Devon Road Trip Photo Gallery - Exmouth

Appropriately named given its location at the mouth of the River Exe, Exmouth is a good place to start exploring the Jurassic Coast, which stretches almost 100 miles and shows off 185 million years of natural history. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, this area offers beautiful hikes and sea views, and is the only place where you can see rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras. Yes, there is a waterfront and promenade and a long stretch of beach where you can stroll along and marvel at the red coastal cliffs. At the time when these were formed, Exmouth was near the Equator in the middle of a desert, with the hot and dry conditions turning the iron into a red dust that covered the rocks. During the Napoleonic wars, naval vessels defended the British coastline from here. Privately-owned ships were also involved with government authorization to harrass and disrupt the French operating in the English Channel. Tourism them boomed during the 19th century, as with the English Riviera where seaside resorts became the trend, and the railway made access easier. It is a relatively easy hike up to Orcombe Point, the official starting point of the Jurassic Coast. The cliffs here date from the Triassic period, and you can get quite close to the edge. Be careful where you step though. They haven't put up barriers and left nature the way it should be, natural.