Holiday rentals in Sidmouth

This pretty East Devon town has everything going for it: beaches, Regency-era buildings, interesting little shops and attractions, and captivating landscapes all around. At Sidmouth Town Beach, an esplanade runs beside dramatic red cliffs to Jacob’s Ladder, a sandy section where wooden steps rise to the formal Connaught Gardens. In the town centre you’ll find historic pubs and plenty of restaurants selling freshly caught local seafood. Kennaway House — an art gallery in a Regency mansion — and the Sidmouth Museum are among the notable attractions.

Sidmouth is considered a gateway to the Jurassic Coast, whose crumbling cliffs constantly throw out dinosaur fossils to be discovered. The town also sits within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, whose rolling countryside is awash with picturesque villages. That’s probably enough to satisfy most visitors, but if not, you can set out either way along this fantastic sweep of the South Coast, which curves from the Devon fishing harbours of Brixham and Dartmouth in the west to the long spit of Chesil Beach in Dorset to the east, to find more gems such as Lyme Regis, Budleigh Salterton, and Exmouth. A holiday wonderland lies in every direction.

With so many brilliant spots to soak up the sun, the summer months are just gorgeous, not only for the beaches, sea swimming, festivals, and outdoor restaurants, but for the clouds of butterflies in wildflower fields above the cliffs of nearby Branscombe. The drama of the Jurassic Coast is just as impressive in winter, even if colours are more muted and some of the cafes are closed. Some brilliant events bring the area to life throughout the year, top of the bill being the community-spirited Sidmouth Folk Festival, celebrating traditional music old and new for a week in July and August. Gigs and shows take place in bars, schools, halls, churches, pubs, and marquees all across town.

Hike to Beer

A glorious 8-to-9-mile section of the long-distance South West Coast Path runs east from Sidmouth to Beer, crossing the 200-million-year-old rocks of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Tackle its steep slopes for the rewards of an Iron Age hill fort, beaches, wildflower meadows, and valleys. The colour of the cliffs changes from red to white as you approach the old smugglers’ fishing village of Beer. You might feel obliged to take a selfie drinking beer in Beer, but make time, too, for the huge Beer Quarry Caves, where stone has been quarried since Roman times, some for cathedrals including Westminster Abbey.

Norman Lockyer Observatory

This observatory for amateur astronomers regularly opens to the public, who come to see the planetarium, telescopes, and a 19th-century orrery — a mechanical model of the Solar System. An annual Astrofair in July hosts talks and activities such as solar observing, which allows you to look at the Sun through a special telescope.

Sidmouth Museum

This quaint museum tracks the town’s history as a longstanding fishing village turned Victorian holiday resort, with displays featuring old postcards, paintings, and historical photographs.