Quieter than the resorts on the west of Exeter, this is a delightful corner of Devon to explore. Inland it is rolling Devon hills, along the coast Victorian and Regency resorts
| Axminster | Carpet weaving, introduced in 1755, has made Axminster a household name. Although the original factory is now, strangely, the Conservative Club, there is still a carpet factory in the town, which can be visited. |
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| Axmouth | This is a pretty village, on the estuary of the River Axe. To the east of the village is the site of a six mile landslide - in 1839 something like 800 million tons of rock slid into the sea. |
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| Beer | Once a fishing village inhabited by smugglers, now a pretty little Devon village. There is a good walk along the cliffs to Branscombe, Devon. Local quarries produced the stone for Exeter Cathedral |
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| Branscombe | Just inland from the sea, cottages of cob and thatch, with roses growing round their doors, made it a very pleasant village. There is an old Norman church. The National Trust own much of the land round here, including the village Bakery and Forge that can be visited to see the traditional way of doing things. |
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| Budleigh Salterton | The name comes from "salt panning" that once took place here. The resort grew in Victorian times on the popularity of the area with the royal family. It is now a quiet resort, backed by red sandstone cliffs, and fronted by a long pebble beach |
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| Cullompton | A market town on the River Culm, which is the centre of apple growing for Devon cider. The town is mainly Victorian - following a major fore in 1839. Though a few Georgian buildings have survived |
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| East Budleigh | Best known now as the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh - who was born at Hayes Barton, a Tudor building one mile west of the village. Raleigh's father was a church warden in the 12th century church. |
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| Exmouth | Developed as a resort in the 18th century, as the long sandy beaches attracted the inhabitants of Exeter. There are interesting houses in the Beacon, a street where Lady Nelson once lived. Also in the town in the curious Nation Trust owned house A La Ronde built in 1796 |
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| Exeter | Now bypassed by the motorway, Exeter is worth
a visit. It was the Romans most westerly stronghold in Britain. The Saxons,
Vikings, Normans, Plantagenats, Royalists and Jacobites all left a mark
on the city.
The heart of the city is the cathedral, with its twin Norman towers, and worth visiting while you are in Exeter are the Guildhall (Saxon origin), the Maritime Museum, the Cathedral Close. In addition there are the "Underground Passages" which brought water the medieval city, you can descend into these passageways and take a guided tour |
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| Honiton | Famous for its Honiton Devon lace, though this is not any more a mainstay of the town. The wide High Street, is straight as an arrow (cos it was built on a Roman road) and is lined with harmonious Georgian buildings (the town was completely rebuilt in the 18th century). Visit the Old Pannier Market and the Allhallows Lace Museum |
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| Otterton | Another of those very pretty Devon villages with cob and thatch. It has a restored working watermill that grinds corn and has various craft displays |
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| Ottery St Mary | Charming small town on the River Otter, with
a very large parish church (built in 1340,modelled on Exeter Cathedral).
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born here in 1772 - his father was vicar of
the church.
Just outside the town is Cadhay, built in 1540 in Tudor style by a successful lawyer. It was Georgianised in the 17th century. The house contains much fine furniture, and is open to the public. |
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| Seaton | Developed in the 19th century, Seaton has many Victorian buildings, and a wide shingle beach. The thing to do in Seaton is to take a ride on the Seaton Electric Tramway to Colyton, along the Ax estuary. It is a very scenic journey, and Colyton, with its narrow streets and Georgian houses, is well worth exploring in its own right |
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| Sidmouth | Royal Regency patronage developed Sidmouth as a resort. The result is wonderful Regency architecture, with wrought iron balconies and lots of colourful gardens. It has managed to avoid the brasher effects of tourism, and remains a dignified resort today |
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