Beer Cliffs and Seaton Beach.

Start. Beer (Central Car Park).

Route. Beer - Fore Street - South West Coastal Path - Beer Hill - Seaton Beach - The Hideway - Beer Road - Clinton Way (footpath) - Old Beer Road - Beer Hill - South West Costal Path - Beer.

Notes. Welcome to Beer a picture-perfect village nestled on the edge of Lyme Bay, a fleet of working fishing boats still launch from the shingle beach as they have for hundreds of years. In the 18th century smugglers plied their trade from this small arc of sea front, the gravel bank hiding their boats from the prying eyes of the excise men. High cliffs guarded the harbour, many caves can be found ideal for storing smuggled booty, it’s a real hidden gem and long may it stay that way.

Our reason for our visit at Beer, the world famous Beer Quarry Caves, a vast man-made complex of underground caverns created by centuries of quarrying. First worked by the Romans, the final slab of stone removed in the 1920s.

After a tour of the caverns we drove into the village, parked in the Central Car Park then slowly wandered down the picturesque main street, it was lunch time, we hoped to find somewhere to dine. With full stomachs the decision was made to walk lunch off, take a short wander over the cliffs between Beer and Seaton. With the South West Coastal Path under foot we left the village, the climb out was steep, the views over the Beer Beach stunning. Once atop the cliffs the views became limited, vegetation blocked vast vistas out to sea and along the coast. The descent mirrored the ascent, steep, it deposited us on Beer Hill a steep narrow tarmac lane lined with ferns.

Continuing down hill we arrived at a finger-post inviting us to the beach, we accepted the invitation following the footpath descending to the high shingle bank of Seaton Beach, the walking was hard, we slowly picked our way to the promenade. Next to the first building, a small takeaway hidden in a cleft in the cliffs, appropriately named The Hideaway. Next to the Hideaway a path climbed through a small park with some benches, flower beds and manicured lawns, this replaces the coast path which is closed, unsafe due to land slips.

We followed said path through the park onto the busy Beer Road, the boring bit next, half a mile of tarmac bashing followed then a navigation error. The sign read Clinton Way, the path descended through woods, this had to be a better option than road walking. Through the woods we descended spilling out onto Old Beer Road, at this point I wished I brought a map, with only two ways to go up or down, we opted for down oops. The descent was short it deposited us at the foot of Beer Hill, the steep hill we descended not that long ago, all we had to do was suffer the leg burning climb as we re-traced our steps back to Beer, the moral of this story, bring a map you don’t look stupid using it.

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home.

Before the start of the days short outing we wandered into Beer, this view sowed the seeds for a walk over the cliffs later.

Looking to Beer and the picture perfect houses on Common Lane.

Relics of a by-gone age, the small museum in Beer Quarry Caves.

Beer Quarry Caves a vast man-made complex of underground caverns, mighty halls of vaulted roofs and pillars of Beer Stone which have been likened to a vast underground cathedral.

This quarry provided Beer stone for use in 24 Cathedrals, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and many other historic buildings.

Back above ground where we like to be, views again over Beer Beach along West Ebb, Big Ledge to The Hall.

Views to The Hall with the green fields of Arratt's Hill clearly visible.

Viewing the Bindon Cliff shore line east of Seaton.

Viewing Seaton across Seaton Bay from a small view point above Connett's Hole.

Hearts Tongue Ferns in Beer Hill.

Strolling along the tide line on Seaton Beach looking to the seaside town of Seaton.

Wonderful silvery seascapes, and formidable cliffs.

Seaton Beach stretches to the east carrying the eye to Haven Cliff.

Descending through woodland on the Clinton Way.

Taking a breather after the steep ascent of Beer Hill, looking to Seaton over Seaton Bay.

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