SIDMOUTH · EAST DEVON · JURASSIC COAST
Red cliffs, sea air,
and time well spent.
Where the green hills of East Devon fall into the sea. A Regency town, a mile of unhurried Esplanade, and England’s World Heritage coastline.
A town that has been welcoming visitors for two hundred years.
Sidmouth found fame in the Regency era, when the fashionable came for sea air beneath the red sandstone cliffs. Little of that ease has been lost. The Esplanade still curves for a gentle mile; the tide still turns the same deep terracotta against the shingle.
Behind the seafront, independent shops and tearooms fill the streets, the River Sid runs green through the Byes, and the South West Coast Path climbs away in both directions towards some of the finest views in the country.
185
Million years of Jurassic Coast geology
95
Miles of World Heritage coastline
1819
Royal visit to Regency Sidmouth
ALONG THE COAST, WEST TO EAST
Follow the shore, headland to headland
From the gardens above Jacob’s Ladder to the climb up Salcombe Hill, the whole town sits between two headlands and the cliffs beyond.
WEST · CONNAUGHT GARDENS
Clifftop gardens & sunset
Begin above the town at Connaught Gardens and Jacob’s Ladder, where the light softens over Lyme Bay and the day slows to the pace of the tide.
CENTRE · THE ESPLANADE
The seafront & town
A mile of Regency frontage, fishing boats drawn up on the shingle, independent shops a street back, and cream teas taken without hurry.
EAST · SALCOMBE HILL
The climb & the view
Cross the River Sid and climb for the classic view back over the town, then on toward the wild eastern cliffs.
PLACES TO STAY
Tonight’s sea view, arranged
A hand-picked selection of Sidmouth hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. The Expedia and Booking.com links take you to those sites; we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
SPA HOTEL
Harbour Hotel & Spa
Manor Road, Sidmouth
Four-star hotel and spa with indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and a steam room.
SPA HOTEL
The Victoria Hotel
The Esplanade, Sidmouth
Edwardian grandeur, landscaped gardens and the Source Spa with indoor and outdoor pools.
COASTAL HOTEL · ADULTS ONLY
The Belmont Hotel
The Esplanade, Sidmouth
Balconies over Lyme Bay, a resident pianist at dinner and free use of the spa next door.
SEAFRONT HOTEL
The Elizabeth
The Esplanade, Sidmouth
Seafront hotel on the Esplanade with a restaurant, bar and lift.
SEAFRONT HOTEL
Royal York & Faulkner
The Esplanade, Sidmouth
Esplanade hotel with a spa, sauna and steam room, plus a restaurant and coffee house.
TOWN HOTEL
The Woodlands Hotel
Station Road, Sidmouth
Boutique rooms in gardens six minutes from the sea, with parking for every room.
Booking with a property. Select Sidmouth does not take bookings or payments. Any booking you make is a contract between you and the property concerned, not with Select Sidmouth. Read the booking disclaimer.
THE SETTING
A town held between hill and sea
From the clifftops, Sidmouth reveals itself all at once: the tight streets of the old town, the long line of the Esplanade, and the red cliffs marching away toward the horizon. It is a rare thing, a seaside town that has kept its scale.
WALKS
Boots on, phone away
Three of the most popular routes on OS Maps, from a short hill-and-valley loop to a full day on the coast. See all eight walks.
01
MODERATE
River Sid and Soldier’s Hill
About four miles with plenty of variety: the Sid valley and the climb over Soldier’s Hill.
6.0 km / 3.7 miles
About 1 hr 50 min
OS Maps route
Download PDF map
02
MODERATE
Sidmouth to Weston Mouth and The Donkey Sanctuary
East along the Coast Path past high red cliffs, inland to The Donkey Sanctuary, and back through Salcombe Regis and The Byes.
12.0 km / 7.5 miles
About 3 hr 50 min
OS Maps route
Download PDF map
03
MODERATE
Peak Hill, Ladram Bay and Otterton
Over Peak Hill and High Peak to the red sandstone stacks of Ladram Bay, then a gentle loop around the Otterton peninsula.
17.1 km / 10.6 miles
About 5 hr 20 min
OS Maps route
Download PDF map
Walk safely. These routes are for general guidance only. Paths, cliffs and conditions change, landslips occur on this coast and diversions may be in place. You walk at your own risk: carry an OS map, check the tides and weather, and follow local signage. Select Sidmouth accepts no liability for any loss, injury or damage arising from use of these routes. Read the full safety notes.
SIDMOUTH IN PICTURES
See it before you see it
SPECIAL OFFERS
Good timing, rewarded
Offers posted directly by member businesses.
ACCOMMODATION
Midweek and seasonal stays
Member hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs post their latest deals here. Check back soon for this season’s offers.
Offers from Select Sidmouth members
FOOD AND DRINK
Dining offers
Set menus, early suppers and afternoon tea offers from local cafés, pubs and restaurants.
Offers from Select Sidmouth members
EXPERIENCES
Days out and activities
Offers on activities, attractions and experiences in and around Sidmouth.
A member? Send us your offer
Booking with a property. Select Sidmouth does not take bookings or payments. Any booking you make is a contract between you and the property or business concerned, not with Select Sidmouth. Please check prices, availability and terms directly with the provider. Terms and Conditions.
STAY IN TOUCH
First to know, first to book
One considered email a month: new offers, festival dates, and the quiet best of what’s on. No noise, and you can leave any time.