If you're wondering where to catch some rays on a sun-drenched day, the Jurassic Coast is brimming with spots. However, there's one seaside town that seems to slip under the holidaymakers' radar. Tucked away in East Devon, Seaton finds itself squeezed between the bustling tourist draws of Sidmouth and Lyme Regis.
Not far off, the charming fishing village of Beer also garners attention for its delightful boutiques and idyllic beach views. "People bypass us because they don't know that we're even here," said Victoria Moorey, who works at Coastal Craft Collective by the seafront. "Sidmouth's on the map, Lyme's on the map and nobody knows about little Seaton in the middle.
It is a hidden gem. We're all independent businesses, we've got so much that goes on. "We get accused of being a tiny town but that's the thing, we are a small town with a huge beach, a great community and a big heart.
" Devon's own seaside café offering sweeping views of the Jurassic Coast has recently reopened sporting a fresh look, and Exeter anticipates an exciting array of new openings come summer, reports Devon Live . During DevonLive's visit on what was one of the warmest days of the year thus far, Seaton was a hub of activity. The pebbled beach was brimming with life, from sunbathers to swimmers, paddleboarders to strollers, all basking in the glorious weather .
Victoria highlights Seaton's low profile as its hidden strength. Unlike most seaside locales swamped by seasonal second homeowners, Seaton has retained a consistent local community throughout the year. Victoria expressed her support for more investment but appreciates the town's steady economy, saying: "It's a working town with visitors.
It's nice and quiet but gets busier in the summer. We're not a town that closes down. We stay open all year round.
We're not subject to loads of second homeowners like a lot of Devon towns are so it stays the same all year round." Despite the Esplanade showing signs of neglect, development is now finally moving ahead. The unsightly Fosseway Court flats complex is set for redevelopment while the abandoned Hook and Parrott pub awaits demolition to make way for new apartments and a restaurant.
These projects have received strong support from residents. Regarding the upcoming changes, Victoria stated: "It will improve it because it was a very old 70s eyesore. Walking past, the blocks were a little bit tired.
That's a huge amount of investment coming in and then we're just waiting for the pub next door to be developed. That will make a massive difference." In the quaint town of Seaton, there's a charm that extends beyond its picturesque beachfront.
During our visit, local traders were brimming with pride for their community. Lindsey Macdougall from the Paperchain gift shop shared her affection for the town: "It's a very friendly town, everybody knows everybody. It takes a while to come to work in the morning when you have a little gossip here and there.
"We're a bit like Marmite; you either love us or you hate us. There's not the big shops, it's a very quiet town but it's a very sociable town." Having called Seaton home since 1991, Lindsey has witnessed considerable changes over the past three decades.
The high street still boasts a variety of independent shops, although she notes a shift in commerce towards larger retailers such as the Tesco Superstore. Lindsey remarked: "With bigger shops coming in, the trade has gone towards one side so it's had a little bit of an impact because there used to be all the banks, dry cleaners, fruit and veg shops, butchers. But there are a lot of shops opening up.
" Meanwhile, just a stone's throw away, Matt Bowker at Taste of Devon Butchers champions the traditional businesses. He observes strong support from locals and visitors alike, despite some establishments grappling with the current economic challenges. The seaside gem of Seaton is buzzing with community spirit and small business blooms, despite the challenges faced by some local shops.
"It's a lovely place to live, people are friendly, there's a good community spirit," he said. "We get a nice local trade throughout the whole year and then when the tourists and holidaymakers come down, it does pick up for us. It's amazing footfall, especially when the sun's shining "There are a few shops around that are vacant at the moment and they keep swapping and changing but generally we're keeping things open.
It is hard times." Despite tough odds, new ventures like Yummy!, an oriental food store, have emerged to warm welcomes. Owner Lyka Rowlands expressed her gratitude: "I was surprised because it's an oriental store and you don't really find them in small towns so opening here, we've had people welcome us.
Even if they don't buy anything, they just say things like 'we're so happy you opened here'. It's so sweet. It's a close-knit community.
" She added that while Seaton is sometimes overlooked, more can be done to celebrate this tight-knit town: "We need to encourage more people to come here, advertising Seaton. We need to push more on that. The street needs flowers and things like that to make it more vibrant.
" The high street's sparkle is further sweetened by Cortona Gelato Lab, dishing out artisan gelato crafted from local Axminster milk, which has seen an uptick in traffic as the mercury rises. "It's probably the smiliest place I've ever worked," said Megan Voysey, a shop worker who's loving the vibe now that the weather's perked up. "Now the weather's turned and it's a lot nicer, people do want a bit of gelato.
" Megan reckons being by the sea is a real treat, but she's keen for more buzz for the youth, much like the new trendy seafront bar and cafe Tide. Seaton, like many spots in East Devon, tends to skew older with a hefty slice of the population over 70. Yet, Megan's all for the town's laid-back charm.
She enthuses: "It's lovely being so close to the sea. It's such a luxury, I can be there in seconds." She's got her finger on the pulse of what young folk need: "There could be more going on for young people.
It's good now we've got Tide and a few other businesses on the front but there's not many places to go in the evenings." Megan appreciates the quieter scene compared to nearby Lyme Regis and Sidmouth, saying: "We don't get as many people [as Lyme Regis and Sidmouth] which is nice in some ways. It's a really good community of people who are here all year round, whereas when you go to Lyme, it's a lot of people who have bought second homes.
" No seaside experience is complete without a chippy within reach, and Frydays is the go-to spot in Seaton, just a hop from the sands. George Anghel, the manager at Frydays, shared his love for the locale: "When you drive to the town, it's like you are entering the sea. It's a beautiful view.
I like being on the coast because I like to walk, I like to cycle." George, a local resident, expressed his views on the lack of tourist trade in comparison to other Jurassic Coast towns. He stated: "In my opinion, in Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Exmouth, there's more people than here because they have more facilities there.
More hotels, more restaurants, more everything. This is a quieter town but the beach is amazing." If you want ideas and inspiration to plan your next UK adventure plus selected offers and competitions, sign up for our 2Chill weekly newsletter here.
