Short answer: Seaton Wetlands is free, has level accessible paths and bird hides — and a hide is a building with a roof, which makes it one of the few outdoor things in east Devon that works in bad weather.
Seaton Wetlands and the esplanade, both free. The wetlands are the standout: level accessible paths, a sand martin bank, and bird hides that genuinely keep the weather off.
Free, flat, and better in winter than summer for birds. All-terrain mobility scooters are available to hire in normal weeks. The hides mean you can sit out a shower rather than abandoning the walk.
Long and level along the bay, easy underfoot, and nothing to climb.
The coast path towards Beer Head, which climbs properly, or west along the Axe estuary.
Ring before you set off. Boxing Day hours are decided late, change year to year, and are the single thing most likely to be wrong online. A two-minute call beats a wasted drive.
The tramway and Beer Quarry Caves both close over Christmas. In normal weeks the tram to Colyton is the thing to do here and the Colyton end has free parking — but not on the day itself.
If you want to eat out, book now rather than in December. The places that do serve on Boxing Day fill weeks ahead, and the ones that do not take bookings have queues instead.
See the full Seaton guide, filtered by who's with you.
Plan your day near Seaton →