Seaton to Seatown - Walk - South West Coast Path

14.1 miles (22.6 km)

Seaton - EX12 2LX Seatown

Moderate - Moderate

A walk of contrast awaits as you leave the town of Seaton behind and embark on a journey along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site through rich vegetation, over wild, crumbling cliffs and through pretty seaside settlements.

The Coast Path descends into the dense woodland of the Undercliff National Nature Reserve, which has some uneven terrain in parts. You will be enclosed for some hours with only occasional glimpses of the sea, but there is still plenty to look out for. The Undercliff, which is actually entirely formed from active coastal landslides, is humid and sheltered, providing a perfect habitat for ferns, fungi, orchids, wild clematis and many different insects.

After emerging into open fields, the Path enters the county of Dorset at Lyme Regis where you will find an attractive harbour, interesting shops and refreshments. Continue inland slightly before dropping back to the sea at Charmouth where you pick up the Monarch’s Way along the cliff top and over the spectacular Golden Cap to Seatown.

Route change from Lyme Regis Golf Club to Charmouth - June 2022 - Since Major cliff falls back in 2001 this part of the walk had been shown as a 'diversion' in the expectation that the Path could be reinstated along the cliff top. However, the ongoing instability of the cliffs has meant that this has not been possible, and so the Path has been routed inland and across the golf course. In 2022 a route was established with the permission of the golf course which allows walkers to follow a stone surfaced waymarked route avoiding the A3052. More details.

Highlights

The traditional seaside town of Seaton and the Seaton Marshes on the Axe Estuary which teems with birdlife, dragonflies and butterflies.
Visiting the Seaton Jurassic centre to discover more about the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
Crossing the Axe: the Axmouth bridge is the oldest surviving concrete bridge in England (can heritage get more exciting than this?).
Breathtaking views in all directions from the top of Haven Cliff
Crossing Goat Island - one of the geological wonders of the World Heritage Site. The 'island' was created in 1839 when an enormous section of cliff slid seaward taking with it wheat and turnip fields which were harvested the following summer. The island remains a plateau, that overlooks the rest of the Undercliff National Nature Reserve.
Walking through the thick woodland of the Undercliff National Nature Reserve, and looking out for foxes and roe deer that live in this 'wilderness'. A mixture of ash, hazel, beech, holm oak and sycamore provides a beautiful canopy for some hours. Depending on individual walkers, you can expect to be in the woods for between 2 and 4 hours and the only way out is to continue to Lyme Regis or retrace your steps back towards Seaton. A leaflet about the Undercliffs can be downloaded from here.
Emerging from the Undercliff into light, open fields and crossing the Devon Dorset boundary.
Crossing the dark clay Jurassic cliffs into Lyme Regis. The Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium is situated on the attractive, historic harbour, known as the Cobb, and the award winning Lyme Regis Museum is also worth a visit. Lyme Regis makes a good place to stop for lunch after a morning in the Undercliff and there are plenty of good places to eat and drink as well as a number of galleries and shops.
The view over Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Lyme Bay from Timber Hill.
Searching for fossils on the beach at Charmouth. Rapid erosion has resulted in thousands of Jurassic fossils being deposited on the beach, which is said to be one of the best places to search for fossils in the UK. You can find out about what to look for at the Heritage Coast Centre, which is free to visitors and situated right by the beach.
Picking up part of the Monarch’s Way which is based on the escape route taken by Charles II after the battle of Worcester in 1651.
The Golden Cap: at 626 ft (191 metres) above sea level, this is the highest point on the South coast of England with superb views in all directions, extending across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor and ahead to the Isle of Portland.
Sitting on the beach at Seatown and looking back to the impressive yellow sandstone of The Golden Cap.

Shorter option

Stop at Lyme Regis (7.1 miles, 11.4 km).

Longer option

Continue to West Bay (an additional 3 miles, 4.9 km).

Public transport

The nearest mainline train station in the cathedral city of Exeter. After a 10 minute walk or bus ride into the city centre, you can then catch one of the regular buses to Sidmouth or Seaton and then on to Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Chideock, which is just inland from Seatown. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the train station and bus stop symbols, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.