6 fun things to do in Beer, Devonshire

Escape to the charming village of Beer in Devon, England for a perfect weekend getaway. This guide covers everything from scenic coastal walks and local breweries to cozy pubs and quaint shops, making it the ideal itinerary for a relaxing and memorable weekend in the countryside.

Many of the quaint villages nestled inside Devonshire go unnoticed by travelers. This is the case with Beer, a lovely seaside village that is quintessentially British in all its charm. Sea air, coastal walking paths, and fresh fish and chips make this fishing community a cute stop if you’re traveling through the South of England.

I think getting out of London when you travel to England is massively important. Like people who have only traveled to New York City or Los Angeles, there is a part of the U.S. that you are missing out on; a part of the heritage, history, and overall culture of the country. The same can be said of England. Seeing the coastal countryside and its many fishing villages deepened my love for this lush little land, and I'm ever so grateful that I got to see it through the eyes of someone I care about.

where is beer + how do i get there ↴

Beer is on the Southern coast of England in Devon. I was lucky enough to go by car to Beer, making it pretty straightforward. You can get to Beer by train via Seaton, but it seems to be kind of the world's biggest pain. If you have the option of driving to Beer, I highly recommend jumping in the car. If you don't, you can read more here for ways to get to the Jurassic Coast.

when is the best time to visit ↴

Most websites will tell you to visit Beer in the summer as the weather tends to be on the warmer side. Beer has a pebble beach that many boating and fishing enthusiasts enjoy, but if you know anything about England you know that seasons don't mean much in terms of weather-- you can get all four of them in a single afternoon.

Beer in August is lovely. The weather varies from sunshine to cloud coverage, as you’d expect in an English coastal community, but you shouldn’t ever need more than a sweater to keep you warm. From mid-September onwards, the weather worsens a bit {again, still super unpredictable}, but the reason I wouldn’t advise visiting during this period is that almost everything shuts for the season. Many of the local restaurants close, as well as the town’s boutiques. The beach is too cold to swim in during this time too. Stick to visiting in the spring and summer months if you want to enjoy anything more than the coastal walks.

view of Beer beach from the walk to Seaton

you can rent a beach hut for 10GBP for a whole day

empty Beer beach on a morning's mission for photos

what to see + do ↴

Beer makes a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of London! If you love hikes along rugged coastlines and cheeky ginger beers on the beach, Beer is an ideal trip. There's plenty to keep you busy over a weekend or Bank holiday!

walk the Jurassic Coast path

I'm always one for a good hike, particularly in a new place when the weather is a decent temperature. The absolute best views of the Jurassic Coast and its nearby villages can be found by walking to Branscombe or Seaton on the lovely marked trails provided. The more challenging walk is definitely from Beer to Branscombe and back thanks to the steeper inclines. The views are unbeatable and the green backdrop is stunning. The walk from Beer to Seaton is easier and takes less time to complete. Both walks end at cafes where a flat white is indeed in order!

grab a pint {or two} at a local pub

After our initial walk around the town, we grabbed pints {I grabbed a half because this is me we're talking about...} at the Anchor Inn, one of many pubs on High Street that offer a quintessentially British vibe thanks to locals yelling at the television screen as the football match played. Other pubs in the area include The Dolphin Hotel and Barrel O'Beer.

see the wild horses in Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park is a relatively short drive from Beer {just an hour away}. With 368 square miles swathed in moorland, you won’t run out of trails to walk or views to see. The best part of Dartmoor, to me anyway, was seeing the wild horses that infamously roam across the national park grounds. We came upon a black horse just standing in the rain and the wind, not bothered at all by the moody weather. Entrance to Dartmoor is free to the public, but you can stop by the National Trust cafés that are around. Your money helps directly support conservation efforts.

visit the Beer Fine Foundation Centre

Right off the beach is a small wooden building that has hands-on learning exhibits about the amazing fossils found along the Jurassic Coast, sea life and how it has evolved, and conservation efforts of the area. The Beer Fine Foundation even offers free rubbish sticks to those who want to help clean up the beach {although, I didn't see a speck of rubbish anywhere along the coast}.

bring a book to the beach

Beer Beach is the perfect place to bring your book and a blanket and cozy up for a read! Despite the gray looking photos, the sun did shine while we were in Beer, and the beach heated up in the afternoon {when most people were out picnicking, swimming, or hunting for crab. I enjoyed a ginger beer and Rupi Kaur's latest book while warming up on the pebble beach. It's a great place to get caught up on all the books you keep saying you're going to read and never make time to!

go for a swim, surf, or paddleboard

This is definitely a summertime suggestion {unless you're like me and unbothered by cold water}. Water temperatures aren't like those off the coast of Italy, but the water is wonderfully clear. If you aren't one for swimming try surfing or paddleboarding at one of the many hire companies that offer instruction. Check out reviews for Seaton's lessons here.

visit Durdle Door

Only a little over an hour’s car ride away is Durdle Door, a natural limestone archway. Fun fact: the archway is actually owned by a family that owns over 10,000 acres of Dorset land. It’s one of the most photographed landmarks in Dorset and, the best part is, it’s free to visit!

where to eat ↴

In truth, we cook most of our meals whenever we’re in Beer. I've been thoroughly enjoying making meals together while we have a kitchen to utilize {not to mention the money saved}. When we do eat out, here are the places we treat ourselves to:

Gina's

Gina's is located right along High Street and offers reasonably priced Italian + Thai dishes. You will need to book in advance as Gina's is a small establishment that gets filled quickly for dinner. I had the Thai Green Curry with tofu which had a delicious spicy taste that was washed down nicely with a Singha.

Beer Fish + Chips Shop

No surprises here! You can get classic fish and chips wrapped in paper to take to the beach. There are some veggie options, but I just nibbled on chips as I was already too full to down a veggie burger. The prices are pretty standard, but the portions are heaping.

The Smuggler's Kitchen

The Smuggler's Kitchen serves up Italian classics like pizza and calzones as well as the expected seafood dishes {this is a coastal town after all}. I've heard great things about this place, but never ate there myself. Make sure to book in advance, which can be easily done online.

Steamers

Seafood lovers can tickle their taste buds at Steamers, where the world-class chef serves up fish from local fishmongers. There are vegetarian options available in the form of soups, sides, and a vegetarian risotto, but I'd say this place is firmly for those who want a taste of what the local waters offer.