Budleigh Salterton is a small town on the coast in East Devon, UK 15 miles (24 km) south-east of Exeter. With clifftop routes eastwards to Sidmouth and westwards to Exmouth. It lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the South West Coast Path and is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site.

• The Beach is a 2-mile-long pebble beach.
• The far western side of the beach is a Naturist Beach.
• The beach is famous for its 440 million year old perfectly oval quartzite pebbles, which are significantly older than the adjacent cliffs. It is leased to the council by Lord Clinton for a shilling a year for 999 years with the proviso that there shall be no trading on the beach nor any untoward developments.
• Otter estuary is a nature reserve and an Area of Special Scientific Interest.
• The River Otter is home to England’s first wild beaver colony reintroduction trial organised by Devon Wildlife Trust. Beavers were hunted to extinction in England 400 years ago. After a government review of the five-year trial concluded, it was found that beavers do more good than harm in our environment, so the River Otter beavers, thought to number around 50 individuals, can stay as a permanent keystone species in the local ecology.
• Its 11-lawn croquet club (offering croquet, bowls and bridge), founded in the late 1860s, is one of the oldest and largest in the country.
• Otterton Mill has been in continuous use for over 1,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest businesses.
• In 1870 the well-known painting the boyhood of Sir Walter Raleigh by the Victorian artist Millais was painted on the seafront by an ancient wall which is still there.

•  Deep shelving beach
• Large breaking waves in stormy conditions
• Strong estuary currents
• Unstable Cliffs

Budleigh Salterton, formerly Salterton or Salterne, derives its name from the manufacture of salt in large salt pans which were constructed at the lower part of the River Otter, just before it emerged into the sea. Salt was the only food preservative used at that time. The pans were used as late as the 18th Century.

• In 1552 the renowned Elizabethan Sir Walter Raleigh was born here in the farm that is now known as Hayes Barton.

I’ve not stayed overnight, but there are lots of places to choose from. You can stay at the charming King’s Arms Inn Otterton or inside one of the many thatched roof homes that are available through airbnb.

• Tip: Get up to £50 off your first booking with Airbnb click here.

• Food and Drink Festival (April)
• Literary Festival (September)
• Music Festival (July)

The town is relatively compact, though there are some steep hills. Level access along most of the seafront esplanade from Lime Kiln car park. The 357 bus operates a loop around the town every hour during the day.

Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JD. Car is the easiest way to get here with a large car park by the beach with 300 spaces (Lime Kiln car park) or in town the free car park EX9 6RQ by the town council building.

• Bus, Budleigh Salterton has a regular bus service 157, 357 & 58 to Exmouth, Sidmouth and Exeter.  The Jurassic Coast Bus Summer Service gives visitors access to other parts of the Jurassic Coast, by linking up with the CoastlinX53. This connects Exeter, Sidford, Beer, Seaton, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Wool, Wareham and Poole.
• Car, best reached by turning at Newton Poppleford from the A3052 road, which runs from the outskirts of Exeter all the way to Lyme Regis, and provides a handy connection for many Jurassic Coast hot-spots.
• Train, Nearby railway stations – Exmouth (5 miles) or Honiton (12 miles).

• Beware of strong estuary currents.
• There is no lifeguard.
• Dogs are banned 1st May – 30th September (from Lime Kiln car park to South Parade).
• Beach Type: Pebble