Exmouth Beach

Exmouth is a long sandy beach backed by a sea wall, Queen’s Drive and a promenade lined with shops, restaurants and pubs. It suits families and water sports fans who want the facilities of a resort beside nearly two miles of sand, and it is a short walk from the town centre. Choose your base in Exmouth and you can reach the beach on foot.

Swimming and lifeguards

The RNLI runs lifeguard patrols from the Easter holidays, weekends in the spring and then daily through the summer. No flags means no lifeguards, so swim or bodyboard between the red and yellow flags when they are out. In an emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

There is one area where the River Exe runs close to the beach: bathing is not permitted there, and large signs mark it. A powered craft exclusion zone, marked by yellow buoys, covers the water between Orcombe Point and Maer Rocks.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed all year at both ends of the beach, from the second breakwater east and from the Octagon cafe west. They are prohibited from the centre portion from 1 May to 30 September, so choose your end before you leave the car. East Devon District Council publishes a separate dog information page with the full rules.

Parking and facilities

There are three large public car parks, all chargeable, with public toilets at intervals along the seafront and water taps and refill points. There are ice cream and refreshment kiosks, beach huts, and a boat launch at Mamhead slipway. The mainline train station is within a ten minute walk. A beach wheelchair can be booked through Exmouth Town Council.

Things to do

Rock-pooling is at Maer Rocks. Edge and Exmouth Water Sports run water sports, and Stuartline Cruises run boat trips. Open fires are not allowed on the beach.