Rosamunde Pilcher Country: East Devon on Screen
Part of our days-out series for visitors based in Sidmouth who want to explore further afield.
For millions of viewers in Germany, a Sunday evening has long meant a Rosamunde Pilcher film: sweeping coastline, a family secret, a handsome old house and a happy ending. The ZDF series, adapted from the Cornish-born novelist’s stories, has done more than entertain. It has sent generations of German visitors to the south-west of England to see the scenery for themselves.
Sidmouth sits in the middle of that landscape. Here is what the series is, where in Devon it was filmed, and how to plan a visit if you are following in its footsteps.
A series that became a tourist attraction
Rosamunde Pilcher wrote novels and short stories set largely in Cornwall and the English countryside. Her best-known novel, The Shell Seekers, found a wide readership in Britain and abroad. In Germany, the broadcaster ZDF turned her stories into a long-running series of feature-length television films, shown on Sunday evenings. Sources describe more than 100 films, although one German site counts an 89-part series, so we have avoided quoting a single total here. One travel source reports audiences of as many as seven million.
The effect on tourism was recognised officially. According to the South West Coast Path Association, the director Dr Claus Beling and Rosamunde Pilcher received the British Tourism Award in 2002 for the films’ influence on visits to the region.
Most filming was in Cornwall, with Devon close behind
The films are best known for their Cornish settings, but Devon appears too. German fan sites that list the filming locations include, in East Devon and nearby: Exeter, Ottery St Mary, Budleigh Salterton, Beer and Branscombe. Further along the South Devon coast, Dartmouth and Brixham also feature.
A note on accuracy: we have not found Sidmouth named as a filming location in any of the sources we checked, and we do not want to claim it was. What Sidmouth offers is a handsome Regency seafront, red cliffs and a position on the Jurassic Coast, within easy reach of the nearby places that were used. For fans of the series, it makes an excellent base.
Places to visit from Sidmouth
Beer and Branscombe are a short drive along the coast, with pebble beaches, fishing boats and cliff paths. Budleigh Salterton and Ottery St Mary are also within easy reach, and Exeter is a natural day out for the cathedral and the quay. Check opening times and access before you travel, because some locations are private homes or working harbours.
Plan your stay
Whether you want a seafront hotel, a guesthouse or a holiday park, you can compare places to stay on our Unterkünfte page. This site is available in German, and the language switcher is at the top of the page.
Filming locations are taken from published fan and travel sources and may not be complete. If you know of a Sidmouth connection to the series, we would be glad to hear from you.