Budleigh Salterton, Devon
If you have a stroll around Budleigh Salterton on the World Heritage Site Jurassic Coast one of the first things you’ll notice is the quiet, relaxed air and that timeless charm that smaller coastal towns often have. What’s nice is that Budleigh is unspoilt and hasn’t been affected by the brash commercialism that you frequently see at the seaside.
That's partly because Budleigh Salterton is only a small town, with a population of around 5,000, which means most of the shops and cafes are independently owned. There's a butchers, greengrocers, bakers, fishmongers and a very good deli, so it’s worth taking your basket and filling it with local goodies to take back to your Devon holiday cottage at Stonehayes Farm.
Follow the brook that runs down through the main street to the sea and you’ll come to a two mile stretch of pebbly beach backed with a row of colourfully painted beach huts and towering red sandstone cliffs. The waters at Budleigh Salterton are renowned for being safe and clean so if you’ve got your bathing suit on go for a swim; otherwise roll up your trouser legs and at least have a paddle! Stretch your legs with a stroll along the clifftop on the South West Coast Path and fill your lungs with that bracing sea air; it’ll make you hungry mind, so try Rockfish down on the seafront, or stroll back to town for a bite to eat at The Salt Cellars Cafe or The Feathers Hotel (down to honest food and service), or Marco's Italian for pizza and pasta.
All information correct at the time of writing