Discover Sidmouth along East Devon’s Jurassic Coast
- Wayne Munday
- Jan 20, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Sidmouth is a picturesque Regency-era seaside town set within the Sid Valley on Devon’s Jurassic Coast, part of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Overlooking Lyme Bay and framed by Peak Hill and the striking red sandstone cliffs of Salcombe Hill, Sidmouth blends coastal charm with outstanding geology and landscape. The town is renowned for its elegant promenade, pebble beaches, classic hotels, and easy access to the South West Coast Path. Rich in Triassic geology, Sidmouth reveals evidence of ancient desert environments through its iron-rich red sandstones and foreshore rock formations. Whether visiting for coastal walks, boat trips, family attractions, or relaxed seaside stays, Sidmouth offers a timeless and rewarding coastal experience.
Sidmouth can be easily reached either from the west from Exeter or east from Lyme Regis via the A3052. From the North, Sidmouth is an approximately a ten mile drive south along the A375 from the A30 at Honiton.
Alternatively, Sidmouth can be also visited on a day trip by sailing from Exmouth Marina with Stuart Line Cruises or take their circular cruise of the Jurassic Coast departing and returning you from the pebbled beach in Sidmouth. Please visit their website for more information as times may vary throughout the year.
Sidmouth is also a waypoint along one the United Kingdom’s most famous National Trails if you would like to ramble and discover the South West Coast Path. The South West Coast Path offers the adventurous the reward of great views west to Ladram Bay and eastwards towards the cretaceous chalk cliffs of Salcombe Hill, Branscombe, and Beer.
Sidmouth is a regency period coastal town once visited by Queen Victoria and the Grand Duchess of Russia in 1831. Situated by the Triassic red cliffs of the Jurassic Coast it is best described by Poet Laureate, John Betjeman as, 'A town caught still in a timeless charm'.
The sea-front is largely made up of hand-sized pebbles above the shoreline. The geology of Sidmouth is of a red iron rich sandstone that indicates that Sidmouth was once a desert.
Images of Sidmouth on a relaxing Sunday morning in January 2022
Sidmouth is geologically an important area of the Jurassic Coast by providing excellent exposures of the Triassic, Mercia Mudstone and the junction for the Otter Sandstone Formation as seen in the foreshore Chit Rocks.
A prominent feature of Sidmouth is its seafront promenade lined with hotels, independent shops cafe's and restaurants. From the promenade looking east the town is dominated by the exposed rocks of Chapmans Rocks of Salcombe Hill Cliff and the distant Higher Dunscombe Cliff.
Turning about and now looking west the view beyond the promenade is Peak Hill and in the foreshore is Chit Rocks and above the the main hotel area where you find The Victoria, The Belmont and the Sidmouth Harbour Hotel.
One of Sidmouth’s largest family-friendly beaches is known as Jacob’s Ladder accessible by a series of wooden steps above the Chit Rocks leading down from Connaught Gardens. In the distance the furthest point of the beach is the Big Picket and Little Picket Rock.
It is also possible to walk around from own's main beach via the Millennium Way. At the other end of Sidmouth is the steep hilly view of Mutter's Moor famous for its nocturnal birds including the Nightjar.
Near to Sidmouth are the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary and World of Country Life award-winning attractions and good causes.
Map: OS Landranger 192 \ OS Explorer 115 Exmouth & Sidmouth (Digital OS Map)
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