Seaton to Lyme Regis
(Our overall day number 55 - Part of The KC3 ECP Leg 10b11a - Dawlish to Abbotsbury)Seaton to Lyme Regis
20th May 2024 | Miles 7.5 | Elevation gain 1282ft
A shorter day, 7 and a half miles from Seaton to Lyme Regis. Notoriously a unique section, it passes through the Undercliffs National Nature Reserve, formed by landslides, creating a landscape of deep ravines, dense vegetation, and hidden clearings. It's remote with no facilities and no way to exit the path for five miles once you enter. It can be muddy even when the weather has been dry for a while. Eventually emerging from the 'jungle' the path then descends into Lyme Regis.
.jpg)
Getting there and back
We drove to Lyme Regis, parking up the hill at the Holmbush car park, from where the 378 bus runs back to Seaton, taking about 25 minutes.
Weather conditions
Sunny with blue sky, but we didn't see much of it under the tree cover in the Undercliffs!
Walking difficulty
Moderate - a shorter day and less elevation, but once you're in the Undercliff, there's no escape for five miles or so to Lyme Regis, and the path winds around and can stay muddy even in Summer. Some describe the Undercliff section as claustrophobic
The story of our day in photos
.jpg "Parked at Lyme Regis - same rates everywhere in Dorset, where the local council is much greedier than in Devon!")
Parked at Lyme Regis - same rates everywhere in Dorset, where the local council is much greedier than in Devon!
.jpg "Patiently awaiting the bus back to Seaton, at the start of the day")
Patiently awaiting the bus back to Seaton, at the start of the day
.jpg "Setting off from Seaton")
Setting off from Seaton
.jpg "Looking back at Seaton Bay, climbing eastwards from the River Axe")
Looking back at Seaton Bay, climbing eastwards from the River Axe
.jpg "A lot of the day was spent under tree cover")
A lot of the day was spent under tree cover
.jpg "Entering the unusual landscape of The Undercliffs")
Entering the unusual landscape of The Undercliffs
.jpg "How we got here")
How we got here
.jpg "Quite dry when we we here, but this path can get very muddy")
Quite dry when we we here, but this path can get very muddy
.jpg "Undercliffs vegetation")
Undercliffs vegetation
.jpg "The path emerges to offer this viewpoint (with a seat!) overlooking Charton Bay")
The path emerges to offer this viewpoint (with a seat!) overlooking Charton Bay
.jpg "Finally emerging from The Undercliffs and heading down into Lyme Regis")
Finally emerging from The Undercliffs and heading down into Lyme Regis
.jpg "Final stretch along the beach at Lyme Regis")
Final stretch along the beach at Lyme Regis
.jpg "We stopped for a late lunch at the Bell Cliff in Lyme Regis")
We stopped for a late lunch at the Bell Cliff in Lyme Regis
.jpg "Back in Sidmouth and enjoying a glass of rose in the sun at The Victoria Hotel")
Back in Sidmouth and enjoying a glass of rose in the sun at The Victoria Hotel
Useful links
