Ahead of The Countrywide Great Tour arriving in Devon we take a look at the first stop in the county, Seaton
East Devon’s coastline is known for its magnificent Jurassic Coast and a hidden gem amongst the area is a town sandwiched between the red and white cliffs.
With a population of less than 8,000, Seaton remains a traditional British seaside town but with plenty to offer including steakhouses, art galleries and not to forget the historic tramway.
And this summer will see an extra boost for the region from the world of cycling with The Countrywide Great Tour, which starts on 4 July and takes place over 64 consecutive days, arriving in Seaton on 15 August.
Whether you are taking part in the ride or opting to save your Lycra for another day then you will find an abundance of things to do and see in Seaton.
Seaton welcomes thousands of visitors each year who come for its beautiful coastline, peaceful landscapes, and traditional seaside activities. This unique seaside town offers an abundance of places to see and things to do. Seaton sits on the Jurassic Coast and Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site.
It has a wonderful variety of places to eat, drink and relax. The famous South West Coast Path - one of the top walks to be found anywhere in the world- is easily accessible as well as the spectacular River Axe and Axe Valley wetlands.
If you prefer an alternative mode of transport then why not travel back in time to a Golden Age of travel. Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving an unrivalled view of the abundant wading bird life.
For those who wish to learn about the history of Seaton, The Seaton Museum can be found on the top floor of the Town Hall on the Fore Street and admission is free.
You can also see the famous Axmouth Bridge, which is the oldest surviving concrete bridge in England. Built in 1877, it neighbours the old tollhouse which is the country’s oldest concrete building.
And whether you’re fuelling up for the cycle ahead or dining with those who are then The Terrace Arts Café offers views over Lyme Bay and an extensive menu catering for lactose-intolerant, vegetarians, vegans, and for those needing gluten free.
For those who wish to pack in the protein, The Shed Steakhouse and Grill sits in the middle of Seaton and harbours a warm atmosphere, modern décor and a great choice of steaks.
And if you’d like to opt for a more traditional seaside snack, then situated just off the seafront is Frydays which promises ‘the highest quality seafood, sourced from sustainable stocks’. You can park your bikes up on the seafront and either sit on the beach or inside the Fish and Chip restaurant.
But don’t just take our word for it, we asked Devon Life readers for their recommendations of places to go in Seaton and here’s what they had to say;
“The Seaton Tram Railway is brilliant! You can buy an ‘all day ticket’ for unlimited rides all day long” recommends Gloris Lewis and Aimee Seeward seconds that; “Get the tram from Seaton to Colyton and at the station cafe there are the best cream teas”
Martin Piggot claims that his favourite place to have a breakfast is on the seafront; “The Galley on the seafront does the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten and I’ve eaten a few.”
Andrianna Franks also commented saying “Seaton’s fish bar is the longest running fish and chip shop in seaton, run by the same proprietors since 1980 and after recent refurbishments has kept an extremely high consistent trade especially from the locals their slogan ‘the choice of those who know’ really says it all. Fantastic fish and chips that people travel from far and wide for! Definitely the place for the best fish and chips in east Devon.”
If you fancy a lighter bite, Carol Austin says that the “best coffee and coffee shop for miles around is Broom Wagon in Cross Street, and the tray bake cakes are pretty darn good too.”
But it’s not all about the food Seaton has to offer, Mike Speller says “Whenever I’m in Seaton, I have to pop into Genesis Vintage Interiors, to see what stunning new bits of furniture Wendy has to offer. A gem of a shop.”
And if you’d like to leave dry land, Seaton Bay Watersports commented saying that “Seaton is a great place to live and get out on the water. With a magnificent bay, clean waters, amazing geology, marine life and even a superb river everyone should try to view Seaton from it’s “Blue Playing Field”. You can Stand Up Paddle board and Kayak with Seaton Bay Watersports. We offer hire, tuition and trips.”
To get a flavour of the town take a look at Richard Clements’ stunning video on YouTube
