Seaton brings together a narrow-gauge heritage tramway, marshland, coastal paths and traces from different periods. The Seaton Tramway connects Seaton, Colyford and Colyton; nearby, nature and history offer their own excursion highlights. When planning, it helps to consider the ride, walks and sightseeing as different experiences: the tramway has a stated journey time, the nature reserve has level paths, and the coast and town offer everything from walking to archaeology.
Tramway and nature trails
The Seaton Tramway operates narrow-gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton. The journey from one end to the other takes half an hour. Part of Seaton’s former old trackbed is now part of the tramway, linking its present-day use with a historic detail of the town.
Seaton Marshes can be explored by electric tram or on foot. Seaton Wetlands Local Nature Reserve offers another specific point to consider when planning: it has almost four kilometres of level paths and boardwalks suitable for wheelchairs, bicycles and pushchairs. The reserve also has five bird hides. So, within the nature theme, there is a choice of a ride, paths and opportunities for wildlife watching.
Keep the journey time and path length distinct: half an hour refers to the tram ride from one end to the other, while almost four kilometres refers to the level paths and boardwalks in the nature reserve.
Coastal path, beach and cycle route
From Cliff Field Gardens, you can reach the South West Coast Path. For walkers on the Jurassic Coast section of this route, the Tourist Information Centre in Seaton serves as a stamping point for the walking passport. These are two different points of interest for a stay on foot: access to the coastal path and a connection to the walking passport in town.
Seaton Beach offers a focus of its own. Its calm waters make the beach a destination for water sports. Along the promenade, cafés and shops serve, among other things, fish and chips and ice cream. The coast and promenade therefore combine activities on the water with an easy opportunity to grab something to eat or have an ice cream during the day.
For a cycle ride, there is also the Stop Line Way. This long-distance cycle route follows the course of a wartime defensive line, with Seaton as its southern end point. It offers a different focus from the coastal path: here, cycling and the historic course of the defensive line take centre stage.
Roman traces and historic buildings
A significant Roman settlement or villa was located west of Seaton. Excavations uncovered mosaics, as well as evidence of a Roman bath and a hypocaust. A hypocaust was a Roman heating system. Together, the finds offer a glimpse of the architectural traces of this Roman past, without limiting the interpretation to a single type of settlement.
Buildings in the town can also be placed in historical context. St Gregory’s Church on Colyford Road is one of Seaton’s oldest buildings. The Manor House dates from the 16th century and can still be seen on Fore Street. The two buildings offer a different perspective on the town’s history from the archaeological finds: here, the focus is on visible buildings; there, on evidence unearthed during excavations.
On the cliff above West Walk, the hexagonal base of a wartime gun emplacement can still be seen. This detail adds another visible trace from wartime to the Stop Line Way, without making the two places part of a single route.
Jurassic rocks in the area
East of Seaton, fossil-bearing rocks from the Jurassic period can be viewed in their natural setting. This takes the look back into the past even further than the Roman finds. A short break can therefore cater to a range of interests, pursued separately or combined: geological history, Roman archaeology, older buildings, coastal paths and nature. The tramway and the different route and path details also offer practical points of reference for choosing your own excursion highlights.
Discover more destinations: Holne, Whitchurch, Broadhembury, Copplestone, Westward Ho, Hartland, Holsworthy, Shirwell.
For the wider travel overview: Devon.
