Seatown in West Dorset is a small seaside village on the eastern side of Golden
Cap and should not be confused with Seaton, in East Devon, which is a small seaside
town to the west of Golden Cap.
Having got that sorted, Seatown (the one in West Dorset) is a pretty village on the
Jurassic Coast that runs right down to the sea. Reached by a narrow lane from a turn-off
on the A35 in Chideock, Seatown once made a living as a fishing village, but now
makes a better one from tourism.
As well as a shingle beach, backed by soft-rocked cliffs, Seatown has a great pub
which is as close to the sea as you can get without getting your feet wet.
Understandably, this mix of scenery, beach and pub makes this a very popular haunt
in the summer months and patience and caution need to be exercised when driving from
Chideock to the sea.
Seatown is also on the South West Coast Path, making it a popular spot for those
looking for a shorter route up to Golden Cap or to explore the Access Land to the
east between Seatown and West Bay.
Those looking to get to the summit of Golden Cap without doing the full 191 metres
from Sea Level to the top may prefer the Langdon Hill option.
Seatown is a great place to visit in fair weather, but also a dramatic one to see
in foul. Here, like much of this section of the Jurassic Coast, high tides and storm
winds wash waves right up to the cliff base, making them slump and slip from time
to time.
Parking can be tight at times and is mostly by pay-on-entry car park. Nonetheless,
this a great spot for a walk and a pint if you’re passing through and a great spot
to sit and contemplate the beauty of the sea and scenery.
For the more adventurous, it’s a convenient point to attack this section of the South
West Coast Path and associated public paths. And it’s especially tempting as a place
to finish a walk from somewhere else.
Let’s face it, what could be better than ending a great day’s walking sitting in
a beer garden and contemplating the sweep of the beach and the cliffs!
So, Seatown, West Dorset. Small, one-time fishing village with a pub just where you
want it. On the beach.
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