendly (lots of dogs when we went!).  Other popular cafes are on Harbour Road (parallel to the beach) and in the town,

Toilets;

As usual Tesco obliges here. There are decent public loos on the roundabout near Tesco and the Seaton Tramway as well as some less desirable ones on the Esplanade.

View from the coast path to Beer looking back across to Seaton 

Cafes;

Beer is quite a seasonal village so some café opening times may vary.  There are a number of good  pubs as well so plenty of choice.

There is a little play park and pretty public gardens on the cliff with stunning views of the beach.

Toilets;

Public loos just above the little playground.

No restrictions on the beach for dogs from 1st Oct – 30th April.

Parking;

Beer is not blessed with free parking – your best bet is to head down the high street and follow signs for the public car-parks and walk down to the beach.

If you are feeling energetic then there is a lovely South West Coast foot path section from Seaton Hole to Beer and back again up over the cliff through the gardens, about a mile each way.

Branscombe

This lovely village is tucked away down a step and winding road.  It’s very picturesque,  with two pubs and a National Trust property, a restored mill, forge and the Old Bakery Tearoom.  Please check the NT website more details.

Branscombe is worth the effort especially for walkers as there are number of footpaths in the area. Access to the beach is from the village centre. There is a footpath just opposite the village hall (less than a mile to the beach). To get closer with a car there is a private pay and display car park (with toilets) near the seafront,  next to the fabulous Sea Shanty Beach Café (open weekends and Bank Holidays 10am – 3.30pm in the winter).

As an alternative longer walk the South West coast path to Branscombe from Beer Head is lovely with stunning views and really worth the effort (there’s a large car-park at Beer Head).

Thank you to photographer Max Redwood for this ariel picture of Branscombe Beach and the header picture of Beer Beach

SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth is an attractive town with a variety of independent shops, cafes and hotels. The main town has an Esplanade alongside a pebble beach.  There is plenty of parking in the town.

However for walking the best beach is known locally as Jacob’s Ladder which is to the West of the main town.  A lovely beach with a mix of sand and shingle as well as rock pools at low tide.

Dogs are allowed on all parts of the beach from 1st October to the end of April and parts of the beach over the summer months.

There are pretty gardens overlooking the beach called Connaught Gardens with a nice café. From here reach the beach down the wooden steps (Jacobs Ladder). Alternatively you can access the beach from the road via an accessible path. For a longer, more strenuous walk head up the hill away from the town to Peak Hill.

Toilets;

Public loos in Connaught Gardens

Parking;

There is a Council pay and display car park at Manor Road, postcode EX10 8RR. You can access the beach from here.

Thank you to John Davis who is on Instagram as SurvivingSixty for this lovely picture of Sidmouth Beach