Seaton

Set round the mouth of the River Axe, with red cliffs on one side and white cliffs on the other, Seaton was once a quite significant port. By the 16th century, however, the estuary had filled up with stones and pebbles, and it wasn’t until moneyed Victorians came and built their villas (and one of the first concrete bridges in the world, in 1877) that Seaton was accorded a new lease of life. The self-confident architecture of those times gives the little town an attractive appearance, which is enhanced by its pedestrianised town centre and well-maintained public parks and gardens.

From Seaton, an attractive way of travelling along the Axe Valley is on the Seaton Tramway whose colourful open-topped tramcars, the oldest of which was built in 1904, trundle through an area famous for its bird life to the villages of Colyford and Colyton. The three-mile route follows the course of the River Axe, which is noted for its abundant wild bird life. Really dedicated tram fans, after a short lesson, are even permitted to take over the driver’s seat.

From Seaton, eastwards, the South West Coast Path follows the coastline uninterruptedly all the way to Lyme Regis in Dorset Considered by naturalists as the last and largest wilderness on the southern coast of England, this area of unstable cliffs, wood and scrub is also a haven for wildlife.