Exeter & East Devon

Towns & Villages

AXMINSTER

A lovely old market town surrounded by stunning scenery in the valley of the River Axe, Axminster’s name is now a byword for high quality carpets.


The weaver Thomas Whitty made hand-knotted carpets for wealthy clients, initially employing his own daughters to do the work, created the industry in the mid-18th century.


The industry was successfully revived, in a less exclusive form, in the 1930s.

Axminster - Photo: William Bartlett CCL

Axminster Church - Photo: Malcolm Etherington CCL

The oldest building here is the 13th century Church of St Mary the Virgin.


It boasts gargoyles, a Tudor porch, an effigy dated to the 12th century and, of course, a magnificent Axminster carpet.


Equally, the local museum has a section devoted to local carpet making as well as the town’s Saxon origins.

Nearby Forde Abbey dates to the early 12th century and was an important Cistercian monastery.

Forde Abbey - Photo: Chris Downer CCL

AXMOUTH

The Harbour Axmouth - Photo: Pam Goodey CCL

A picturesque seaside village with thatched cottages and an ancient harbour, Axmouth nestles in the Axe Valley and was once a thriving port whose inhabitants included bands of smugglers.

Home to the Sea Discovery Centre, its 12th century church contains rare 15th century depictions of Christ and St Peter.



Nearby, a local nature reserve has been created around a vast landslip that saw eight million tons of cliff top rock disappear into the sea on Christmas Day 1839.



The church at nearby Musbury contains a memorial to the Drake family.

Axmouth Church -
Photo: Dave Skinner CCL

BEER

Beer - Photo: Pam Goodey CCL

Situated on the so-called Jurassic Coast of southeast Devon, this old fishing village with a natural harbour and shingle beach has a history that dates back to the Romans.





For a long time it was a haven for smugglers who hid their booty in caves on Beer Head, the most westerly of the English Channel’s chalk cliffs.

The caves were later mined for stone and can be visited.




The stone was cut by hand into huge blocks and used in ecclesiastical buildings such as Westminster Abbey.




Nearby, the popular attraction ‘Pecorama’ offers model railways and trips on a miniature steam railway.

Chalk cliffs Beer - Photo: Val Vannet CCL

BRANSCOMBE

Branscombe Beach - Photo: Derek Harper CCL

The National Trust has restored a number of old local buildings, including a bakery and thatched smithy.





Nearby is the 16th century manor house of Cadhay.





Built by the lawyer John Haydon, it has been described as the finest Tudor house in Devon.

Cadhay House - Photo: Derek Harper CCL

BUDLEIGH SALTERTON

Budleigh Salterton - Photo: Andy Peacock CCL

A multi-faceted seaside resort that grew as a result of salt panning in the estuary of the River Otter, this picturesque Devon town lies in the shadow of spectacular cliffs.

It was while staying at a house near the beach that the 19th century artist Sir John Millais started his famous painting, ‘The Boyhood of Raleigh’, which is featured on the town’s sea wall.




The estuary itself is now a salt marsh and has become an important haven for wildlife and seabirds.

Otter Estuary Nature Reserve -
Photo: Mick Melvin CCL

CREDITON

Church of The Holy Cross Crediton -
Photo: Mike Crowe CCL

Lying in the valley of the River Credy, this former wool centre was the cathedral city of Devon until the 10th century.

Legend has it that Crediton was the birthplace of the 8th century Christian missionary St. Boniface who later became known as the Apostle of Germany.






His statue can be seen in the entrance of Crediton’s 15th century church.






His death and martyrdom are depicted in a stained glass window.

Medieval Clock - Photo: Mike Crowe CCL

CULLOMPTON

Cullompton - Photo: Martin Bodman CCL

A small market town sitting high above the River Culm, Cullompton is rich in orchards which supply produce for the region’ cider makers.



Several buildings date to the 17th century despite a fire that swept away much of the town in 1839.

Nearby, Coldharbour Mill Working Wool Museum was built in the late 18th century.











Powered both by a waterwheel and a steam engine, it has been transformed into a unique museum.

Coldharbour Mill -
Photo: Paul Stephens CCL

EXETER

No.1 Cathedral Close (once Mol's Coffee House) -
Photo: John Barrett CCL

An intimate and sometimes charming capital city, Exeter is particularly noted for its great Norman cathedral whose diamond-shaped close contains properties that hark back to the Middle Ages; Molls Old Coffee House, for example, was built in 1596.










The cathedral itself is a marvel of medieval stained glass and has a jaw-dropping vaulted ceiling.










The city centre had to be largely rebuilt after being bombed in World War 11 but it still has many reminders of its ancient past; the White Hart Hotel dates to the 14th century and other buildings have Tudor origins.

Guildhall - Photo: David Stowell CCL

Its 14th century Guildhall is one of Britain’s oldest municipal buildings and the Ship Inn is reputed to have been a favourite with local adventurer Sir Francis Drake.















Historic attractions include underground passages, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and the 11th century Benedictine priory of St Nicholas.

EXMOUTH

Exmouth is probably Britain's oldest seaside resort and sits at the mouth of the River Exe at the western end of the 95-mile World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

Exmouth - Photo: John Lucas CCL

Maer Rocks - Photo: Peter Jemmett CCL

It became a holiday destination back in the late 18th century when its visitors included the poet Lord Byron.









The beach runs for two miles.









Nearby attractions include the unique 16-sided house ‘A la Ronde’, owned by the National Trust, which contains an Aladdin’s Cave of objects and artefacts.

HONITON

A thriving market town, Honiton is famous for lace making, an industry that brought prosperity to local people for nearly 300 years until the 19th century.

Flemish immigrants had introduced the idea during the reign of Elizabeth 1.

Queen Victoria’s wedding veil was made of Honiton lace and hand-made lace is still produced here.

Honiton - Photo: Tony Atkin CCL

Honiton Town Museum - Photo: Tony Atkin CCL

Allhallows Museum is housed in the town’s oldest building, the 13th century Chapel of Allhallows, and boasts a largest collection of lace in the world.


The town now stages one of the biggest agricultural shows in the southwest and is also famous for its ‘hot pennies’ ceremony in which heated coins are thrown into a crowd of onlookers.


Nearby Hembury Fort is one of the finest Iron Age hill forts in Devon and offers panoramic views.

OTTERY ST. MARY

This ancient town was mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book.


Its famous medieval church was built as a miniature replica of Exeter Cathedral and it boasts a number of old buildings.


Each year local folk stage a Bonfire Night ceremony in which barrels of flaming tar are carried through the streets.

St. Mary's Church -
Photo: Stanley Walker CCL

East Hill Strips near Ottery St. Mary -
Photo: Kevin Hale CCL

Ottery’s vicarage was the birthplace in 1772 of the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who, no doubt, enjoyed its gloriously rural surroundings.



Nearby are the 220-acre Escot Gardens, Maze and Fantasy Woodland and the farm-based attraction of Farway Countryside Park.

POWDERHAM

This village is famous as the home of medieval Powderham Castle, family seat of the Earl of Devon.


Set on a beautiful estate on the Exe estuary, the 14th century edifice – greatly restored in the 18th and 19th centuries – has some magnificent rooms, an awe-inspiring staircase and a Victorian kitchen.


A herd of fallow deer wanders the grounds.

Powderham Castle -
Photo: Karen Courtenay CCL

SEATON

Seaton - Photo: GaryReggae CCL

Sheltered by paternal cliffs, this evocative seaside resort lies on east Devon’s stunning Jurassic Coast at the mouth of the River Axe.

It boasts a mile-long beach, a boat-filled harbour and a unique tramway that runs alongside the local estuary and overlooks bird-filled marshes.





The Axe Valley Heritage Museum has numerous exhibits that include photographs, archaeological finds and period costumes.

Trams at Seaton -
Photo: Chris Coleman CCL

SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth Seafront - Photo: Chris J. Dixon CCL

Sidmouth is the most popular seaside resort on east Devon’s magnificent coast and has managed to retain much of its old-world charm in spite of the crowds that annually invade its genteel streets.

The town lies in the picturesque Sid Valley, sandwiched between the cliffs of Salcombe Hill and Peak Hill.





It became fashionable in the 19th century and attracted luminaries such as the poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Shopping at Sidmouth -
Photo: Andy Peacock CCL

Sidmouth - Photo: Christine Matthews CCL

Later another poet, Sir John Betjemen, said it was a ‘feast of visual delight’.


Its Old Ship Inn dates to the 14th century and may well have been a watering hole for local smugglers.


Apart from the town’s main beach, Sidmouth is famous as the location of Jacob’s Ladder beach.

STARCROSS

With picturesque cottages adorning a narrow main street, Starcross is a large east Devon village on the estuary of the River Exe and is famous as the location of a tall tower that was originally a pumping station on Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s experimental Atmospheric Railway in the mid-19th century.



A pedestrian ferry runs between here and Exmouth during the summer.



Nearby is Powderham Castle

 
Pumping House Starcross -
Photo: Tony Atkin CCL

STOKE HILL

TIVERTON

John Heathcoat & Company -
Photo: Martin Bodman CCL

A former centre of cloth manufacture, this historic market town was transformed in the 19th century when entrepreneur John Heathcoat created a new textile industry based on lace.

The National Trust now owns the Victorian Knightshayes Court - built for his descendants, the Heathcoat-Amoury family -. It was the work of William Burges whose original designs of furniture and wall paintings are on show.








Exhibits in the town’s revamped museum include Heathcoat’s first lace-making machine as well as clocks, dolls, lace-making machinery, farm equipment and old photographs.








Reminders of Tiverton’s once-mighty past include the evocative remains of its 11th century castle and a tower in pink sandstone on St Peter’s Church.

St. Paul's Church -
Photo: Grant Sherman CCL

TOPSHAM

Bridge Inn - Photo: Mike Crowe CCL

Lying on the eastern bank of the Exe estuary, Topsham was an important coastal port serving Exeter until, in the 19th century, large steam ships found they needed deeper water.

It is now a convivial seaside resort that attracts both artists and birdwatchers.


The oldest properties include the ancient Bridge Inn and a row of Dutch-style houses dating to the 1700s.


Topsham’s splendid museum is housed in a group of 17th century buildings that overlook the beautiful Exe Estuary.

The Strand - Photo: Derek Harper CCL

UPOTTERY

Upottery - Photo: Martin Bodman CCL

Lying on the banks of the River Otter, Upottery is a small, pretty town nestling in the idyllic surroundings afforded by the beautiful Otter Valley.

WOODBURY

Birthplace of the 17th century sculptor Nicholas Stone and home to a splendid 15th century church, this traditional village lies close to beautiful Woodbury Common, which overlooks the coast, and an Iron Age hill fort known as Woodbury Castle.

Woodbury Church -
Photo: David Smith CCL

Fairlynch Museum - Photo: Ian Woolger CCL

Nearby Fairlynch Museum is housed in a thatched building and was erected in the early 19th century.


It has a turret from which its original owner could watch the progress of cargo ships.


Another local attraction is the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens.


Not far away is East Budleigh – birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1552.