• Explore
    • Beaches
    • Floral Sidmouth
    • Local Villages
    • SW Coast Path
    • Dog Friendly
    • Blue Plaques
  • Things To Do
    • Attractions
      • Beaches
      • Family Friendly
      • History & Culture
      • Forts & Caves
      • Museums
    • Activities
      • Sport
      • Theatres
      • Walking & Hiking
      • Cycling & Cycle Routes
      • Health & Fitness
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Watersports
  • Stay
    • Hotels
    • B and Bs
    • Self Catering
    • Caravan & Holiday Parks
    • Camping in Sidmouth
  • Shopping & Services
  • Food & Drink
    • Restaurants
    • Cafes
    • Pubs
    • Takeaways
    • Food Tours, Vineyards & Breweries
  • Experience
    • Jurassic Coast
    • Arboretum
    • Royal History
    • Architecture
    • East Devon AONB
  • Webcams
    • Jacobs Ladder
    • Esplanade
    • Port Royal
  • Visitor Info
    • Contact Us
    • E-Newsletter Signup
    • Virtual Tour
    • Travelling to Sidmouth
    • Weather Station
    • Information Centre
    • Parking & Advice
    • Church Services
    • Maps and Guides
    • Request a Brochure
    • Blog
    • Competitions
      • Win Afternoon Tea for Two at the Victoria Hotel
    • Credits
    • Sidmouth Tide Times
  • What's On
    • What's on this week
    • What's on this month
    • Valley of a Million Bulbs
    • Sidmouth Literary Festival
    • Sidmouth Sea Fest
    • Sidmouth Folk Festival
    • Sidbury Fair
    • Sidmouth Air Show
    • Sidmouth Walking Festival
    • Sidmouth Science Festival
    • Tell Us About Your Event
  • Special Offers
  • Maps and Guides
  • COVID-19
    • Good to Go Accommodation
    • Good to Go Things to Do

Don't miss

  • Thumbnail for Explore

    Explore

  • Thumbnail for Experience REDIRECT

    Experience

  • stay in Sidmouth

    Stay

  • food and drink in Sidmouth

    Food & Drink

Menu
  • Explore

    Explore

  • Stay

  • Experience

  • What's On

    What's On

  • Maps and Guides

  • Shop

Site Search

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Print Logo

You are here > Things To Do > Attractions > Forts & Caves

Forts & Caves

Alongside the town’s royal connections and the fascinating geology of the Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth and the wider East Devon area is full of diverse and interesting history, with caves, castles and forts to be found all over the region. These structures once housed everything from defending armies, smugglers and pirates!

Devon’s pirate history

Being on the coast means that Devon was a haven for smugglers and pirates and many of the caves and coves along the coastline once allowed these ne’er-do-wells to travel around the county easily and hide their goods from the authorities. Though Sidmouth’s history with piracy isn’t as well-known as that in Plymouth and Devon’s south coast, there is evidence that the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast was used extensively by smugglers. In fact, if you take a trip over them following the South West Coast Path, you’ll find the remains of outposts and watch points where the authorities would sit and look out for unregistered boats.

It wasn’t just pirates that made use of the caves, in the nearby village of Beer, you’ll find the Beer Quarry Caves. This man made limestone caves system is the main source for Beer stone, which is particularly favoured for the building of cathedrals and church features. In fact, there are 24 buildings across the UK which were created using stone from these caves, including Exeter Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral. The palaces at Hampton Court and the Tower of London are also among those made with Beer Stone.

These days, Beer Quarry Caves are a well loved tourist attraction with visitors coming from all over to visit the underground quarry and find out more about the history of the area. The caves date back around 2,000 years and were established by the Romans during their occupation of Britain, since then, the site has remained largely unchanged. In fact, if you visit the caves, you’ll have the chance to visit the original Roman chamber which now houses a small museum as well as information about how the caves were used from the Norman times onwards.

Visitors staying at the holiday park in Ladram Bay will also get the chance to explore some caves, the bay at Ladram is only accessible through a cave, either the one at its eastern point, towards Sidmouth town centre or the one at the other end of the cove. It’s a popular spot for those coming from Sidmouth, Otterton and Budleigh Salterton, particularly those looking for a great picnic spot!

Devon’s castles

Devon is full of castles and forts, including the last castle to be built in the UK. In the vicinity of Sidmouth you’ll find Sidbury Castle, overlooking the River Sid. Though more of a fort than a castle, the remains of Sidbury Castle are thought to date back to the Iron Age. There are a number of walking routes that take in Sidbury Castle and the views from the top are quite spectacular.  

Number of results:

No results found.

Search Accommodation

Check Availability
When are you planning to visit?
Add Another Room
Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:

Search Things to Do

Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:
Facilities

Search What's On

Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:
Dates

Search Food & Drink

Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:

Search Shopping

Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:

Search Accommodation

Search Things to Do

Type:
Area:
Or type a Location:
Within miles
Name / Keyword:
Facilities

Search What's On

Search Food & Drink

Search Shopping

Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..Loading..
Loading..Loading..Loading..
Contact Us

Contact Us

Request a Guide

Request a Guide

E-newsletter

E-newsletter

Travel Info

Travel Info

  • Email Page
  • Print Page
  • Sidmouth
  • Devon
  • North Devon
Explore
Beaches
Floral Sidmouth
Local Villages
SW Coast Path
Dog Friendly
Blue Plaques
Things To Do
Attractions
Activities
Stay
Hotels
B and Bs
Self Catering
Caravan & Holiday Parks
Shopping & Services
Food & Drink
Restaurants
Cafes
Pubs
Takeaways
Food Tours, Vineyards & Breweries
Experience
Jurassic Coast
Arboretum
Royal History
Architecture
East Devon AONB
Webcams
Jacobs Ladder
Esplanade
Port Royal
Visitor Info
Contact Us
E-Newsletter Signup
Virtual Tour
Travelling to Sidmouth
Weather Station
Information Centre
Parking & Advice
Church Services
Request a Brochure
Blog
What's On
What's on this week
What's on this month
Valley of a Million Bulbs
Sidmouth Literary Festival
Sidmouth Sea Fest
Sidmouth Folk Festival
Sidbury Fair
Sidmouth Walking Festival
Sidmouth Science Festival
Tell Us About Your Event
Bestdevonholidays.co.uk

© Sidmouth Town Council 2022

  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Tell Us About Your Event
  • Terms and Conditions
Made by Simpleview Logo

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By