ExmouthUnited Kingdom

Relax in the sun, try exciting sports and search in rock pools on Exmouth’s 2-mile (3-kilometer) long sandy beach. Explore the Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site. Stay for unique cultural events, such as the Christmas Day Swim and the Exmouth Arts Festival.

Head to Exmouth Beach and enjoy a wide range of watersports. Learn to kitesurf, windsurf and paddleboard. Try the "duckpond" if you’re a beginner, a sheltered area of the estuary, or find a bigger challenge in the area around Pole Sands. Enjoy kayaking at Orcombe Point or paddle up the estuary for picturesque scenery. Have fun below the waves and explore the ruins of the steamship Bretagne, which sank in 1918.

Walk coastal paths along 250-million-year-old cliffs at Orcombe Point. Visit the Geoneedle, the sculpture which marks the western edge of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Stroll along the beautiful Exe Estuary Trail and spot local wildlife. This is a particularly good spot for bird watching, with many migratory sea birds stopping off here throughout the year. Rent a bike and take the trail all the way to the quaint village of Lympstone or follow the South West Coast Path to Somerset or Dorset.

Stay for some of the exciting events here. Visit at Christmas for the Medieval Christmas Cracker, a costumed fundraising celebration with craft fairs and themed games. Watch the Christmas Day Swim, when people brave the chilly British waters and swim up the estuary. Enjoy literature events, visual arts projects and theater performances in May at the Exmouth Arts Festival.

Reach Exmouth by train or bus from Exeter and Sidmouth. The nearest airport is Exeter, which also operates a bus to the town. Exmouth is at its most popular in the summer, when tourists take advantage of the warmer weather to enjoy the beaches. See a different Exmouth in the winter, when the quieter beach and trails are perfect for relaxing walks.