The picturesque seaside town of Sidmouth nestles beneath majestic Triassic red cliffs and the green hills of the glorious Sid valley. As with many settlements along this part of the coast, it originally developed as a fishing village, but a lack of shelter in the bay has prevented its growth as a port.
The town saw considerable development as the popularity of seaside resorts grew during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are many fine villas and mansions dating from this period which help give the town a charming, timeless feel; many of these have now been converted into hotels. The wide promenade has also been a prominent seafront feature since the Regency period.
The clean waters of the beach at Sidmouth are a popular location for swimming and a variety of watersports including sailing and windsurfing, and Jacob’s Ladder beach is particularly popular with families. Jacob’s Ladder itself is a wooden staircase leading from the beach up to Connaught Gardens in the cliffs above. From here you can enjoy wonderful views of the surrounding coastline.
How to Get There
Bus services to Sidmouth run regularly from Exeter and Honiton. The nearest railway station is at Honiton, with services running west to Exeter and east to Salisbury and London. By road, the A375 connects Sidmouth with the A3052 at Sidford. You can also visit Sidmouth on a day trip from Exmouth with Stuart Line Cruises.
Car Parking & Facilities
Visit Sidmouth Town Council's website for up-to-date parking information. Sidmouth's seafront walkway makes it an easily accessible Jurassic Coast destination.
Things to See and Do
Sidmouth Museum
Sidmouth Museum contains rare fossils of reptiles and amphibians from the Triassic period, 235 million years ago, and is well worth a visit. Noteworthy specimens include the remains of the Rhynchosaur, a curious herbivorous reptile.
In 2022, Sidmouth Museum and the Jurassic Coast Trust collaborated on a special exhibition of Triassic fossils from the local area as part of the World Heritage Site’s 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Stuart Line Cruises
One of the best ways to observe the Jurassic Coast is from the unique perspective of the sea. Stuart Line Cruises offer regular Jurassic Coast Cruises from Exmouth during the summer months, as well as a selection of short bay cruises and day trips, landing on Sidmouth seafront.
During the summer, Stuart Line Cruises also run a Day Trip from Exmouth to Sidmouth, dropping passengers onto the beach where they can spend approx. three hours ashore before returning to Exmouth by boat.
This trip combines a Jurassic Coast Cruise with a lovely day in Sidmouth, where passengers are encouraged to explore the town's independent shops, cafes and botanical gardens.
Walks Around Sidmouth
The South West Coast Path from Sidmouth offers a stunning walk west to Peak Hill, Ladram Bay and onwards to Otterton Point and Budleigh Salterton. To the east is Salcombe Hill, Branscombe and Beer, where Cretaceous chalk cliffs emerge from amongst the towering natural structures of the Triassic period.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
At Sidmouth Museum you can see rare reptile fossils and amphibian bones which have been found on the beaches, including the remains of the Rhynchosaur, a curious herbivore reptile.
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