Jurassic Coast - Exmouth to Seaton

Essential Intel

This is a linear driving Trail that starts in Exmouth and finishes in Seaton, so Explorers need to plan separate travel from Seaton back to Exmouth at the end.

Please be aware that some of the lanes on this driving Trail are quite narrow in places, so don't tackle this adventure in anything bigger than a car! There are also some steep hills to climb when looking for clues, so be ready for a bit of a workout!

Navigating The Route

This is a linear Treasure Hunt along the Jurassic Coast from Exmouth to Seaton, with Explorers helping Professor Den Bones and the Exploration Society track down the vanished fossils of the Doyouthinkhesaurus.

The quest covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 5 hours to complete. You'll follow a scenic driving route through Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Otterton, Sidmouth, Branscombe, Beer and Seaton, stopping off for clifftops, gardens, beaches and villages along the way.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes steep hills, zig-zag paths, clifftop walking and narrow lanes, with a steep hill down into Sidmouth and more steep hills to climb when hunting for clues.

Drive with caution and observe speed limits at all times. The lanes can be narrow and busy, especially during the holiday season, and you'll need to cross the main road carefully in Sidmouth.

Getting There

By car: Your adventure starts in Exmouth. Follow the signs to the seafront and drive along it, keeping the sea to your right. Turn right at the Lifeboat Station on to Queen's Drive and park up, then head to the far end of the seafront past the turning roundabout.

• Queen's Drive - EX8 2DB. Park up here at the start.
• Budleigh Salterton car park at the far end of the seafront - EX9 6BG. Park at the far end of the seafront.
• Otterton near The King's Arms - EX9 7HB. Park your expedition vehicle near The King's Arms.
• Sidmouth car park in Manor Road or nearby - EX10 8RU. Park in the car park or nearby.
• Branscombe beach parking - EX12 3DP. Park up at the beach.
• Beer main car park - EX12 3EL. The main car park can be found here.
• Seaton seafront parking - EX12 2LN. Follow the signs to the seafront and park; the first clue is near the roundabout.

By public transport: Make your way to the Queen's Drive seafront start point in Exmouth (EX8 2DB) to begin the quest. As this is a linear Trail finishing in Seaton, arrange your return journey to Exmouth separately at the end.

Need the Loo?

There are toilet stops at the start, on the beach at Lime Kiln, at Connaught Gardens, at Branscombe car park and on the seafront at Seaton.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers are welcome to join the fossil hunt. 🐾

The route includes narrow lanes, clifftop paths, steep hills, beaches and busier roads, so keep dogs close around traffic, cliff edges and seaside sections. Expect a varied day of short clue-hunting walks between driving stages.

Food & Drink Stops

Fossil-chasing is hungry work, but there are chances to stop for refreshments or stock up on snacks after Clue 07. Otterton Mill is a great place to stop for refreshments too.

If you're packing your own provisions, there are lots of parks and beaches to choose from for a picnic along the way.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Orcombe Point and the Geoneedle

Orcombe Point marks the Western Gateway of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, making it a suitably dramatic launch point for Professor Den Bones' fossil-chasing quest. Its oldest rocks date from the early Triassic Period around 252 million years ago, and the red mudstone and sandstone cliffs reveal evidence of a previous desert environment. The route also reaches the Geoneedle on the clifftop path above Exmouth, where sharp-eyed Explorers can look out for who unveiled it.

Otterton

Otterton is well worth a pause, especially with Otterton Mill providing a great refreshment stop. Until Tudor times, the sea came as far inland as the village, allowing small ships to reach what was then known as Oterey Haven. Later, a pebble bar formed at the mouth of the River Otter, partially blocking the estuary entrance, and much of the area has since become a salt marsh.

Connaught Gardens

Connaught Gardens give Explorers a gentler stop among the Sidmouth clue-hunting. The gardens are now over seventy years old, having been purchased by Sidmouth Urban District Council in the 1930s for £3,500. They were named after His Grace, The Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's third son, who was 84 when he formally opened the Gardens in 1934.

Beer Stone and Beer Quarry Caves

Beer brings a proper slice of underground adventure to the day. Beer Stone was formed on the sea bed 92 million years ago from pulverised shells, fine sand and clay, and has been used in the construction of 24 cathedrals, including Exeter, Winchester and St Paul's, as well as Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. Stone was quarried at Beer Quarry Caves from as far back as Roman times until the early 20th-century; the caves also provided refuge for Catholics during persecution times, concealed contraband for notorious smugglers from the village and now provide a home for many species of hibernating bats.