In short
The best things to do in Exmouth are walking the two-mile sandy beach to Orcombe Point, where the Jurassic Coast begins; trying paddleboarding or kitesurfing at Sideshore or Orcombe Point; cycling the Exe Estuary Trail from Exeter; taking a Stuart Line cruise along the red cliffs; and eating seafood at Rockfish or at the floating River Exe Café, open 1 April to 30 September.
Contents9 sections
Why is Exmouth the best day out from Exeter?
Because it gives you a proper beach, a coastline with World Heritage status and a genuinely good food scene, all about 11 miles from the city and reachable by train, bus or bike. Exmouth is Devon's oldest seaside resort, and it does not try to be Brighton. It is a working estuary town with two miles of sand, a marina, a watersports scene serious enough to host a world champion kitesurfer's school, and a restaurant you reach by boat.
For a group, that combination is the point. A beach day is open-ended in a way a restaurant booking is not: some people swim, some read, somebody inevitably falls off a paddleboard, and the conversation takes care of itself. If you are new to town and building a social life from scratch, "Exmouth on Saturday, meet at the seafront" is one of the easiest invitations you can send.
This guide was re-checked in September 2026: every business named below was confirmed as trading against its Food Standards Agency listing or its own website.
How do you get from Exeter to Exmouth?
The quickest options are the Avocet Line train or the bus; the most enjoyable is the bike.
By train or bus
The Avocet Line runs from Exeter St David's and Exeter Central to Exmouth in around half an hour, hugging the estuary for much of the way through Topsham and Lympstone. Sit on the right-hand side heading south for the water views. Stagecoach's 57 bus also runs between the city and Exmouth. Driving takes about 25 minutes via the A376, but in summer the seafront car parks fill quickly, so public transport is usually the calmer choice.
By bike: the Exe Estuary Trail
The Exe Estuary Trail is a mainly flat, largely traffic-free route of around 26 miles that circles the whole estuary, linking Exeter, Topsham, Lympstone, Exmouth, Starcross and Dawlish as part of National Cycle Network Route 2. The Exeter-to-Exmouth leg on the eastern bank is the one most people ride, and at an easy pace with a coffee stop it fills a relaxed morning.
Bikes can be hired from Saddles & Paddles at Exeter Quay, Route 2 in Topsham (which also has a café bar, handy for a mid-ride stop), and Exmouth Cycles at the far end. For more rides like this, see our cycling routes and bike cafés guide.
Make it a loop rather than an out-and-back. The Starcross to Exmouth ferry runs hourly in season (roughly April to the end of October, weather and tides permitting), takes bikes, and lets you return along the western bank past Powderham. It is cash only and cannot be pre-booked, so check the current timetable before you set out.
What are the best beaches in Exmouth?
Exmouth Beach itself is the headline, with Orcombe Point and Sandy Bay as quieter options to the east.
Exmouth Beach
A two-mile sweep of sand runs along the Esplanade from the estuary mouth towards Orcombe Point. It is wide, gently shelving and lifeguarded in the summer season, which is why it is so popular with families. The western end near the town and marina is busiest, with kiosks, cafés and toilets close by; walk east and the crowds thin noticeably. Our verdict: for a group day with no fixed plan, this is the easiest beach near Exeter to get right, because everything you might need is within a few minutes' walk.
For a wider comparison of the coast, our best beaches near Exeter guide ranks Exmouth against Budleigh, Sidmouth and Dawlish Warren.
Orcombe Point and the Geoneedle
At the eastern end of the beach, Orcombe Point marks the western start of the Jurassic Coast, the 95-mile stretch to Studland in Dorset that was made England's first natural World Heritage Site in 2001. The Geoneedle on the headland is built from the different rock types found along the coast. The view back along the beach and out across Lyme Bay is the reason to make the climb, and at low tide the rocks below are good for pottering.
Sandy Bay
Over the headland from Orcombe, Sandy Bay is a cliff-backed beach with a more enclosed feel. It sits below the Devon Cliffs holiday park, so it is busy in school holidays, but outside them it is a good choice if the main beach feels too much like a promenade.
What can you do on the water in Exmouth?
Where the River Exe meets the sea you get sheltered estuary water for beginners and open, windy beach for the more experienced, which is why Exmouth is one of the South West's best-known watersports towns.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing at Sideshore
Edge Watersports is based at Sideshore on Queen's Drive and is a family-run school accredited by the RYA, BKSA and BSUPA. It runs a kitesurf discovery course and a shorter beach kite-flying session for people who want to learn to handle a kite before getting wet, as well as progression lessons. On a breezy day, watching the kitesurfers from the Sideshore terrace is entertainment in itself.
Paddleboarding and kayaking at Orcombe Point
Red Rock Outdoor, trading online as Exmouth Watersports, runs paddleboarding, kayaking and mega SUP sessions at Orcombe Point, and windsurfing from its estuary centre. Mega SUPs are oversized boards that carry a whole group, and our verdict is that they are the single best group activity in Exmouth: nobody needs any skill, everyone ends up in the water, and it is a story people tell for years. Our water sports in Devon guide covers alternatives across the county.
A Jurassic Coast cruise
If you would rather see the red cliffs without paddling, Stuart Line Cruises sails from Exmouth Marina along the Jurassic Coast with live commentary from the skipper, and some sailings offer an optional cream tea. It is a good option for mixed groups where not everyone wants to get wet.
Sideshore on Queen's Drive is the hub of the seafront: Edge Watersports and the Hangtime Cafe share the site with a cafe bar unit, so one person can take a lesson while the rest of the group watches from a table.
Where should you eat and drink in Exmouth?
For a day out, the reliable picks are Rockfish on the waterfront, the River Exe Café in season, Sideshore on the seafront and Krispies for fish and chips. We cover Exmouth's restaurants in full depth separately; below are the places that fit naturally into a beach day.
Rockfish
Mitch Tonks' Rockfish sits on the waterfront at Pier Head, beside the estuary. The formula is simple: sustainably caught fish, fried, grilled or cooked over charcoal. Our verdict: it is the safest seafood booking in town for a group, because the menu is broad enough for the unadventurous and the setting does the rest, especially at high tide. For more options, see our fish and seafood restaurants guide.
River Exe Café
A floating restaurant on converted barges moored out in the estuary, reached by the Puffin water taxi from the visitors' pontoon at Exmouth Marina. According to its own website, it opens from 1 April to 30 September, Tuesday to Sunday from midday, and bookings for 6pm or later are for over-14s only. The booking time is your water-taxi departure, and the whole trip takes around three hours. Our verdict: book it for an occasion rather than a quick lunch, and book early, as summer weekends go fast. If you are reading this in autumn, the season has ended until April.
Sideshore cafes
The Hangtime Cafe and the cafe bar unit next to it trade from the Sideshore complex on Queen's Drive, with direct views over the beach. This is where we would send a group for late-afternoon drinks: it is on the sand, it has outdoor space, and there is always something happening on the water.
The Point
The Point at Exmouth Marina (14 Pilot Wharf) overlooks the marina and the boat moorings, and serves breakfast, brunch and lunch during the day. Evening service has been seasonal, so check its website for current evening opening before you plan dinner there. It is a natural place to wait for, or wind down after, a River Exe Café trip.
Krispies
Krispies on Exeter Road is the town's best-known fish and chip shop, a short walk back from the seafront. A queue in summer is normal. Take it to the beach. Our fish and chips guide covers the rest of Devon's chippies.
The Chronicle and Spoken
For an evening meal, The Chronicle is a restaurant on Chapel Hill, and Spoken on The Strand serves Mediterranean tapas and wood-fired pizza. Booking ahead is sensible if you are staying on after the beach.
Travelling back by train? The last direct trains to Exeter are the thing to check, not the restaurant's closing time. Look up the Avocet Line timetable before you book an evening table.
What else is there to do in Exmouth town?
Beyond the beach, Exmouth Indoor Market has been trading since 1980, with around 30 stalls selling local produce, crafts, vintage finds and gifts. The Magnolia Centre is the pedestrianised shopping area, and The Strand has the town's cluster of cafés and independents. The marina is the prettiest corner of town and where the cruises and water taxis leave from. Exmouth is not a shopping destination, but it fills a rainy hour better than most people expect.
What wildlife can you see on the Exe Estuary?
The Exe Estuary is internationally important for birds, and between autumn and early spring it hosts thousands of overwintering waders and wildfowl, including avocets, oystercatchers, curlews and dark-bellied brent geese. The estuary views from the trail and the train are at their best on a winter morning, which makes Exmouth a year-round trip rather than a summer-only one. Across the water, Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is a sand spit at the mouth of the estuary; our guide to Dawlish and Teignmouth covers that side.
A perfect day out in Exmouth with friends
Morning: Hire bikes at Exeter Quay and ride the Exe Estuary Trail, stopping in Topsham for coffee. If you have not explored it yet, our Topsham food guide is worth reading before you go.
Lunch: Rockfish on the waterfront, or the water taxi to the River Exe Café between April and September.
Afternoon: A mega SUP session at Orcombe Point, a walk up to the Geoneedle, or a Jurassic Coast cruise from the marina.
Late afternoon: Drinks at Sideshore while the kitesurfers are out.
Evening: Fish and chips from Krispies on the beach, then the train home, or ride back through Topsham for a pint at The Globe on Fore Street.
Practical information for visiting Exmouth
Parking: The main seafront car parks are at Queen's Drive and Foxholes. On sunny summer weekends, arrive early or come by train.
Best time to visit: June to September for beach days and the River Exe Café. May and September are quieter for watersports. November to February is best for birdwatching on the estuary.
Budget: A day can be done cheaply with a train ticket, fish and chips and a walk, or scaled up with a lesson, a cruise and a table at the River Exe Café. It remains one of the best-value day trips from Exeter.
Accessibility: The seafront promenade is level and runs the length of the main beach, and the Exe Estuary Trail is largely flat and surfaced. Check with individual operators about access for boats and the water taxi.
For more coastal days, see our guides to Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best things to do in Exmouth?
- Walk the two-mile beach to Orcombe Point and the Geoneedle, where the Jurassic Coast begins; try paddleboarding, kayaking or kitesurfing at Orcombe Point or Sideshore; take a Stuart Line cruise along the cliffs; cycle the Exe Estuary Trail; and eat seafood at Rockfish or the floating River Exe Café.
- Is Exmouth worth visiting from Exeter?
- Yes. It is about 11 miles away, around half an hour on the Avocet Line train, and offers a lifeguarded sandy beach, the start of the Jurassic Coast, watersports and a good choice of places to eat, which makes it the easiest seaside day out from the city.
- When is the River Exe Café open?
- The River Exe Café opens from 1 April to 30 September, Tuesday to Sunday from midday. It is reached by the Puffin water taxi from Exmouth Marina, and bookings for 6pm or later are for over-14s only.
- Can you cycle from Exeter to Exmouth?
- Yes. The Exe Estuary Trail is a mainly flat, largely traffic-free route through Topsham and Lympstone to Exmouth, part of National Cycle Network Route 2. Bikes can be hired at Exeter Quay, Topsham and Exmouth, and the seasonal Starcross ferry lets you return along the other bank.
- What is there to do in Exmouth when it rains?
- Browse Exmouth Indoor Market and the independents on The Strand, have a long lunch at Rockfish or The Point overlooking the water, or watch the kitesurfers from Sideshore, where the conditions that put off swimmers often suit them best.
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