A charming village on the Devon coast has been crowned Britain’s most beautiful seaside escape.
Nestled on the Jurassic Coast of Devon, the idyllic village of Beer was once ranked first in The Telegraph’s selection of the UK’s best coastal villages. Beer’s charm is celebrated for evoking a sense of nostalgia, with one description painting it as having a “something of a ‘lashings of ginger beer’ Blyton vibe” and calling it “pleasingly old-fashioned.”
Beer’s community website proudly claims that the village represents “exactly how you imagine a place to have a classic English seaside day trip or holiday.” Discovering Beer along the South West Coast Path can feel like unearthing a secret treasure, a delightful corner of the world where time seems to have stood still.
Enclosed within the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage site, and the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Beer sits right on the scenic South West Coast Path, inviting adventurers to explore its splendid surroundings, reports Devon Live.
The Jubilee Pleasure Gardens offer a sprawling vista over the pebble-laden beach, a haven that is sun-soaked, south-facing, and complete with deck chairs. It provides an ideal location for families and also functions as a bustling working beach, where the local fishing fleet brings in shellfish and arranges mackerel-fishing excursions for tourists.
Venturing inland transports you back through history, as you arrive at a pristinely preserved main street. This thoroughfare is lined with pubs and shops steeped in tradition, many passed down through generations and maintaining the village’s cherished character.
Historically, Beer was a hub for smugglers due to the abundance of caves along its cliffs. Nowadays, these small coves and caves are perfect for crabbing and rock pooling, with the cliff acting as a natural suntrap.
Beer is accessible by car or train from nearby Axminster and Exeter, and there’s a range of accommodation options in and around the village. The only other Devon village to make it onto the Telegraph’s list was Clovelly, coming in at 20th place. Other noteworthy mentions were Runswick Bay in Yorkshire, Llangrannog in Ceredigion, and Walberswick in Suffolk.
If you are down in the South West and fancy a bit of seaside action, then St Ives in Cornwall may be worth a visit. This quaint coastal town is nestled among seven spectacular beaches, all within walking distance. It’s a picture-perfect haven, with colourful fishing boats dotting the sea and breathtaking views of the rugged Cornish coastline.
St Ives has long been a magnet for artists, drawn by its natural beauty. The town even boasts the Tate St Ives art gallery, ingeniously built into a cliffside overlooking the ocean.
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