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Situated at the mouth of the River Axe, overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Lyme Bay, Seaton offers a huge pebble beach, an extensive walled promenade, a pretty harbour and a pedestrianised town centre, with an attractive mixture of Victorian and Edwardian architecture.
Sheltered by the white cliffs of Beer Head and the red sandstone of Haven Cliff, this lively seaside town appeals to holidaymakers of all ages, with its beautiful public gardens, putting and bowling greens, tennis courts and a variety of interesting shops.
Seaton is also the home of the famous Electric Tramway, which runs alongside the Axe estuary, where Herons, Cormorants, Kingfishers and a wide variety of ducks and waders abound.
At the other end of the bay you can explore the rock pools at Seaton Hole or take the delightful cliff path to Beer. For those wishing to enjoy car-free days, Seaton is the focus of excellent bus services, taking you through pretty countryside to a wide variety of destinations.
There are dozens of lovely walks in the area, and if you are feeling really energetic the South West Coastal Path to Lyme Regis - via the famous 'Undercliff' nature reserve - will take you through some unique scenery.
A short journey west from Seaton is Beer, a charming fishing village. Nestling in a sunny valley, its soaring white cliffs forming both a sheltered cove for its fishing fleet and a sun trap for its visitors, Beer seems to smile out over the blue sea. Adults and children alike love to walk down the quaint main street, following the natural stream running down one side which passes pubs, restaurants and lots of unusual shops (including antiques), to the charming shingle beach.
Here you can hire a boat, swim in the clear sea (EEC recognised), enjoy a tasty snack - or simply sit in the sun and dream about the village's fascinating history.
For example, Beer has been famous since Roman times for its stone, used in such well-known buildings as Windsor Castle, the Tower of London and Exeter Cathedral.
In 1837, a Beer native and Devon's most notorious smuggler, Jack Rattenbury - by then retired as a law-abiding fisherman - published his memoirs, based on over 50 years of avoiding the excisemen.
Just two years later, the village's talented lace makers supplied £1,000 worth of trimmings for Queen Victoria's wedding dress. Once discovered, Beer is the sort of place holidaymakers return to year after year, for it cleverly combines all the charm of bygone days with all the modern comforts tourists have come to expect.
A favourite pastime is watching the fishermen landing their catches, and there are regular angling trips throughout the season, while in August, visitors are invited to join in the fun of Regatta Week, including the famous barrel rolling.
Popular attractions nearby include Beer Caves, where the stone was quarried, and Pecorama, based around fine miniature and model railways.
Use the map of Seaton & Beer below to zoom in or out to view directions or click the satellite button for an aerial view. For a larger version of this Seaton & Beer map Click Here.
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