SIDMOUTH IN SOUTH EAST DEVON  map ref SY1287
  Map of Area - Local Towns | Beer | Honiton | Budleigh Salterton
  Axminster | Seaton | Exmouth | Exeter | Ottery St Mary | Beer

The Where to Stay Directory - Accommodation in Sidmouth

Looking towards Sidmouth from Salcombe Hill

Accommodation in Sidmouth Self-catering Accommodation Bed and Breakfast Accommodation Hotel Accommodation Camping and Caravanning

Local Houses - Killerton House and Gardens (NT) Branscombe - The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge (NT) A La Ronde (NT) Cadhay Marker's Cottage (NT)

Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre Ham Lane, Sidmouth, EX10 8XR. Tel. +44 (0) 1395 516441

Thanks to Joy Seward - Vice Chairman "Sidmouth in Bloom" for her assistance with this page

Sidmouth is a beautiful, unspoilt regency town overlooking the waters of Lyme Bay. Sidmouth has effectively managed to preserve its old world charm - without the intrusion of modern buildings, which clutter the promenades and seafronts of so many of our traditional seaside towns.

Every year, at the height of the summer, Sidmouth hosts a Folk Festival. During this event, the town is taken over by a riot of colour and sound as Sidmouth succumbs to the world music. The town's promenade becomes a metropolis for Morris dancers, musicians, fire eaters and lyre players and of course the festival goers themselves.

Sidmouth appears in the Doomsday book as, Sedemuda. The town lies in a beautiful valley, protected from the elements by the sandstone cliffs. The town used to have a harbour, where the River Sid now runs across the beach. During the fifteenth century the town was subject to a particularly long spell of violent stormy weather, which caused land slips along the cliff edge, blocking the harbour permanently.

There was a plan to re-establish the harbour in the 1810's. To execute the plan, stone would have to have been transported to Sidmouth in large quantities. The most cost effective option was to build a railroad through the cliff face.

The remains of the railroad and rock tunnel can easily be seen today. The venture itself was abandoned - the daunting task of creating a railway by excavating through such difficult terrain had been achieved, but the more basic requirement to ensure that the narrow tunnel was wide enough for the engines to fit through - was not. The catastrophe led to the abandonment of the railway and consequently the plans to revitalise the harbour.

Architecturally, Sidmouth is a true gem, with a fascinating history. The town has many fine examples from the Regency Period - with elegant wrought iron balconies and white painted facades - buildings enhanced by the town's stunningly beautiful gardens and floral displays. Sidmouth has some 500 buildings which are now officially 'listed' - in a range of styles from differing eras. Some of the most splendid buildings in Sidmouth date back to the 18th century, but there are many examples of smaller cottages - built to house the servants, many retaining their original structures of thatched roofing, stone foundations and cob walling.