Branscombe village with its pretty cottages is mainly built around a 2 mile long winding lane which runs up the valley inland from the coast.
The lower part of the village, which is centred around the Masons Arms Hotel is an easy 900m walk from the beach at Branscombe Mouth.
The houses and cottages of the village are generally built facing the road with most on the higher side of the valley slope, with a high proportion of the cottages given over to holiday homes so that in the summer months there are more visitors than local residents.
The beach at Branscombe Mouth and the cliffs to either side are owned by the National Trust who ensure that this area of outstanding natural beauty is preserved and managed to ensure it remains unspoilt.
The National Trust also own the Branscombe Forge and Mill Bakery, both of which are inland in what could be classed as the centre of the village.
Branscombe Forge is the oldest working forge in the country being built around 1580 and sells a range of ironwork from the showroom at the side of the smithy.
Opposite the Forge is the Old Bakery being the last traditional bakery in Devon which still kneaded the dough by hand up until 1947 after which a kneading machine was used until the bakery closed in 1987.
The old baking equipment is preserved as part of a museum and the cottage opposite, also owned by the National Trust, is a tea room.
Running past the Bakery is the Mill Stream which runs through the orchard and across a field to the Manor Mill, a preserved and restored working water mill which would have supplied flour to the bakery.
Further up the valley is the Fountain Head, a 500 year old pub with an open log fire and flagstone floors which serves home made food and traditional ales from the local Branoc Brewery.
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The beach at Branscombe Mouth is shingle and safe to swim from and because of its ’out of the way‘ location never packed with tourists, even on the hottest of days.
Right on the beach is the Sea Shanty café and restaurant which serves ice creams, hot and cold drinks, light refreshments and full meals.
There is a National Trust pay & display car park by the Sea Shanty.
Branscombe Mouth is a stopping place on the South West Coastal Path. To the East you can walk to Beer, either over Hooken Cliff or through the Undercliff and to the West the path continues to Weston Mouth and Sidmouth.
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