Best Sunset Spots in Exmouth

Short answer: The Exe estuary at the western end of Exmouth faces upriver into the sunset, which makes the marina end the spot. The River Exe Café, moored out in the estuary and reached by water taxi, is the best seat in the house — book well ahead.

The estuary is the sunset, not the sea

Exmouth's beach faces roughly south, so the sun does not set over it. What Exmouth has instead is the Exe estuary at its western end, running inland and catching the evening light on the water — which is a genuine sunset over water, just not over open sea.

The marina and harbour end is where to be. It is also where the better eating is, which is convenient.

The floating restaurant

The single best sunset seat in this guide. The River Exe Café is moored out in the estuary and reached by its own water taxi, with 360-degree views. Reviewers describe forty-something birthdays there with the most beautiful sunset and a stunning view, and one calls a summer evening there the best way to spend one.

Book well ahead — this is not a walk-in. Closed Mondays, and check the winter operating dates, as a floating restaurant reached by boat is inherently seasonal.

The marina and the front

From the shore, the western end of the Esplanade and the redeveloped marina give you the estuary view without the boat. The Point at the marina and the Grove on the Esplanade both have seating facing the right way. Bath House has the best position on the front for a drink, though its food divides opinion.

Orcombe Point

The other end of the beach, and worth knowing it faces the other way — south-east, towards the Jurassic Coast. Reviewers describe the views as stunning and comparable to the south of France, which they are, but the light there is a morning thing. Go for the sunrise instead.

The Maer

The open common behind the seafront is free, never gets muddy and has an unobstructed western sky. A simple, quiet option if you do not want to be in a bar.

Timing

Arrive half an hour before sunset and stay twenty minutes after it. The afterglow is usually better than the sunset itself, and almost everyone leaves the moment the sun touches the horizon — so the best light and the emptiest viewpoint arrive at the same time.

Practical

• Take a torch. Devon coast paths are unlit and the walk back is in the dark.
• Stay back from cliff edges. The ground gives way, and you cannot see where it starts.
• Check when the car park closes — several on this coast lock their gates.
• It gets cold fast once the sun goes, even in July. Take a layer.

A safety note specific to Exmouth

The currents where the Exe meets the sea run hard and the water there is genuinely unsafe. Watching the sunset over the estuary is fine; going into it is not.