Seaton Circular via Beer and Branscombe with new extension – and a lovely heritage tramway

Length of walk: 8.6 miles

Toughness: 7/10

Main walk: A lovely walk along the beach from Seaton seafront heading west.   You walk along the Seaton esplanade, and then drop onto the beach and continue  until you come to steps which take you to the cliff top (passing a tearoom on the right with great views out to sea). 

Note: If the tide is high along the beach in Seaton, you can take the steps up from the end of the Esplanade next to a tea room. It is signposted ‘Coast Path Inland Route for high tides’ and it will take you to the cliff top from where you can continue the walk.

Route continues along the shady path and down to Beer (more refreshments) and then onto Branscombe beach which has a bar (The Sea Shanty Beach Café open 9am to 4.30) serving snacks, meals and drinks and facilities for refilling water bottles.   From here we turn inland walking past streams and the Manor Mill now grinding animal feed (open to public Wed and Sun only) through the picturesque village of Branscombe, and climb up through woodlands, around fields back to Seaton. 

There is a new extension (courtesy of Thomas G) which goes initially along the coast, then inland through a couple of scenic coombes, and past a very remote pub in Street. This adds 3.9 km and 129m ascent/descent.

Options 2 and 3 can be done on other days if you wish.

Travel:  Meet at the bus stop by the Clocktower, Marine Parade on the Lyme Regis seafront.  Bus 378 departs at 9.25am or Holmbush Carpark (west bound) at 9.26.  Journey is about 25 minutes long.  Get off at Seaton seafront.

Return buses from Seaton to Lyme Regis:  Bus378 at 13.35; 15.05 and 17.10 from Seaton seafront.

For details of map, GPX etc, click here:  https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/seaton-circular-via-branscombe/

Elevenses/Lunch/Tea:  There are plenty (maybe too many) options for stopping for tea, icecream etc on this route. 

The Mason’s Arms in Branscombe – a pretty thatched roofed inn.  https://www.masonsarms.co.uk/

The Fountainhead pub, in Street, on the extension route - https://thefountainheadinn.co.uk/pub-food-menus-branscombe/

Swimming opportunities in Beer and Branscombe.

Things to see and do around Branscombe:

Forge

The working forge was built in the 18th century and is believed to be the oldest in Devon. Simon Hall is the resident blacksmith.  Opening times: TBC 01297 680481

Watermill

A restored, working, 19th-century watermill. Open every Sunday and Wednesday afternoon from 06 April until late October. No admission fee.

Bakery (with tearoom)

A stone-built thatched building, previously the village bakery, with an original collection of baking equipment. 

Closed Sun, Mon, Tues.  Other days open 10-4.

Closed

 

Options for the Seaton Circular walk:

Option 1: You can do a longer version of the return walk to Seaton from Branscombe after lunch.  This extension is marked on the GPX and will add about 2 miles to the walk back to Seaton seafront.  Please be mindful of the last bus from Seaton back to Lyme Regis

Option 2: Once you return to Seaton you can continue the walk to Lyme Regis along the Undercliff (landslip). 7 MILES back to Lyme Regis from Seaton so please time this carefully.   

This is a very lovely but steeply undulating walk above the sea, under a dense green forest canopy with glimpses of the sea.  Many steps have been laid along this route, making this walk somewhat less challenging than it used to be.  Please be aware, once on this path you cannot get off (cliffs on one side and sea on the other. 

Directions to get onto the Undercliff path from Seaton seafront:  From the Seaton seafront, continue walking along the Esplanade eastwards.  Turn left into Trevelyan Road, and then right into Harbour Rd.  Walk over Axmouth Bridge and curve left with the road.  You can then pick up the SWC route/map/gpx for this Undercliff extension which you will find here:  https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/seaton-to-lyme-regis-via-the-undercliff/

 Option 3 for Sightseeing on the Seaton Tramway

For those who don’t want to walk today, or only want a short walk, there is a lovely little tramway which covers 3 miles of unspoilt countryside along the beautiful Axe Valley.  It’s a narrow gauge heritage tram running between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton through River Axe estuary and two nature reserves along the river.  The trams are usually open topped so you can get a really good view of the surroundings. The Tramway station is located 5 minutes from the bus stop on the Esplanade near Tesco Superstore.

Details for the tram are here: https://www.tram.co.uk/.

T=swc.452

 #2026-06-27T09:25