Budleigh Salterton

Because I haven't had my fill of beaches over the Summer (WHAT???) SD took pity on me a week or so ago and took me out for the day.

There's a largely undiscovered (by the masses), beautiful, unspoiled small town on the East coast of Devon.

Budleigh Salterton lies at the mouth of the river Otter between Sidmouth and Exmouth.

The reason that it's relatively undiscovered is this:

?

Beautiful isn't it?

But, it's a pebble beach ...

 So it doesn't really attract families.  The pebbles are large enough to be rather difficult and uncomfortable to walk on and with Exmouth and Sidmouth so close by that is where most people choose to take their children.

Budleigh largely remains the stomping (or strolling) ground for the older kind of person.  Often the VERY rich older kind of person.

I love it. 

Budleigh has a timeless appeal, an air of gentility, a place that I wouldn't dream of wearing jeans to.  A place where, on a sunny Sunday afternoon after church, once lunch has been consumed, ladies stroll along the seafront, taking the air.

And resting a while on a bench

 Obviously SD said I shouldn't take a photo of this lady but she was so beautifully dressed and epitomises Budleigh for me.

All along the seafront are groups of pastel coloured beach huts perched like icing covered fondant fancies:

Walking up the hill the view is breath taking with the ocean on one side:

And, on the other:

Stunning houses that I could only dream of ...

There are many boats pulled up on the beach as well as fishermen lining the shore.

And me looking decidedly nautical ;-)

At the far end the promenade takes you up above the beach and, looking down, I saw these:

Sculptures in the pebbles.  They must have taken HOURS and you could only really see them from above they were so big.  There was no indication of who had done them or why.

On the way home we stopped at Exmouth for cheesy chips on the seafront:

This is where I REALLY wished I'd remembered my camera.  The zoom on my phone isn't man enough to pick up the boats very clearly and they looked so beautiful against the blue of the water and the sky.  All except two had white sail, the others were a pale lemon and a faded dusty pink.

Budleigh Salterton really is the place to go if you want the seaside without the hustle and bustle of modern life.  Take a step back in time, take your parasol and picnic rug.  Take me if you like.

I love Budleigh ...