Seaton to Beer Walk

1.6 miles (2.5 km)

The walk from Seaton to Beer is one of those short coastal walks that gives you a lot of scenery without needing to spend the whole day on the trail. I particularly like the combination of the seaside, open countryside and dramatic coastline, with the pretty village of Beer providing a great destination at the end. It also makes a good introduction to this section of the South West Coast Path. We did the walk in summer on a bright day, which made a big difference to the views across Seaton Bay. The sea was looking particularly inviting and there was plenty of colour along the coast, with the surrounding Devon countryside looking lush and green. It's a lovely time of year for this walk, although the good weather also meant we weren't the only people enjoying the coastline.
The walk starts on the seafront at Seaton, where we followed the beach before joining the coast path towards Beer. The first section is relatively easy, but the path gradually climbs as you approach the village. It's a moderate ascent rather than anything particularly demanding, and there are some excellent opportunities to stop and look back across Seaton Bay and take in the coastline.
As we approached Beer, the views became even more impressive, with the cliffs and coastline providing a wonderful backdrop. I also liked the change in character as the path brought us towards the village, with its attractive streets and traditional coastal atmosphere. After the walk, Beer has plenty of places to stop for a drink, something to eat or an ice cream, making it a very satisfying place to finish.
The walk itself is only around 1.5 miles, so you can either return along the same route or catch a bus back to Seaton. I think walking back is worthwhile if you have the time, as the views look quite different in the opposite direction, but the bus gives you an easy alternative if you've had enough of the walking.
After the walk, we stopped at the Anchor Inn in Beer for some refreshments. The pub has a lovely garden with views towards the coast, making it a particularly nice place to sit outside with a drink on a summer day. It's also dog friendly, with water bowls provided outside, so it's a handy stopping point if you've brought your four-legged companion along. You can find it on Fore Street, with a postcode of EX12 3ET for your sat nav.
If you want to make a longer day of it, you can continue along the coast to Branscombe on the Branscombe to Beer Walk. For a much longer outing, the Sidmouth to Beer Walk takes you around 8 miles along the undulating coastline and gives you an excellent taste of the wider Jurassic Coast.