Beer: Discover caves, the beach and history

In Beer, you can shape your stay around a wide range of interests: guided tours of historic caves, activities on the beach, a circular walk that follows sections of the South West Coast Path, or places with a cultural history of their own. If you’re looking for a hotel in Beer, it may make sense to first prioritise the themes you’d like to include in your trip. The following distinctions offer practical guidance for planning.

Caves and architectural history

The Beer Quarry Caves are 2,000-year-old caves created by people and can be explored on guided tours. The tours are organised seasonally, so check the dates before your visit. The caves were first worked by the Romans and supplied stone for 24 cathedrals, including Exeter and St Paul’s. The stone was also used for parts of Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. This means you can see a visit not only as a cave tour, but also as a window into a far-reaching history of construction. The Beer Quarry Caves are also designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These designations add the caves’ protected status to their historical significance.

Beach, circular walk and regatta

Beer Beach is ideal for crabbing and exploring rock pools. If you’d rather focus on a circular walk than individual beach activities, consider the Beer & Branscombe Circular, which follows sections of the South West Coast Path. Beach activities and the circular walk thus offer different kinds of experiences to choose from for your trip. Beer’s regatta may also be relevant to your plans: it takes place every summer. Check the event dates in advance if you’d like to plan your trip around the regatta.

Church and Jubilee Gardens

The area’s cultural history can also be traced through individual buildings and gardens. St Michael’s Church in Beer was built by the Hon. Mark Rolle on the site of an existing chapel dating from before 1146. The construction cost about £7,186.18s.3d. Beer’s Jubilee Gardens were commissioned as part of the celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The church’s historical points of interest are its earlier chapel and construction costs; for the gardens, it is the occasion for which they were created.

Model railway and train rides

At Pecorama, you can explore two different railway-related attractions. The Model Railway Exhibition features layouts with interactive elements. Pecorama also offers the Beer Heights Light Railway, a 7¼-inch-gauge railway that has been welcoming visitors since 1975. Train rides are available on selected opening days, during special events and as experiences that can be booked in advance. If a ride is important to you, check the relevant opening days and booking options in advance. This lets you include the exhibition’s interactive layouts and a ride on the railway as separate interests in your plans.

Discover more destinations: East Portlemouth, Staverton, Upton Pyne, Witheridge, Beaworthy, Upottery, Dalwood and Exbourne.

For the broader travel overview: Devon.