Starting at The Square, close to the bustling seafront in the popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis, this section of the route heads inland along footpaths and quiet country lanes.
Climbing to the highest point at Musbury Castle, an Iron Age hillfort to the south east of the village of Musbury it then drops down to the flood plain of the River Axe with its wealth of wildlife, before arriving at the market town of Colyton.
On a clear day you will have stunning views. Look out for Cannington Viaduct as you climb out of Uplyme and then the coast at Seaton on the approach to the highest point.
Additional Information
The whole of the East Devon Way has been waymarked with these waymarkers to help you find your way.
Gallery
Quick view route description:
1 - 5. Starting from the Square in Lyme Regis
…cross the road into Broad Street Car Park. Walk up the ramp into the higher car park and head for the far right corner.
2. Go down the steps and over the bridge to Town Mill. Go past the Mill entrance and turn left to follow a tarmac path straight on and then around to the right between two water courses to a road.
3. Turn left along the road and then almost immediately right up Mill Green.
4. At the end of the road turn right along the River Lim Path. Follow it straight on and around to the right over a footbridge. Turn left along a narrow road to a cross roads.
5. Go straight across into Windsor Terrace and continue past Higher Mill Flats to another cross roads.
6-10. Go straight across and follow the road ignoring Haye Lane footpath on the left.
…Where the route divides shortly afterwards keep left.
7. Follow the footpath crossing two foot bridges and going through a gate into a field. Follow the path through the field staying parallel with the river on your right and turning right over a footbridge.
8. After the bridge turn left along the bridleway to Uplyme. Follow it all the way to a road junction – it turns into a tarmac access road for the last section.
9. At the T-junction go straight across onto the River Lim Path and follow it to the next road.
10. Head diagonally left across the road onto the footpath to the village hall. Just before the next road turn right along a tarmac path, cross the house entrance and turn right along the pavement to the crossing.
11 - 15. Cross the road and turn right along the pavement to the entrance to the Uplyme Village Hall.
…Turn left and cross the car park in front of the Hall to the footpath to Venlake Holcombe. Walk across the playing field in front of the pavilion staying parallel with the hedge of the right.
12. Go over the footbridge and through the gate into the field. Head diagonally uphill to the left aiming for the end of the hedgerow at the top of the field. When you reach the hedge turn left alongside it to a metal pedestrian gate.
13. Go through the gate and follow the footpath to the tarmac drive and turn left to a road junction.
14. Turn right up Woodhouse Lane and follow the road uphill, ignoring all side turns for approximately 459 yards/420 metres until it starts to flatten out.
15. At the cross with a footpath to the right and a bridleway to the left, turn left along the track.
16 - 20. Follow the track to the end and go through the gate into the field.
…Continue alongside the hedge of your right into a grassy track. Follow this to a road.
17. TAKE CARE as you go straight across the road and over a stile onto a footpath through fields. Follow the hedge on your right going through a gate into a second field and following the right hedge down to a road.
18. Go over the stile and turn right along the road and then left over the bridge. Follow the road, ignoring all side turns for approximately 0.8 miles/1.4 km. The views to your left just get better and better!
19. Just before the road goes downhill, turn left onto a footpath through fields. Turn right and follow the hedge on the right to a 2 in 1 gate. Go through and turn left and follow the fence on the left. Look diagonally right for a view of the sea at Seaton.
20. Go through a metal pedestrian gate and continue to follow the hedge on the left to the corner of the field
21 - 25. Go over the stile on the left into the next field and follow the hedge on the right to go through a 2 in 1 gate.
… Follow the footpath to the next 2 in 1 gate.
22. Go through the gate and follow the path parallel with the trees on the left around the edge of Musbury Castle hillfort.
23. Where the path divides, bear left downhill on a grassy track.
24. Where the path divides again by woodland, turn right downhill beside the fence on the left.
25. Continue straight on downhill through an open grassy area to a 2 in 1 gate. Go through and follow the footpath diagonally right down the field, leaving the enclosure on your left.
26 - 30 Cross the stile, turn left and follow the fenced track down to a farmyard.
27. Follow the footpath through the farmyard, around to the left and down the drive.
28. At the road junction bear right past the church and school on the right and continue to the next junction.
29. Turn left (straight on) and follow the road to the next junction.
30. Turn left along The Street and continue to the T-junction with the Seaton Road.
31 - 35 TAKE CARE crossing the road diagonally left to a footpath beside a barn.
…Go through the gate and follow the path through the garden area, crossing the footbridge and bearing left to a wooden field gate into a field. Go through the gate and stay parallel with the hedge on the left.
32. At the bottom of the field turn left alongside the hedge and through double metal pedestrian gates and continue to follow the hedge on the right. After a short distance turn right through a metal pedestrian gate and over a narrow footbridge.
33. Follow the hedge on the left to the end of the field and go through a metal field gate onto a track. Turn right for a short distance to a minor road.
34. Turn left and follow the road past Waterford Farm to the end.
35. Go through a 2 in 1 gate and follow the footpath around to the right and then left to cross a footbridge over the River Axe.
36 - 40 Follow the footpath straight on with the river on the right, going through a metal pedestrian gate and over a footbridge onto a track.
37. Ignore the footpath on the right (Whitford Link) and take the next footpath on the left. Go through a metal pedestrian gate and head straight on to a 2 in 1 gate.
38. Go through the gate and follow the hedge on the left to the next 2 in 1 gate. Go through and continue to follow the hedge on the left before heading diagonally right across the field to another 2 in 1 gate.
39. Go through the gate and head diagonally left across the field towards the river. Walk parallel with the river for a short distance then leave the river and continue straight on to a gateway. This section can be quite wet in places.
40. Go through into the next field and head diagonally right to a stile. This section can be quite wet in places.
41 - 45 Climb the stile and turn left and follow the hedge on the left.
…Go through a gap into the second field and continue alongside the hedge to a metal pedestrian gate on the left.
42. Go through the gate, turn right and follow the hedge on the right to a wooden kissing gate onto a track.
43. Follow the track past Lower Cownhayne to a minor road and turn left.
44. Follow the road for 426 yards/390 metres then turn right over a stile onto a footpath through fields.
45. Follow the hedge on the left to go over a stile into the next field and head straight on to a bridge over a pipeline.
46 -51 Go over the bridge and up steps and turn right alongside the tramway to the crossing point.
… Turn left across the tramway, over a bridge across the pipeline, down some more steps and turn right.
47. Follow the footpath diagonally right across the field to go through a metal pedestrian gate and across a footbridge.
48. Turn right after the bridge for a short distance and go through a metal pedestrian gate. Turn left and follow the hedge on the left to the riverside path.
49. Turn right and follow the riverside path to a footbridge. Turn left across it.
50. Take the footpath on the right parallel with the river to a wooden kissing gate.
51. Go through the gate and follow the track to a concrete drive. Turn right and follow it around to the left to a road.
The East Devon Way continues left and then right along Rosemary Lane. To explore Colyton turn left and then bear left and follow Dolphin Street up into the centre. Alternatively to explore the heritage tramway which runs between Colyton and Seaton turn right over the bridge and then right again and follow the signs for the Seaton Tramway.
This route was reviewed and updated in 2026.