Exmouth

[opalcutter]

Hi folks,
Not really a boaty question but I find I will be in Exmouth from, the 14/07. Anybody know anything I shouldn't miss and any nice restaurants over looking the river. Unfortunately I won't have my boat with me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MrCramp]

6 years since I've been down there but it would be worth going to Topsham which is just up the estuary (going inland), which has some good pubs alomg the waterfront. Also worth going into Exeter (I would use the local train for that) and looking round the old dockd/canal basin. Worth a trip to the pub at the entrance to the Exeter canal (google Exeter canal for the name). Does good food, interesting location. You can go on a ferry there from Topsham and maybee Exmouth depending upon the tides.

Interesting part of the country but don't spend all your time in Exmouth as the surrounding places are definately worth visiting.

 

[William_H]

Ah Exmouth I went there last August. No not the one on Ex river the one on the North West coast of Australia. Presumably named after the original, but so vastly different.
In the tropics it is the base for magnificent coral reef diving. No wetsuit needed here even in winter.(snorkelling off the shore)
It is the base for a huge prawn fishing industry and also has or had a huge US navy communications station with a 1300ft high aerial.
The down side.... it is fairly regularly attacked by summer cyclones in the 200knots of wind class. All the buildings are specially strenthed.
Things are fairly expensive to buy on account of the 1000mile road trip from the city. But there is a daily jet air service to the airport.
There is no river Ex just a huge Exmouth Gulf.
Look on your atlas it is at the bulge on the left hand side of Australia. Just thought you might like to know in case you are confused olewill

 

[Seagreen]

As I live there, all I can say is.. I prefer Plymouth.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

But seriously, there are a lot of reasonable nice foodie pubs in the locality. The town centre pubs are a bit down market (hark at me!) but the whole of East Devon, Exmouth, Topsham, Lympstone and Exeter are very laid back, possibly sedate.

Sailing is ok, though I prefer Plymouth for that. If Cars are your fancy, Exeter in the Marsh Barton area, has the highest concentration of car dealerships in Europe - they are all there, from Rolls/Bentley downwards, except for Morgan, which is one mile away in Exminster.

As for Exmouth Australia, some friends of mine got married there last year (at Vlamings Head Lighthouse), just so they could confuse the local registrar with their address!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Exmouth IMHO is a bit of a dump, lack of good pubs and eateries. But the river is beautiful which is why I keep my boat there. Topsham is great with some good pubs, one not to be missed is the Bridge Inn, has the best beer on Gods earth.

Take a trip on the Stuart lines from Exmouth up to Topsham, or if not possible then take the train, short trip but great views. From Topsham go across the river with Mike the ferryman (doesn't work on Tuesdays) and walk to the Turf, another beautiful watering hole.

In Exeter there's some good reataurants and shops, Cathedral Green is well worth a visit. Take a wander down to the canal basin, lively area with shops, pubs, caffes etc.

Lots to do, Topsham's my favourite place, small but interesting with lots going on. Exmouth has a huge beach and not much else.

 

[opalcutter]

Thanks folks, hope the weather improves and look out for the bald guy with a funny accent. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Seagreen]

Yeah ok, I wasn't going to be THAT rude about the place, but there are precious few redeeming features about the town.

So in a spirit of "brutal truth" lets put it bluntly...

Exmouth is the closest southwest sandy beach to the midlands , so it has a huge static caravan park, "Sandy Bay" which fills with Chavs for the summer months, who clog the town centre and generally get in the way, but they keep the local Somerfield busy. Hence I shop in Exeter. Combined with this, the docks. Was small timber importing operation , now all flats sold at stupid plices to upmarket midlanders as holiday homes. The Place mings in the summer with fagpacket boats and is dead - like Mousehole, Cornwall, for the same reason. McCarthy and Stone have taken over the rest of the place, and since the local teacher training college is sh utting down, the whole place will become less lively than a graveyard in the winter, but as Exmouth is a dormitory satellite town of Exeter, that hardly matters. Yes, the river is very nice, and there's a lot of nice local easily reached towns and villages, but with some fantastic pubs - the Bridge at Topsham is outstanding but a hike to get to - get someone to drive you there in the winter- (and also the Nobody Inn at Doddiscombesleigh - every single Scotch whiskey ever distilled) but Exmouth is... a bit of a non event.

Depends what you are looking for- nice sailing club. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif