You’ll find dozens of beaches along the southern coastline within an easy driving distance of The Devon Hotel in Exeter, so you can enjoy a leisurely day at the beach with no rushing.
Sidmouth is renowned for its clean air, beautiful pebble beach and calm waters. It’s a refined town with a stunning promenade and sweeping views out to sea. In the summer months, the Sidmouth Town Band holds an evening concert every Sunday playing beautiful brass band music - a wonderful way to end the day. Sidmouth is also home to two of our finest sister hotels, the elegant Belmont Hotel and the grand Victoria Hotel in which Devon Hotel guests have complimentary use of the heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools and spa facilities.
If you want wide swathes of soft sand then Exmouth is perfect. Part of the incredible Jurassic Coast, Exmouth is a beautiful and very popular seaside resort. You can lounge on the sand and soak up the rays, go for a walk along the cliffs or if you’re feeling adventurous try your hand at a huge range of water sports.
Just a few miles along the coast from Exmouth is the picturesque town of Budleigh Salterton. Situated at the mouth of the River Otter, Budleigh offers a quiet beach day, with its pebbly beach and safe waters making it ideal for a refreshing swim. Be sure to enjoy a stroll along the estuary as it’s a breeding site for migratory birds and other important wildlife.
Moving further along the coast you’ll come to Beer situated on Lyme Bay. Sheltered by the craggy mass of Beer Head, this beach is still home to an active fishing community with the boats drawn up on the beach due to the lack of a harbour. If you want to get in on the action there are mackerel fishing trips throughout the day, or you can hire boats by the hour. If you fancy getting out of the sun for a bit then be sure to visit the Beer Quarry Caves, which was a working quarry from Roman times until 1920.
Of course, if you want to venture further, Devon is the only county to have two separate coastlines and the north coast has its own distinctive charm.
Learn more about North Devon Beaches.
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