Beer to Branscombe Coastal Walk: A Local’s Hiking Guide
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If you’re looking for an easy, beginner-friendly coastal hike with incredible views, the Beer to Branscombe walk is one of my favourite short walks in East Devon.
Following the South West Coast Path between two gorgeous seaside villages, this coastal hike is packed full of unbelievable Jurassic Coast views in only 2.2 miles (or 4.4 miles if you walk back again).
The Beer to Branscombe coastal walk is relatively short and manageable for most walkers, although there are a few hills along the way to remind you that this is still the South West Coast Path!
With clifftop views, beautiful scenery and the promise of a pub, café and beach at the end, it makes a brilliant half-day adventure while exploring East Devon.
I’ve lived in East Devon for over 15 years and walked this stretch of coast more times than I can count. In fact, I remember walking here on family holidays long before I eventually moved to Devon, and it remains one of my favourite local sections of the coast path.
If you’re planning to walk from Beer to Branscombe (or the other way around), I’ll take you through everything you need to know before setting off, including the route, distance and difficulty, what to wear, where to stop for food and drink, and a few local tips for making the most of your walk.
Beer to Branscombe Walk – At A Glance
Start/Finish – Beer or Branscombe, depending on which direction you want to walk in
Distance – 2.2 miles one way, 4.4 miles return
Time Required – 2-3 hours (at an easy pace, with stops)
Parking – Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park, or Beer Town Centre Car Park
Public Transport – 899 bus, which goes from Seaton to Sidmouth via Branscombe. Timetable here.
Facilities – Shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and public toilets in Beer and Branscombe. No facilities on the trail itself.
Difficulty – 2/5 (based on shorter length, but there is a steep hill out of Beer and Branscombe, which can be avoided. More details on how to avoid the hills and shorten the walk below.)
Beer to Branscombe Circular Hike Map
How Long Is the Beer to Branscombe Walk?
The Beer to Branscombe walk is a great hike for beginners as it’s fairly short compared to many sections of the South West Coast Path. At only 4.4 miles, you can easily complete this circular hike within 2-3 hours, depending on how many times you stop for photos or how long you stay in Branscombe before walking back to Beer.
How Difficult Is the Beer to Branscombe Walk?
As far as the South West Coast Path goes, I would say this is one of the easier sections, as there’s only one uphill climb to tackle. If you’re a beginner, this circular walk would be a great challenge.
If you’re concerned about the uphill climb though, you can avoid it by walking over the top of the cliffs, rather than through the Hooken Cliffs undercliff section, and then turning back at the top of the hill, before going down into Branscombe.
You can also avoid the climb from Beer town by parking in the Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park, which is right at the beginning of the hike.
Beer to Branscombe Walk Route Guide
Starting at Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park, walk to the bottom of the car park and take a right to walk along the gravel road towards the caravan park.
Just after you walk into the caravan park, you’ll take a left through the hedgerows and follow the path down and around to the right, walking through tall hedges towards a field.
Once in the field, you’ll follow the well-worn track uphill for a short while towards a bench and through the hedgerows again.
Keep following the path, keeping the ocean on your left. You’ll walk through another field before reaching a wooden gate which takes you into a field where the view opens up magnificently.
Follow the track again across the next field, walking slightly uphill again over the brow of the hill until you reach the best viewpoint on the walk – the view over Hooken Cliffs and Branscombe Beach with incredible views of the Jurassic Coast to Sidmouth and beyond.
You’ll probably want to stop to take in this viewpoint for a while, but once you’ve had your fill of beautiful scenery, follow the fence line until you reach a wooden signpost and a wooden gate.
The wooden signpost will direct you to the left, to follow the coast path to Branscombe Mouth, 1 mile away. If you’re a purist and want to follow the official coast path, you’ll take a left here and follow the path down the steps and through the undercliffs.
If you want to avoid the big uphill climb from Branscombe Beach, you will need to follow the signpost that says ‘Public Footpath – Hooken Cliffs 1/4 mile‘. This means you will continue straight over the top of the cliffs.
For this circular hike from Beer to Branscombe, the next part of this guide will follow the official coast path through the undercliffs, taking a left at the wooden waymarking signpost.
From here, you’ll take the steps down through the undergrowth below the tall chalk cliffs, following the footpath through the trees. Normally, you’d follow the footpath all the way into The Sea Shanty Holiday Park, but as of winter 2026, this path is now closed due to severe landslides.
Instead, you’ll come to a point where the path forks. The path that goes to the right is blocked by a barrier, so you’ll need to follow the trail to the left, down onto the pebbly beach, where we usually stop to have a swim.
From here, you’ll follow the beach for about 1/4 mile all the way into Branscombe Mouth, where you’ll find the Sea Shanty Cafe, a shop and the trail into Branscombe Village.
After enjoying a rest and a bite to eat at the Sea Shanty and exploring Branscombe, it’s time to tackle the uphill section to the top of the cliffs, which will take you back to Beer. The hill is honestly not as bad as it looks. Take it one section at a time and enjoy the benches and views along the way.
Once you reach the top, it’s an easy flat hike back across the clifftops to the Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park where you started. You’ll pass the gorgeous Lookout Tower, on top of the cliffs, which can be rented for self-catering holidays!
Eventually, you’ll reach a narrow road which leads down beside the caravan park and into the long-stay car park.
How to Get Back From Branscombe to Beer
If you only want to walk one way from Beer to Branscombe, you can catch the 899 bus from Branscombe to Beer. You’ll need to walk into the village as the bus doesn’t go down to Branscombe Beach.
If you have parked in the Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park, you’ll need to get off in Beer village and walk up the Beer Hill from the town to the car park, as the bus doesn’t go up the hill.
The 899 bus takes about 12 minutes from Branscombe to Beer.
What to Expect on the Beer to Branscombe Coastal Walk
You can expect incredible coastal and sea views along the Beer to Branscombe Coastal Walk. Look out for Peregrine Falcons that nest in Hooken Cliffs, as well as the odd seal that pops up in the waters off Branscombe Beach.
The trail is either grassy or gravelly underfoot, so good walking shoes are recommended. Sections of the trail, including the walk back up the hill from Branscombe Mouth and the steps down to the beach below Hooken Cliffs, require good mobility.
Best Places to Stay in Beer
Budget Accommodation
Anchor Inn by Greene King Inns – Hotel room for 2 people right on Beer Beach. The Anchor also provides great food and is in a fantastic location, with sea views.
Mid-Range Accommodation
Bay View Guest House – Opposite the Anchor, only 30-seconds from Beer Beach, the Bay View Guesthouse offers cosy rooms and stunning sea views
Unusual Accommodation
Escape Pods – Short walk from Beer Beach, stay in a cosy wooden pod with a private garden and terrace with stunning garden views.
Where to Eat and Drink Along the Walk
Beer has a huge variety of excellent places to eat and drink, whether you want to fuel up before the walk, or grab a bite to eat at the end! I recommend trying The Anchor Inn for great pub food and drinks in the Beer Garden overlooking the beach, the Bay View Tea Rooms for quintessential English tea room vibes and great cafe food, and Woozie’s Deli for the best Cornish Pasties (I know Beer isn’t in Cornwall, but the pasties here are great!).
If you’re looking to break up your coastal walk with some food in Branscombe, I recommend grabbing lunch at The Sea Shanty Beach Cafe (the scones and cream teas are always great), or for something a bit more special, stop at the Mason’s Arms, a14th-century thatched pub just a short walk from Branscombe Beach, offering fantastic food, a cosy atmosphere and gorgeous rooms to stay overnight.
Toilets and Facilities
There are no facilities along the trail itself, except for in Beer and Branscombe villages, so ensure you have plenty of water and snacks.
Public toilets at the start of the walk can be found at the bottom of Beer Hill above the beach. There are also toilets at the Sea Shanty Cafe for customers.
What to Wear and Bring
As the Beer to Branscombe circular walk is fairly short, you don’t need to carry a huge amount. I recommend wearing good hiking shoes, boots or trainers (no flip-flops!), comfortable walking clothes, waterproofs (just in case), water, sunscreen, snacks and a swimsuit if you want to swim at Branscombe Beach.
Getting to Beer by Car and Parking
Beer can get very busy in the summer months, and it can be difficult to park in the village unless you arrive early (before 10 am). You will usually be able to find parking in the Cliff Top Long Stay Car Park at the start of the hike, even in busy months.
If you do want to park in the village, the Town Centre Car Park is the biggest.
By car: If you are arriving by car, Beer is a 10-minute drive from Seaton and is easy to reach.
By bus: If you’re arriving by public transport, the 885 or the 899 bus from Seaton are the quickest ways to get to Beer.
When Is the Best Time to Walk From Beer to Branscombe?
You can walk from Beer to Branscombe all year round, but the hike is at its best in the spring and summer months, as you’ll get to enjoy good weather, beautiful views in the sunshine and maybe even a halfway swim at Branscombe Beach.
Having said that, I have walked this section at all times of the year, including at Christmas time – it makes for a great winter walk.
If you’re staying nearby and looking for great things to do in East Devon, this is one of those things that you can do any month of the year.
The only time I would advise against walking this hike is in extremely bad weather, as the walk is exposed along the cliff tops and could be dangerous in very strong winds and rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you walk from Beer to Branscombe along the beach?
No, you cannot walk all the way from Beer to Branscombe along the beach as there are sections that are unreachable on foot. The sea is tidal, and any attempt to walk along the beach to Branscombe from Beer could result in you becoming cut off by incoming tides.
Can you walk from Branscombe to Beer instead?
Yes, you can start at Branscombe and follow this walk in reverse if you’re staying in Branscombe.
Is the Beer to Branscombe walk suitable for dogs?
Yes, dogs are welcome along the walk, but you should ensure they are kept on a lead if you are walking through a field containing livestock.
Are there any dangerous cliff sections on the walk?
Some sections follow the cliff edge, and there are some sections that contain steps that are steep, but it is not dangerous unless done in extremely bad weather conditions.
Can you extend the Beer to Branscombe walk?
Yes, you can either start in Seaton and walk from Seaton to Branscombe, or you can continue along the coast path from Branscombe to Sidmouth! The Branscombe to Sidmouth walk is especially great for those who want a longer, more challenging walk.
Planning to walk from Beer to Branscombe? I’ve walked this trail dozens of times, and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have! You can contact me via the contact form.
