tripping out around lyme bay

The attractive seaside town of Seaton is situated in East Devon, midway between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis.

Situated at the mouth of the Axe estuary, Seaton was an important port for several centuries and it supplied ships and mariners in the time of Edward I, for his wars against Scotland and France. It was certainly known to the Phoenicians and the Romans. Shipbuilding became an important trade until the 1800's, and Henry Akerman was an Admiralty shipwright in 1804. An important salt industry existed in the tidal estuary for many centuries and dated from the iron age.

Seaton Museum
The museum can be found on the top floor of the Town Hall in Fore Street and is open Monday to Friday from 10.30a.m. to 12.30p.m. and 2.15p.m. to 5p.m., late May to October inclusive. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted.

The museum concentrates on the lower Axe Valley and also includes the adjacent villages of Beer, Axmouth, Branscombe, Colyton and Colyford. Seaton museum is well known for its excellent collection of old photographs of the area. These come mainly from the E.S.Gosling collection.
There are many other displays including; The Roman site at Honeyditches, The Natural History of the area and a display of Victorian costumes.

Devon's Unique Narrow Gauge Tramway
The Perfect day out. Enjoy superb views as you travel through a bird-watching paradise.
Discounts for families and groups. Wheelchair access by arrangement Drive a Tram! Lessons available. Annual Bus & Vintage Vehicle Rally - Sat. 8th June

2002 Opening Dates
Daily: 23rd March - 3rd November
Weekends: 9th - 30th November
Sundays: 1st - 22nd December

Pecorama
Family fun and Entertainment. Wonderful views across the bay from the flower filled gardens. Ride on the beer Heights Light Railway. High season entertainment from clowns and magicians. Crazy Golf Course and childrens play areas. Model Railway Exhibition and Peco Model Shop.
Millenniun Garden Project. Full Catering and Picnic facilities. Ample Free Parking Opening Times and days vary throughout the season.

For further information:
PECORAMA, Beer,
Seaton, Devon EX12 3NA
Tel: 01297 21542

Axmouth borders Axmouth estuary, created by the River Axe as it meets the sea, and separating Axmouth from Seaton. In Roman times, the river mouth was more than a mile wide. Now a wildlife haven of salt marshes and mud flats, and a providing small harbour for pleasure boats and fishing vessels.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
All along the river there are cormorants, herons, mullet, water voles and butterflies. From the bird-watching hides on the salt marshes, you can spot Little Egrets, Oystercatchers and even the firsat Avocet for over 5o years.

Sea Discovery Centre
All types of wierd and wonderful marine creatures from gian t crabs to seahorsese, baby sharks to conger eels ina year round aquarium. Find out abouth the smugglers of old and the unique marine fauna and flora which exists along this coast.

The Lyme Bay Winery
Here they combine tthe traditional skills of cider-making with modern production techniques to produce a range of ciders.

Cider apples start arriving from local farms in late September. Pressing continues until Christmas, and the apple juice slowly ferments to cider during the winter. After blending and maturing, it is ready for drinking the following summer.

The Lyme Bay Winery offers free Cider & Country Wine tastings throughout the year.
The Lyme Bay Winery, Shute, nr. Axminster, Devon, EX13 7PW
Telephone: 01297 551355
Fax:01297 551366

The popular fishing village of Beer has a long history, starting with the original Viking settlement.

Beer Quarry Caves

The guided tour lasts an hour, and the knowledgeable guides will explain the hardships of the quarrymen who, for centuries, carved huge blocks of stone using hand tools, working by the light of tallow candles which they had to buy from their employers! They will also show the remains of the secret Catholic chapel created in times of religious persecution, and tell the story of the dangers and disasters.
The caves are open daily from April to the end of September, with the first guided tour starting at 10am, and the last at 5pm. In October, the caves open from 11am daily, with the last tour at 4pm.

Branscombe, on the coast between Seaton and Sidmouth is one of the longest prettiest villages in England with its numerous delightful thatched cottages. The beach offers ample parking, a thatched, licenced restaurant  with secluded rock garden, and a shop with its own bakery.

The village boasts three National Trust properties - The Forge, The Old Bakery and Manor Mill.

To the East and West of the beach, rock pools emerge at low tides to provide a great adventure for children and the clean, clear sea is ideal for swimming. Mackerel fishing trips are available for hire. For those wishing to make Branscombe a base, high standard, self-catering chalet accommodation can be found right on the beach.

For centuries sea travellers have sought the protection of its ancient Cobb Harbour in Lyme Regis.

Visitors have enjoyed its dramatic location, congenial weather,  timeless charm and the hospitality of its townsfolk.

The delightful maze of steep, narrow streets with their interesting architecture, shops and cafes are as popular as ever. Well worth a visit.

John Betjeman saw Sidmouth as a feast of visual delight.The charm of Sidmouth is timeless, carefully nurtured and preserved to remain a constant pleasure.

To Betjeman it was beauty. To you it may be a floral extravaganza, a peaceful opportunity to unwind, an ideally situated base from which to explore, an adventure ground of limitless outdoor enjoyment. 

Donkey Sanctuary
Home to around 500 donkeys. Set in unpoilt farmland and countryside, visitors return time and again to mander among the donkeyys and absorb the serene and relaxing surroundings.
Open 365 days a year from 9.00am to dusk.
Admission free. Telephone 01392 578222

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens
Devon's most magnificent historic gardens, muse

Dorset's large simple liner storm beach
The Chesil Bank or Chesil Beach stretches 29 km (18 miles) from Bridport Harbour (West Bay) to Chesil (or Chesilton or Chiswell) Bay in the Isle of Portland. It is a very large simple linear storm beach connecting the so-called Isle of Portland to the mainland. It is an example of a tombolo and faces the storm waves driven by the prevailing south-westerly winds up the English Channel from the Atlantic Ocean.

The beach is linked to Portland at Chiswell and then north-westward it is backed for a stretch by Portland harbour and afterwards separated from the land by the 13 km of the Fleet lagoon.

Devon and Dorset roll up in to one countryside at Lyme Bay.

Wildlife & Bird Watching

Into Dorset
This is a land of small thatched cottages and quiet back roads and, without a large conurbation, Dorset is little changed in centuries.

The warmth of the local people with their curious dialect belies a certain turbulent past with memories of the 'Bloody Azzizes' of Judge Jeffreys and the ruins of Corfe Castle standing as spectacular reminders. The Purbeck hills that surround Corfe are both rugged and beautiful and stretch to a chalk-cliffed coast.

Historic house builders have left their distinctive marks at places like medieval Athelhampton, Cranborne Manor with its wonderful gardens and Sherborne Castle (home of Sir Walter Raleigh).


Into Devon
Devon: renowned for beautiful countryside, historic cities, sandy beaches and fresh air.

One of England’s best-known University and Cathedral cities. Exeter is the regional capital of Devon, the centre of the tourist region of the South West and only just over two hours by fast train from London and with regular direct buses from Heathrow airport.

If you think that the only places to learn English in England are London, Oxford and Cambridge then think again and think of Devon, in the South West of England, one of Britain's most beautiful counties.

National Trust Properties
There are nearby National Trust Houses at Killerton, Castle Drogo and Knightshayes Court. Further afield are the beautiful rolling hills of Dorset's Hardy Country.