Every year, the East Devon market town of Axminster attracts tourists looking to take in the beautiful Devonshire scenery and wildlife, the nearby beaches and coastline and the surrounding historical towns and villages.
Axminster enjoys a bounty of tourist attractions, fantastic cafes and restaurants and an exciting programme of events, but in this day and age, where holidaying on a budget is becoming ever more important, Axminster also boasts a variety of free attractions and activities.
Having lived in Axminster for 12 years, I have sampled the best of what my hometown has to offer when it comes to free activities. And in this blog post, we’ll take a look at the best things to do for free in Axminster and the surrounding area. Let’s dive in!
This is a guest post from Axminster-based travel blogger, Zara Aitken. She writes about her experiences globetrotting around the world on her travel blog, Passport for Living.
Enjoy one of Axminster’s many walks
Axminster is nestled into the beautiful Axe Valley which means it is surrounded by stunning countryside and the rolling hills that are so typical of Devon. Along with the countryside comes many public footpaths that are waiting to be discovered. Why not spend a day enjoying one of the many walks in Axminster, such as the much-loved Axminster to Lyme Regis trail?
Not only will you get to spend an entire day out in the countryside for free, you will also enjoy soaking in Devon’s stunning scenery and maybe even spot some interesting wildlife along the way!
Peruse the stalls at Axminster’s Thursday market
Every Thursday morning throughout the year, Axminster’s bustling town enjoys a street market which is renowned for its local produce, crafts and delicious food stalls. The market is free to browse, but once you see and smell the various foods and produce on sale, it will definitely be difficult to hold onto those purse strings.
Enjoy a walk at Trinity Hill Nature Reserve
Trinity Hill Nature Reserve is perched on the side of the hill overlooking the whole of the Axe Valley. Not only is this a stunning area to enjoy walks, it’s also a fabulous spot to watch the sunset.
In addition to the huge network of footpaths that meander through the woodland, you can also spot the charismatic Nightjar, a species of bird that migrates from South Africa and breeds at Trinity Hill every summer. Nightjars are nocturnal, and only come out at dusk, so combine your walk with watching the sunset, listen out for the eerie and characteristic ‘churring’ of the nightjar and see if you can spot one.
Learn about Axminster’s history at Axminster Heritage Centre
Axminster Heritage Centre acts as the Tourist Information Centre but also offers a gift shop and an interactive museum. Take a trip through time to learn what has made Axminster and the surrounding area what it is today. Children can enjoy their own trail with dressing up points and interactive activities.
In addition to the interactive exhibits, the Heritage Centre provides a free self-guided town walk, which you can download here, or pick up a leaflet from the centre itself.
You can also stop here for information about events, walks, cycle routes, maps and places to visit, whether you're a tourist or a local resident.
Look out for Axminster’s banners and the story behind them
As you wander around the town, don’t forget to look out for Axminster’s many banners which you’ll find hanging from shops and buildings. Each banner is hand-made by willing volunteers and tells a story of Axminster’s past or present. These banners bring Axminster’s stories to life, while also injecting some bright splashes of colour into the town centre.
Why not spend a morning or afternoon wandering around Axminster’s streets, looking out for banners and seeing if you can work out the stories behind them. You can find out more on the Axminster Banner’s website.
Spend a lazy day on the beach
Staying at one of our many accommodation providers in Axminster has an advantage. You’re only ever a 10-15 minute drive to the nearest beach, but you also avoid the hordes of people who head to the coastal resorts every summer, enjoying a more relaxed and chilled pace in Axminster.
Axminster is perfectly situated to access many of the beautiful beaches on the Jurassic Coast - Seaton, Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Beer are all within a short drive.
Spending a day at the beach, along with rock-pooling, crabbing and swimming are all wonderfully free things to do near Axminster. You may just want to make sure the budget can stretch to cover an ice cream though!
Hike the South West Coast Path or East Devon Way
The 630-mile South West Coast Path stretches from Poole in Dorset, all the way to Minehead in West Somerset and parts of it can be easily accessed in only 10-15 minutes by car from Axminster. Whether you choose to enjoy a short walk from nearby Beer to Branscombe, or a slightly longer walk from Lyme Regis to Seaton, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to breath-taking scenery and unspoilt nature.
In addition, the East Devon Way, a 40-mile route through East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now known as a National Landscape) runs from Exmouth to Lyme Regis. The trail passes through 8 villages and across 5 rivers, guaranteeing spectacular countryside scenery as well as a few of Devon’s great pubs and tea rooms along the way.
You can download trail guides and walking directions from the East Devon Way website, as well as many shorter circular routes.
Go birdwatching along the Axe River
The Axe River is a fantastic place for twitchers looking to spot interesting birds and other wildlife.
Having lived in Axminster for many years and being a great lover of nature, I often see egrets, grey herons, kingfishers and many more beautiful species on an early morning summer walk.
Grab your binoculars and enjoy a walk along the Axe River, using one of the walking routes listed here.
Enjoy a day trip to a nearby village or town
Axminster is the perfect base to explore the rest of East Devon’s quaint villages and towns. The famous fishing village of Beer, the historical town of Colyton (known as the most rebellious town in Devon), and the seaside towns of Lyme Regis and Seaton all offer a great day out within a short drive from Axminster.
Hike to the top of Pilsdon Pen
One of Dorset's prominent landmarks, dominated by an Iron Age hill fort, is just a 15-minute drive from Axminster. After taking on the short but steep climb from the car park, you’ll be treated to breath-taking 360-degree views across Devon and Dorset and even out to the coast.
At 277 metres, this is Dorset’s second-highest point and is one of 20 iron age hillforts in Dorset. Pilsdon Pen is owned by the National Trust and is the perfect place to blow away some cobwebs or walk the dog while enjoying spectacular views.
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