Seaton Jurassic Coast Discovery Centre

The Background

Since 2001, the community of Seaton has been working with the Local Authorities (District, County and Town Councils) and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team (JCWHT) to develop a Discovery Centre for Seaton, so as to fully realise the benefits from the town’s unique location as a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the Axe Estuary.

Seaton has fabulous natural assets on its doorstep. In terms of the Jurassic Coast, Seaton is the gateway for the wilderness of Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs Natural Nature Reserve, a unique landslide complex within the World Heritage Site. In the other direction, the chalk cliffs of Beer are a spectacular landmark for the town and this striking white outcrop makes up an example of the third of the three key geological periods for which the World Heritage Site is famous (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous), all of which can be easily accessed from Seaton, the only location along the Jurassic Coast where this is possible.

What attraction will the Centre offer Visitors?

It is anticipated that the proposed Seaton Jurassic Coast Discovery Centre will, in the broadest sense, tell the story of the Jurassic Coast, and the landscape, geology and geomorphology around Seaton. It will focus on the unique aspects of this story, in particular the Undercliffs, the Axe Estuary, and the role of water in shaping this dynamic landscape. It will provide relaxation and refreshment opportunities for the visitor together with a small retail offering, appropriate to the natural environment that the centre is promoting.

Seaton is also at the mouth of the estuary of the River Axe. The Axe Wetlands project is an initiative led by East Devon District Council to create a nature reserve with enhanced opportunities for wildlife and people. Covering most of the western side of the Axe Estuary and the adjacent marshes, this new reserve is 1.5 miles in length, stretching from Seaton to Colyford and is within a short walk from the proposed discovery centre. Further information on this local nature reserve can be seen on the Axe Estuary Wetlands page.

The Discovery Centre is also adjacent to Seaton Tramway, which provides a unique visitor experience and the major tourist attraction for this part of the coast with around 100,000 visitors annually. The Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving an unrivalled view of the abundant wading bird life.

The Stop Line Way, part of the National Cycle Network Route 33, is a long distance walking and cycling route, and links the Bristol Channel to Lyme Bay, passing through Devon, Somerset, and Dorset. It is being funded and built by a partnership of local authorities in the three counties, with the support of Sustrans.

Once completed it will cover 70 miles and connect Seaton to Weston Super Mare via Axminster, Chard, Ilminster, Taunton, Bridgwater, Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea.

In Devon, the route stretches from Seaton Promenade to the county boundary and is a largely traffic-free footway and cycleway. Locally, the route follows the western side of the boundary of the Axe wetlands to connect with an existing track which joins Seaton Road opposite Popes Lane. The planning application for this 1.9 kilometre section of the Stop Line Way from Seaton seafront to Colyford was recently approved.

Further information on the Stop Line way can be found on the Devon County Council Stop Line Way page.

Accessibility to the Discovery Centre site is enhanced through the Jurassic Coast bus route (X53) and other local buses that stop in the existing coach bays to the south. The South West Coast Path National Trail can be easily accessed from the site as it runs along the sea front 165 metres south of the proposed Discovery Centre.

The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England's first natural World Heritage Site - it is known as The Jurassic Coast. It covers 95 miles of stunning coastline from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland in Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.

World Heritage status was achieved because of the site's unique insight into the Earth Sciences as it clearly depicts a geological ‘walk through time’ spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

World Heritage Sites are places of ‘outstanding universal value’ selected by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Management of the Jurassic Coast is directed through a number of plans and strategies including the Site Management Plan for 2009-2014 and the Interpretation Scoping Study and Action Plan. These will give essential background information and can be accessed through the Jurassic Coast website.

Seaton Regeneration

Under the Council’s Thriving Economy priority set out in its Corporate Strategy is a commitment to delivering economic growth through regeneration, particularly in Exmouth and Seaton. By working with the community through the Seaton Regeneration Programme Board, EDDC aim to bring forward significant improvements to the town.

These include a complete re-development of an area off Harbour Road to include a new supermarket, (Tesco’s due to open Nov 11) residential development, hotel, Jurassic Coast Discovery Centre and expansion of the Axe Wetlands with imaginative schemes designed to give this historic East Devon town a world-class visitor offering and a vibrant retail centre.

The aim is to capitalise on the town’s special attractions of World Heritage Coast and wildlife sanctuary, viewable on foot, by bike, or from the unique Seaton Tramway.

The ‘Seaton Regeneration Area’ lies between Seaton town centre, the seafront, Axmouth Harbour, the Axe riverside and Seaton Marshes. The aim is to provide a high quality gateway to Seaton and to enhance its role as a visitor destination, on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

The Regeneration Area will also play an important retail, commercial and residential part in the future of the town, integrating key attractions such as the Seaton Tramway, Seaton Marshes and the Axe Estuary and providing further visitor facilities.

Page last updated on 29 November 2011