The UK is home to countless picture-perfect towns that attract visitors from far and wide, but it is the villages in the South West of England that receive the most praise. Counties such as Devon boast towns with breathtaking beaches, ancient cobbled streets and historic buildings.
The search for Devon’s prettiest town has sparked debate, but Clovelly on the North Devon coast has been given the top spot by UK holiday specialist Hoseasons. While there were 12 different locations on the list, one hidden gem didn’t make the ranking despite being dubbed “one of Devon’s most unspoilt and charming towns”. Below, we have spotlighted Budleigh Salterton and explored why tourists should visit.
Why visit Budleigh Salterton?
Nestled less than two hours away from Clovelly is Budleigh Salterton. According to Alex Gwillim from Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays, “Budleigh Salterton is a real hidden gem”.
He went on to say that the village boasts “iconic red sandstone cliffs of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic coast, and a small town filled with unique local businesses to explore”.
Possessing a 2.5-mile pebble beach, its shores are listed among The Times’ Top 10 Beaches in the South West, and its waters earned an “excellent” rating in the 2024 Bathing Water Classifications.
Budleigh Salterton has a wide range of water sports, with Alex noting that visitors can hire stand-up paddleboards or kayaks to explore the stunning coastline from the water. The unspoiled town is also a haven for nature lovers.
Visitors can stroll along the beach to the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve, where they can go birdwatching. For those who enjoy a gentle hike, easy walking trails offer stunning views of the sandstone cliffs.
Despite the Devon coast being known for its beautiful scenery, tourists should stop by the Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre, which showcases Budleigh Salterton’s unique Jurassic Coast geology and historic industries. Photos, paintings and an art exhibition of contemporary local artists are also displayed here, reported Love Budleigh.
What do visitors think?
Budleigh beach has a respectable 3.9 bubbles on TripAdvisor. One visitor noted how quiet the area is and shared: “We loved this beach. It was nice and quiet.
“People were swimming and paddleboarding, and it was perfect as the sea was so calm. It was nice and quiet despite it being a sunny June Sunday.”
Another said: “Fabulous place to go for a walk. One can walk to Exmouth and be back in less than four hours. The whole walk was relaxing and the fabulous scenery.”
However, the Otter Valley Wildlife Walk boasts a higher rating with 4.7 bubbles. One person commented: “A lovely walk along the river with bird life on the way.
“Benches along the walk if you want to sit and take in the views. We walked to Otterton had lunch there and walked back to Budleigh, a great way to spend a few hours.”