Walk - Sidmouth: Coast & River

10.1 miles (16.3 km)

Muttersmoor Car Park - EX10 0NW Muttersmoor Car Park

Moderate - Generally easy going, but with one steep descent and one steep ascent.

Spectacular walk along the red cliffs of east Devon to the estuary at the mouth of the River Otter then following the river upstream before climbing out of the valley up onto Mutters Moor.

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Abele Tree House

Bed and Breakfast and 2 units of self catering accommodation within 150 metres of the South West Coast Path

The Lawns B&B

Spacious ensuite double rooms in a beautiful 1920s house situated on a peaceful no through road in the centre of Budleigh Salterton. Minimum stay is 2 nights.

Ladram Bay Holiday Centre

Tucked away in the picturesque countryside overlooking the historic Jurassic Coast, Ladram Bay is the Devon seaside holiday park with something for everyone.

Ladram Bay Holiday Park

Celebrating over 75 years of 5* family holidays, we offer the opportunity for visitors to join us for a day, holiday or holiday-home ownership.

Quentance Farm Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering

Halfway between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, our comfortable farmhouse offers local food,log fire and free wi-fi in the cosy guest lounge. Well behaved dogs welcome.

1 Chapel Mews

1 Chapel Mews is a luxurious, cosy and modern cottage in a quiet area of central Sidmouth, 180 paces from the SWCP.

9 Riverside

A beautiful, 3 storey terrace next to the river with 4 bedrooms (sleeps 8). Perfect located for easy access to the Path and town. 2 night stays available (check availability)
You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Wesley's

A cafe and community space in the heart of Budleigh Salterton, providing employment training for adults with learning disabilities

Dukes - Sidmouth Inn

Slap bang in the centre of Sidmouth’s world famous esplanade & community.Our all day offering has something for everyone – so whether you visit to eat, drink or stay.

Flapjackery Sidmouth

Stop off and treat yourself or stock up for your trip along the Path with these delicious, award winning, gluten free flapjacks in a variety of flavours. “Enjoy 10% Discount in store when you show your SWCP passport.
What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Budleigh Information Centre

Information Centre for Visitors to & Residents of Budleigh Salterton

Fifty Degrees Clothing

Ladies, Gents and Children's Lifestyle Clothing, Footwear, Hats, and Accessories, for all ages and all seasons.

Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre

The Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre is a valuable resource for visitors to Sidmouth, Devon, United Kingdom. Located at Ham Lane, Sidmouth EX10 8XR1

Ocean

Ocean Exmouth - Bowling, Soft Play, Dining & Events

Stuart Line Cruises

Family-run, award-winning boat trips operating from Exmouth throughout the year!

Exmouth Pavilion

Exmouth Pavilion is a stunning art-deco style venue situated directly on Exmouth seafront.

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

  1. From Mutter's Moor car park, cross the road and go through the gate onto the heathland beyond. Bearing right and downhill towards the woodland at the marker post to your right after a couple of hundred metres, pick up the Coast Path at Peak Hill.
  2. Follow the Coast Path along the coast to High Peak.

Remember to look back for superb views over Sidmouth and beyond to the white cliffs at Beer Head. As you descend steeply from Peak Hill take in the ruggedly beautiful Ladram stacks ahead of you. These pinnacles provide homes for cormorants, terns and various species of gull.

  1. From Ladram the route is more level but still offers superb views of the coast and inland. Pass beyond Brandy Head – its name hinting of previous smuggling activity - and Danger Point, before reaching the mouth of the Otter.

Before following the estuary inland, you’ll pass a Second World War Pill Box that has been converted to a bat hibernaculum. The estuary is good for bird watching, and as you carry on along the Coast Path, heading north above the river, there is a bird hide nestling in the woods to your left.

  1. A little way beyond South Farm, the Coast Path peels away to the left and crosses the river. Crossing with it, pick up the footpath to your right at the far end of the bridge and follow it to where it curves around beside the aqueduct and rejoins the river. Turn left here, still on the west bank of the river, and carry on upstream till you reach the road to the west of Otterton Mill.
  2. Cross the road and pick up the footpath heading northwards from here, towards Colaton Raleigh. Follow the Otter upstream through the open farmland here. Note the striking river cliffs to your right hand side, topped with natural woodland.
  3. Leave the river at a footbridge near the village of Colaton Raleigh, turning right to cross the river once more and join a narrow road at Burnthouse Farm. Follow the road for a few hundred yards northwards, to the footpath just beyond Passaford Farm.
  4. Turn right on to this footpath. This is Passaford Lane, an ancient sunken Devon track way, which climbs steeply into the woodland above. Turn left onto the track above, and then sharp right when it doubles back on itself a little while later.

This takes you up onto Mutters Moor, an area of ancient lowland heath. You may be lucky enough to spot a Dartford warbler here. The moor was named after Sam Mutter, a celebrated smuggler who sailed out of Sidmouth. He is reputed to have taken his contraband into Exeter by wagon hidden under turfs and faggots cut from the heath.

  1. Turn right onto the track as you come out onto the moor, and follow it around as it bears left, making for the trees at the far side of the open ground, where you turn right and follow this track along the boundary of the woods, which will return you to the car park.

Public transport

This walk could be followed by starting at Otterton which has a regular bus service, or from Sidmouth but this last option would mean an additional steep ascent at the start of the day. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Mutter's Moor Car Park, Peak Hill, Sidmouth (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX10 0NW), Lime Kiln, Budleigh Salterton (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX9 6JD).

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