%XPLORING THE %XE With help from public transport and ferries you can get %XQUISITE around much of the estuary in a day. Please take care The Exe Estuary is so important for crossing roads and railways and enjoy exploring the Exe. wildlife, particularly birds, that it is one of the most designated ! SCENIC CRUISE AND TRAIN RIDE WITH A LEISURELY STROLL estuaries in the whole of Europe. This ensures %XCELLENT 9 1. Take ferry from Topsham 2 to Exmouth 56 that any development © RSPB Redshank Exeter Canal and Locks 2. Walk from Exmouth to Lympstone 27 plans or projects on are the oldest of their 3. Catch train from Lympstone back to Topsham the estuary must be type in the UK. They submitted to Natural Suitability: Walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs and pushchairs were built in 1567 to England for its assent. divert trade to Exeter Time: Three hours approx from Topsham, which at Distance on foot: Two miles approx that time was the second Estimated Cost: £7 adults, £4 children busiest port in the UK. Getting Started: A car park is available in Topsham on Holman Way that is a short walk from the quay. Buses and trains from Exeter to Topsham are frequent and reliable. Alternatively, ample 9 parking and public transport links are available in Exmouth if you reverse the route. To start in Topsham, follow signs to Lager Quay where Stuart Line Cruises depart for Exmouth when tides permit (check times by calling 01395 222144). The ferry takes from 1 to 1.5 hours depending on tides. %XOTIC From Exmouth Marina travel along Victoria Road and turn left on to Imperial Estuaries may look Road. Follow this road onto Marine way. Where the road forks take the left empty but they are incredibly rich habitats Topsham hand path which follows the Estuary. The 1.5 mile walk to Lympstone will wind its way along the Estuary until you reach a bridge over the train with worms, snails and track. Trains depart here for Topsham regularly. Alternatively you can shellfish providing a vital food source for the 8 continue along the trail to Exton, a further 1.5 miles, and catch a train from Exton station. To check train times call 08457 48 49 50. Exe’s globally important number of resident and 3 For ferry services see migratory birds such Key ‘Travel around the Exe’ as the avocet, brent on outer panel %XPLORE %XMINSTER -ARSHES AND 4OPSHAM goose and redshank. Footpath (off road) only Parking available 1. Walk from Exminster to the Turf Hotel 3 recommended for walkers Key viewing point 2. Take the ferry to Topsham Footpath (on road) only 3. Take the Topsham ferry back to Exminster Tourist Information recommended for walkers Suitability: Primarily walkers. Cyclists, wheelchair Toilet Cycle route (off road) suitable and pushchair users; please check with ferry operators for walking, cycling, Refreshments that they will be able to accommodate you wheelchairs and pushchairs Time: Two hours approx Cycle Hire Distance on foot: One mile approx Cycle route (on road) suitable Estimated Cost: £4 Adults, £2 children Bus stop for walking, cycling, (under 12), £1 bikes wheelchairs and pushchairs 7 Bathing area Kitesurfing in Exmouth Foot ferry (ferry guide overleaf) Getting Started: Two small car parks are available at the Exminster Marshes RSPB Nature reserve Railway/Station Nature Reserve. Alternatively take the bus (service 2) to Exminster. Foot ferry routes Follow the Exe Estuary Trail 1 2 3 4 5 56 Locations %XCITING along the canal until you reach The estuary is a hub of the Turf Hotel (01392 833128). activity for recreational Refreshments are available here activities; such as sailing, Average distances and times while you wait for the next ferry canoeing, windsurfing, which leaves from the jetty at 1 2 fishing and scuba diving. 1 to 2 Exeter Quay to Topsham Ferry: the end of the garden (The There are several clubs 4 miles / 6.4km – 1.2 hours Sea Dream II 07778 370582). and training centres 2 3 1 to 3 Topsham Ferry to Turf Hotel 4 When you arrive in Topsham available to help you 1.5 miles / 2.4km – 30 minutes you can choose to browse make the most of the Exe. the historical town or head 13 to 4 Turf Hotel to Starcross %XAMINE straight for the Topsham 3 miles / 4.8km – 1 hour The Brunel Tower at ferry (07801 203338) 14 to 5 Starcross to Dawlish Warren Starcross is the best by following Ferry Road. Once back on the 2 miles / 3.2km – 40 minutes surviving remnant Exminster side you can choose to take a stroll of Isambard Brunel’s through the Exminster Marshes reserve (walkers 16 to 7 Exmouth to Lympstone famous Atmospheric 6 only) or head back along the canal path. 2.5 miles / 4km – 50 minutes railway, which was quickly abandoned after South West 17 to 58 Lympstone to Exton Coast Path its completion in 1845. National Trail 1.5 miles / 2.4km – 30 minutes Today the pump house (Poole - 116 miles) %XPLORE Distances and times are approximate and based is home to the Starcross Exmouth is the start on an average walking speed of 3 miles per hour. Fishing and Cruising Club. of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The coast line tells Bus routes the history of the %XCEPTIONAL earth. The rocks at 57 Exeter - Topsham - Exton - Lympstone - Exmouth Orcombe Point date Runs Mon-Sat daytime every 15 mins, 5 Bowling Green Marsh back to 250 million Exmouth and Sunday and evenings every 30 mins and Dawlish Warren years. The red cliffs are essential high tide 2 Exeter - Exminster - Kenton - Starcross - are due to the roosting sites for the presence of iron. Cockwood Harbour - Dawlish Warren - Dawlish many thousands of Runs Mon-Sat daytime every 20 mins, Brunel’s Pump House birds that migrate to and Sunday every 30 mins from spring the estuary each winter. (service runs hourly during evenings and winter) They feed and rest on Avocet these areas during high %XPLORING %XMOUTH To check seasonal timetable tide and then move There are many short circular walks that can be changes please call: 01392 427711 back on to the mud flatss created within the towns on the banks of the of the estuary to feed Estuary. Why not walk from the Imperial Recreation as they are revealed South West Coast Path Ground in Exmouth, with its open views of the Image credits (from top left clockwise): Topsham (Mike Tuckett), National Trail by the falling tide. Redshank (Andy Hay, rspb-images.com), Kite surfing (Dave Pick) (Minehead - 512 miles) estuary, to the sea front and Jurassic Coast.
00145EEMPExeExplorer2010MapAW.indd 1 12/5/10 16:51:12
Available during the summer. summer. the during Available
www.exetercruises.com www.exetercruises.com
www.nationalrail.co.uk
07984 368442 368442 07984 Exmouth Docks Exmouth
Text phone: 0845 60 50 600 600 50 60 0845 phone: Text
Pedallo hire hire Pedallo National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 50 49 48 08457 Enquiries: Rail National a child’s play area. It is a 45 minute round trip. round minute 45 a is It area. play child’s a
Exeter canal serving great food, real ales and has has and ales real food, great serving canal Exeter
Traveline: 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.org.uk 33 22 200 0871 Traveline: a cycle rickshaw. rickshaw. cycle a
Double Locks is a family pub situated right on the the on right situated pub family a is Locks Double
Offer private hire of of hire private Offer
about bus and rail services please contact: please services rail and bus about
Exeter Crusises: 07984 368442 www.exetercruises.com 368442 07984 Crusises: Exeter [email protected] [email protected]
some trains and ferry services. For information information For services. ferry and trains some
07877 596845 596845 07877 the Double Locks Locks Double the
Exe Estuary Circular tickets are available on on available are tickets Circular Estuary Exe The Exe Estuary Exe The
Lily peds peds Lily Exeter Quay to to Quay Exeter
Exeter to Dawlish passing the atmospheric pump house. house. pump atmospheric the passing Dawlish to Exeter
Turf Lock Turf
stunning views of the estuary. Brunel’s line runs from from runs line Brunel’s estuary. the of views stunning
www.doublelocks.co.uk
Avocet Line runs between Exeter and Exmouth and offers offers and Exmouth and Exeter between runs Line Avocet Double Locks: 01392 256947 256947 01392 Locks: Double
The Exe Estuary is well served by bus and train routes. The The routes. train and bus by served well is Estuary Exe The
The White Heather: 07984 368442 368442 07984 Heather: White The
on the Exeter quayside. quayside. Exeter the on
Topsham to Turf Ferry Turf to Topsham
%XE 4HE !ROUND 4RAVEL Double Locks to Turf Lock Turf to Locks Double
Hire canoes and bicycles bicycles and canoes Hire
The Exe Estuary Exe The to get you started. you get to
www.saddlepaddle.co.uk www.saddlepaddle.co.uk
supervision and maintenance etc. etc. maintenance and supervision alongside the map overleaf overleaf map the alongside
01392 424241 424241 01392
Other services include water taxi, boat boat taxi, water include services Other circular route suggestions suggestions route circular
and from www.exe-estuary.org from and
Saddles and Paddles Paddles and Saddles
We have provided some some provided have We
Tourist Information Centres Centres Information Tourist
Topsham Ferry: 07801 203338 203338 07801 Ferry: Topsham
you would like to take. take. to like would you
07970 918418 07970 routes are available from from available are routes
Topsham to Exminster to Topsham
transport, and how long long how and transport,
Detailed Guides for these these for Guides Detailed to Dawlish Warren Warren Dawlish to
East Devon Way Devon East
to visit, your means of of means your visit, to
serving great food, local ales and wines. and ales local food, great serving
Water Taxi: Exmouth Exmouth Taxi: Water
of wildlife and diverse geology. diverse and wildlife of
on where you would like like would you where on
cruises. The Turf Locks Hotel is a family run pub pub run family a is Hotel Locks Turf The cruises.
spectacular views, a wealth wealth a views, spectacular
be used to create your own trails depending depending trails own your create to used be %STUARY 4HE !CCESS 4O 7AYS &UN /THER
Topsham to Turf Locks and RSPB bird watching watching bird RSPB and Locks Turf to Topsham
Natural Beauty providing providing Beauty Natural information (such as the ferry timetable opposite), can can opposite), timetable ferry the as (such information
East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Outstanding of Area Devon’s East Turf Hotel: 01392 833128 www.turfpub.net 833128 01392 Hotel: Turf The map, along with the accompanying route route accompanying the with along map, The
A 40 mile walking route through through route walking mile 40 A www.topshamtoturfferry.co.uk www.topshamtoturfferry.co.uk
parking, and toilet and refreshment facilities. facilities. refreshment and toilet and parking,
Avocet Cruises Avocet Holidays Bank and Weekends The Sea Dream II ferry: 07778 370582 370582 07778 ferry: II Dream Sea The
East Devon Way Devon East
stations, bus routes and stops, key viewing points, points, viewing key stops, and routes bus stations,
Daily Weekends, Bank Holidays and Easter Holidays Easter and Holidays Bank Weekends,
Topsham to Turf Locks Locks Turf to Topsham
various ferry routes and docks, train routes and and routes train docks, and routes ferry various
be walked in half a day. day. a half in walked be
a detailed map of the estuary including the the including estuary the of map detailed a
coincide with the train schedule as much as possible. as much as schedule train the with coincide
10 stages, most of which can can which of most stages, 10
the Exe Estuary. The centre of the leaflet provides provides leaflet the of centre The Estuary. Exe the Exe Valley Way Valley Exe
winter RSPB Avocet Cruises. Ferry services are timed to to timed are services Ferry Cruises. Avocet RSPB winter
be divided up in to a series of of series a to in up divided be
and public transport options available around around available options transport public and
cruises, fishing trips and bird watching cruises including including cruises watching bird and trips fishing cruises,
open estuary. The route can can route The estuary. open
This leaflet is a guide to the footpaths, cycle ways ways cycle footpaths, the to guide a is leaflet This
Starcross to Exmouth ferry, trips to Brixham, coastal coastal Brixham, to trips ferry, Exmouth to Starcross
for over 50 miles to reach the the reach to miles 50 over for
adventurous there is bound to be a route that suits you. suits that route a be to bound is there adventurous
Devon countryside, as it meanders meanders it as countryside, Devon Ferry and Fishing Trips: 07974 022536 www.exe2sea.co.uk 022536 07974 Trips: Fishing and Ferry
Whether you fancy a short stroll or something more more something or stroll short a fancy you Whether
its source on Exmoor through the the through Exmoor on source its Exe to Sea Cruises: 07974 772681 or 07812 729212 729212 07812 or 772681 07974 Cruises: Sea to Exe
is a destination you can explore again and again. again. and again explore can you destination a is
Follows the route of the Exe from from Exe the of route the Follows
Starcross to Exmouth Exmouth to Starcross
Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Service paths and exceptional views, the Exe Estuary Estuary Exe the views, exceptional and paths
Ferry
Exe Valley Way Way Valley Exe
With miles of cycle and foot foot and cycle of miles With
Topsham, Sidmouth and Torbay. and Sidmouth Topsham,
South West Coast Path Coast West South
Stuart Line Cruises Line Stuart and day trips to local towns towns local to trips day and
shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset. Dorset. in Harbour Poole of shores
the Exe Estuary. Estuary. Exe the
but may be subject to a small charge. small a to subject be may but
watching, summer coastal cruises cruises coastal summer watching, Spoonbill Exmoor National Park to the the to Park National Exmoor
Well behaved dogs on leads accepted on all services services all on accepted leads on dogs behaved Well
circular scenic cruises, guided bird bird guided cruises, scenic circular Minehead on the edge of the the of edge the on Minehead to be found on on found be to
Sail from Exmouth all year on on year all Exmouth from Sail of superb coastal walking from from walking coastal superb of
trains as long as they are stored safely. stored are they as long as trains
of the attractions attractions the of
A National Trail of 630 miles miles 630 of Trail National A or limited at peak times. Bicycles are permitted on on permitted are Bicycles times. peak at limited or www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk
recreation are some some are recreation
Bicycles are accepted but can be subject to a charge charge a to subject be can but accepted are Bicycles Stuart Line Cruises: 01395 222144 222144 01395 Cruises: Line Stuart The South West Coast Path Coast West South The
Scenic estuary cruises cruises estuary Scenic
and water based based water and
more information. more
which can be met on the estuary. the on met be can which
ever possible. Please contact individual services for for services individual contact Please possible. ever
historic buildings buildings historic be necessary for some ferry services. ferry some for necessary be routes distance long several also are there
docks, however, ferry crew are keen to help where where help to keen are crew ferry however, docks,
See main map for ferry routes. Bookings may may Bookings routes. ferry for map main See Exe, the around routes circular as well As
the ferry services due to the unsuitable nature of the the of nature unsuitable the to due services ferry the sandy beaches, beaches, sandy
&ERRIES &OOT ROUTES DISTANCE ,ONG cruises from Exmouth. Access is limited on the rest of of rest the on limited is Access Exmouth. from cruises
World class wildlife, wildlife, class World Disabled access is available on the majority of circular circular of majority the on available is access Disabled
4HE %XE %STUARY 4RAIL /THER ,EAFLETS %XE %STUARY SHORE CODE Part of the National Exe Activities is a guide to the recreational Be safe: don’t put yourself or others at risk. Cycle Network (Route 2) activities available to enjoy in and around the Be aware of the dangers from rising tides, Exe. A map shows the location of activities, soft mud, cliff edges and strong currents. Devon County Council clubs and organisations who can provide more Fish wisely: avoid waste. Only take bait for planned trips, is currently constructing detailed local information about the various don’t discard tackle and return unwanted fish to the sea. a fantastic new cycle/walkway; water sports and leisure pursuits available, known as the Exe Estuary Trail. as well as their contact information. Prevent litter: bin litter or take it home with you. When completed, the 26 mile Exe Estuary Trail Exe Wildlife is a guide to when and where trail will run along the east and Observe estuary bylaws & warnings: to see some of the wildlife highlights on the west sides of the Estuary giving check information at access points. globally important and protected Exe Estuary, access to views as never before. Be considerate to other estuary users: always keep and can help you to learn more about the animalsals %XE pets under control and don’t block access points. Parts of the route are now open with that live in this ever changing environment. others soon to be completed. For up-to-date Protect and avoid disturbing wildlife: Explore Exmouth is a series of eight linked information about the progress of the trail enjoy watching the wildlife but keep your distance, circular walks in Exmouth and Lympstone visit: www.devon.gov.uk/exeestuarytrail especially from birds gathering at high water. areas. The routes are accessible and mostly %XPLORER stile-free. All of the walks connect with at To report pollution to watercourses, flooding, fly tipping A guide to exploring the Exe Estuary %XE %STUARY 4RAIL -AP least two others, so can be easily extended. of industrial wastes and illegal fishing please call the Environment Agency Emergency Hotline on: 0800 807060 Walking Trails in Devon contains ten walks plus information on the Exe Valley Way, East Devon Way and the South West Coast
Bridge Exton to Topsham Path National Trail. Pick up a free copy Road Off road path on east side of Topsham the railway with new crossing from a TIC or visit www.visitdevon.co.uk over the River Clyst. %XE %STUARY -ANAGEMENT 0ARTNERSHIP Exminster Leaflets are available from TIC, our website: Bridge Road to Exton www.exe-estuary.org, or by contacting For people, for wildlife, for the future. Turf Lock Hotel Interim route using lane through the village. us via email: [email protected] Off road path. Exton For more information on the work we do Turf Lock please contact the exe estuary officer: Lympstone to Exton Turf Lock to Powderham Off road path on east side Off road path with new of the railway. T: 01392 382236 F: 01392 382135 railway crossing. E: [email protected] W: www.exe-estuary.org Lympstone C/o Devon County Council, Lucombe House, Exmouth to Powderham to Kenton Lympstone County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Ex2 4qw Starcross Largely off road Some use of minor path on the east roads. No part of this leaflet is to be reproduced without the side of the railway. approval of the Exe Estuary Management Partnership. Starcross Starcross to Cockwood Use of minor roads with Exmouth traffic calming measures. Cockwood
Cockwood to Dawlish Warren Off road path.
Dawlish Warren Exmouth Town Dawlish Town © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Council Council Devon County Council. Dawlish Licence No. 100019783 2008
Key Existing cycling route Proposed on-road route Proposed off-road route Interim route Many thanks to John Drake-Law (Spoonbill image), John Morton (Exe Estuary Trail) and DCC for the use of their images in this leaflet. Issue 7 – May 2010 www.exe-estuary.org