Natural England - Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR
Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR has been shaped by past and present day landslips.
County: Devon
Main habitats: Woodland, Lowland Grassland
Area: Unknown
Site map: Nature on the Map.
The site is part of Sidmouth to West Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for its vegetated sea cliffs, and is part of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The site is internationally important for its geology, fossils, geomorphology and a mosaic of habitats including bare ground, grasslands and woodlands. The best time to visit the site is during spring, for flowers and nesting birds.
Download a leaflet describing this NNR.
Interpretation panels have been provided at two sites in the reserve: Haven Cliffs and Bindon Cliffs.
For more information on the geology of this region, go to the Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs page in the geology section of this website, or visit the Jurassic Coast website.
Location and access
The reserve is a 10 km costal strip between the towns of Seaton and Lyme Regis.
The A3052 runs parallel to the reserve and a coastal footpath can be accessed from the A3052 by minor roads and tracks. There are car parks in Lyme Regis and Seaton.
The nearest train station is in Axminster (10 km to the north west of Lyme Regis).
Bus services from Axminster to Lyme Regis, and from Lyme Regis to Seaton along the A3052 are provided by First Group.
A National Trail, the South West Coast Path runs the entire length of the reserve. A walk through the whole reserve is physically demanding due to the difficult terrain. Visitors who prefer a shorter walk are advised to follow the trail from Lyme Regis to Pinhay Cliffs (a distance of 1.5 km) and back again.
Boats offering trips along this coastline operate from the towns of Beer (1 km west of Seaton) and Lyme Regis.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in Lyme Regis and Seaton.
Land Marks
This site is one of the reserves featured in Land Marks, a colour 140-page softback book detailing the fascinating and often complex history of 21 English NNRs. Contemporary photographs, historic paintings and illustrations complement detailed descriptions of these reserves, the historic personalities associated with them, and their wildlife interest.
