In the absence of international travel, I’ve been exploring the UK more than usual. I recently went to Devon in England and, as per usual, looked for fun adventure activities. I enjoyed hiking from Branscombe to Beer on a sunny day – would recommend!
About the walk from Branscombe to Beer
Predictably, this walk begins in the village of Branscombe and heads to the village of Beer. It’s a circular route, so you can return along a different path when you hike back to Branscombe.
It’s a coastal walk along the headland, and so there are a couple of steeper inclines to get from the beach to the headland and back down. The walk should take about 3 hours, depending on how long you want to stop (for lunch, ice cream, or perhaps a beer in Beer?).
This is a National Trust walk and you can find detailed instructions on the National Trust website.
Setting off from Branscombe
The route begins at the National Trust carpark at Margells Bridge in Branscombe.
The National Trust carpark is very small, however there is another larger carpark right beside it which has an even larger overflow carpark. If you choose to park here, they ask for a voluntary donation which you can pay in cash or via bank transfer. There are toilet facilities here also.
The route is well signposted and takes you through an orchard past some tearooms which, at the time of writing, have been converted into an AirBnB due to Covid. The tearooms are set to re-open in 2022.
Head up through some woodland to get out onto the headland and you’ll soon come to a clearing with pretty views of the village (pictured above). Continuing on, you’ll be met with stunning views of the ocean over Branscombe beach.
Stop for a pasty on Branscombe Beach
We began our hike late in the morning and it was already lunchtime by the time we descended from the headland onto Branscombe beach. Here there is a cafe where you can buy a proper meal.
If you’re in the market for something cheaper and don’t mind sitting on the beach, I can recommend grabbing a warm pasty (veggie or beef) and a soft drink from the shop next door. Yum. Pasties are a delicious must eat for this part of the UK.
We went down to the beach and sat on the rocks away from the water. The beach here is small shingle and the water is calm – a good spot for paddle boarding another day.
Once you’ve stocked up on energy, continue the walk back up onto the headland to hike towards Beer.
There is a relatively steep incline, at the top of which you’ll find a signpost with two options of direction to Beer. We chose to take the steep steps up onto the headland. Nothing too challenging, as the distance is short.
Walk over the headland towards Beer
Once up on the headland you’ll be greeted with stunning views of the ocean and cliff faces as you make your way towards Beer. The path is easy to follow and, even on a bright sunny day, there aren’t too many people making the journey.
In the summer, arriving in Beer you’ll meet families returning up the hill from a paddle at the beach. Carry on down to the village and you’ll find cafes, ice cream parlours, and gift shops.
The beach here is larger pebbles and you’ll be glad if you’ve worn hiking boots. Beer beach is a busy spot. You’ll find fishing boats and sunbathers.
Take an alternative route back along the beach
Once you’ve sat on the beach for a while with a refreshing ice cream, it’s time to head back towards Branscombe. Take the alternative path back which runs closer to the ocean.
From here you can really take in the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. You can almost convince yourself that a dino will be just around the next corner.
You’ll come across a small path down to the ocean which comes out on a quiet stretch of Branscombe beach, well away from the bustle of the cafe area. After walking for some way, we took the opportunity to remove our boots and have a quiet paddle in the calm of the ocean.
When your feet are refreshed, head back along the pebble beach towards the cafe, and back up towards the woodland walk back to the carpark.
Where to stay near Branscombe and Beer
We stayed nearby at the Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Course. Staying on a golf course wouldn’t usually be my style, but with so many people holidaying in the UK this year the options were scarce.
We were very pleasantly surprised by our stay and would recommend the hotel. It’s well located for a short drive to outdoor activities, had a good restaurant for breakfast.
The rooms were clean and spacious and we couldn’t complain.
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