Budleigh Salterton is a tranquil and historic seaside town located midway between Exmouth and Sidmouth. Situated within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it nestles on the edge of a pebble beach beneath some of the Jurassic Coast’s most spectacular Triassic red sandstone cliffs.
Budleigh Salterton makes for a lovely visit, offers fantastic nearby walking opportunities, and is home to the fascinating Fairlynch Museum. Each September, it hosts the internationally renowned Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival.
How to Get There
Budleigh can be reached by regular bus services from Exmouth, Exeter and Sidmouth. The neighbouring town of Exmouth has a railway station which provides connections to London and the rest of the UK via nearby Exeter.
By car, Budleigh is best reached by turning at Newton Poppleford from the A3052 road, which runs from the outskirts of Exeter all the way to Lyme Regis, and provides a handy connection for many Jurassic Coast hot-spots.
Things to See and Do
A visit to Otterton Point makes for a dramatic combination of geology and ecology. Located at the eastern end of Budleigh Salterton beach, here you can see a small headland made from the distinctive red sandstone of the East Devon coast.
This point also marks the mouth of the River Otter, whose nearby estuary is a protected nature reserve. It is a popular gathering point for birds, with a bird hide available if you want to take a longer look.
The River Otter is also home to one of England's rare wild beaver colonies, part of an innovative reintroduction trial organised by Devon Wildlife Trust. Find out more about the programme and how you might be able to sneak a peak at these charismatic creatures.
The spectacular red cliffs directly to the west of Budleigh are home to some exquisite ancient fossils of plant roots, known as Rhizoconcretions. These plants formed on the banks of the rivers that once flowed through this area's mighty deserts in the Triassic Period.
Stuart Line Cruises
Stuart Lines Cruises are based in Exmouth, and their cruises regularly take in Budleigh Salterton and neighbouring Otterton Point. Stuart Line Cruises' trips offer stunning views of East Devon's red rocks (dating to the Triassic Period) accompanied by live commentary from their skipper. Their vessel is suitable for manual wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility.
Otterton Mill
The beautiful and historic Otterton Mill is a stone's throw from Budleigh and is well worth a visit. Featuring award-winning food accompanied by gorgeous views of the River Otter, the Mill has been in continuous use for over 1,000 years, making it one of the world's oldest businesses. The Mill also makes a brilliant base for walks in the Otter Valley, offering a short and scenic walk to Budleigh.
Fairlynch Museum
Fairlynch Museum is one of only a few thatched museums in the UK. Here you can find out about the ancient red cliffs of Budleigh Salterton, which bridge the Permian/Triassic boundary, when the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history took place!
You can also discover the story of the distinctive Budleigh Salterton pebbles (known locally as "Budleigh Buns"), and their long journey to locations as far away as Hastings.
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