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General
Weston Mouth is an isolated beach on the East Devon coast between
Sidmouth and Seaton.
Its tradition of nude use is well-known locally and has continued without
significant problem for many years.
OS Map Ref: SY 160878
Access & Parking
Access is possible on foot from the Coastal Footpath or from the hamlet
of Weston.
On the A3052 approx. 2 miles from Sidford (nr.Sidmouth) turn right
(south), signposted 'Branscombe' and 'Donkey Sanctuary'. Along this lane,
take the third turning right to Weston (1/2 mile). Pass by the sign
offering "£1 per day car parking" and try for (limited )
free parking in the small and well shaded National Trust car park (on the
right). This quickly fills up - it has space for about twenty cars - and
additional parking is available at the nearby Higher Weston Farm (50 yards
east of the NT carpark, just beyond the new barn conversions), in return
for a modest donation in the charity box.
Please do not park on verges and in gateways - this causes great inconvenience.
From the car park, the coast is about a mile away, plus a futher 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the naturist section. Follow the track from the NT car park stile, gently downhill until you reach the last field before the cliff top. At that point turn to the right - down the slope - to where a stile leads to a short cliff path to the beach. The return is somewhat strenuous and is probably unsuitable for pushchairs or very young children on foot. "You pay for your day's relaxation and nuddying with some stiff exercise."
On reaching the beach, strike out to the west (right). Nude use is often acceptable from a point about 100 yards beyond the slate-roofed former Coastguard building and as far as the headland. "On less popular days, go further west... to be less visible to the textiles near where the coast path joins the beach. No point in causing problems for the sake of walking a couple of hundred extra yards". The farther end is the favoured place for gay males.
Some naturists also use the section of the beach to the east (left) of the access - especially at busier times when the traditional area can become (relatively) crowded. On such days, the 'textiles' in the centre of the beach are surrounded on both sides by the nuddies!
Update: Spring 2005
This year a sign has been put up at the place where the coastal path meets the beach. Beneath a National Trust logo, it says:
"IN ORDER TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT TO FAMILY GROUPS, NATURISTS ARE ASKED TO KEEP TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS BEACH IN AN AREA 250 YARDS BEYOND THIS NOTICE."
While this notice might have been put up with the best of intentions, a number of regular beach users have expressed their outrage at the implication that they are necessarily not families, are in some way unfit to mix with family groups and are an "embarrassment". Others have pointed out that this notice has only the force of a "polite request" and cannot be enforced.
Naturists who visit Weston will, of course, wish to act considerately in
relation to other beach users. As at any naturist beach you are encouraged
to remind those whose behaviour falls short of the normal high standards
that giving offence to others is not acceptable.
Description
Like almost all the beaches along this coast, this is a pebble/shingle
beach that at high tide shelves quite steeply - swimmers are out of their
depth within a few yards of the water's edge. Those with tender feet may
find the shingle hard to walk on: "old trainers or beach shoes to
walk to and from the water are a must. The pebbles are agony on
unprotected feet, especially coming out of the water. Flip-flops and
sandals are useless because the smaller pebbles get trapped and hurt like
hell. If you've got something you can keep on while in the water all the
better. Getting into and out of the sea can be tricky because of the
stones under foot." At lower tides the beach shelves gradually
and some sand may be exposed. The cliffs provide shelter from Northerly
offshore winds but the vegetation at the back of the beach affords little
if any shade - be prepared to provide your own protection. There is
excellent co-existence between naturists - who can number over a hundred
at peak times - and similar numbers of textiles - some of whom can be
observed becoming naturists! This beach is largely free from 'gawkers'
and similar problems - no doubt because it requires some effort to reach,
but perhaps also because there is nowhere to "lurk". Everyone
who is at the beach is on the beach!
If you can make the hike, Weston would be an ideal place to experience
beach nudity for the first time.You may safely walk nude as far as the
western headland - (where extensive rock pools are exposed at low tide) -
but please take care not to 'confront' the occasional textile walker who
may be appear with little warning from around the headland.
"I have never felt threatened and have wandered freely around the
rocks unclad. The freedom to wander around the beach at one with nature is
one of its best points."
Most of the land to the rear of the beach - and by inference the beach
itself above high water - is National Trust property. Part of it also
includes a nature reserve.
Facilities
There are no facilities on the beach or in Weston. Nearest facilities are
in the village of Sidford on the A3052. Nearest pub is the Fountain Head
on the road to Branscombe. Several (textile) caravan/campsites are
available in the vicinity - Kings Down Tail on the A3052 1/2 mile inland
from Weston is highly recommended (£6 per night and free hot showers,
I'm told)
Water Quality
Water quality is as good as anywhere along this coast and better than
most - owing to the remoteness of Weston from any discharge points.
Subjectively, the water at Weston is generally clean - particularly since
the outfall at Sidmouth is now treated . At high tide and when the sea is
calm, the water can be crystal clear.
"The cloudiness of the water varies considerably with the state
of the tide. At times I have known it clear enough to see several feet
wearing goggles. Mostly, though, there is water-borne sand and you can
only see about a foot."
Swimming can be hazardous when the sea is rough.
Trip Report - April 2005
"We discovered the East Devon coast a couple of years ago and Weston Mouth is definitely the best spot.
"Nude bathing is perfect here as long as you wear foot protection. Other naturists are friendly and the camaraderie is unusually good. We prefer the eastern side of the beach and the few textiles seem quite unconcerned - we have all made a considerable effort to get to the beach, after all! We have stayed at the excellent camp site at Salcombe Regis, using it as a base but spending twelve hour days on the beach. Wildcamping on the beach itself is also possible but this requires carrying yet more stuff down and up the trails"
Trip Report - August 2003
"I visited this beach for the first time on one of the very hot days of August 2003.
There is no denying that it is quite a slog to get down to the beach, and even more of one climbing back up, but the effort is well rewarded. On the day of my visit (a weekday) there were a few textile families around that part of the beach where the path comes out and in the first instance I headed off to my right (west) for a few hundred yards before coming to the first of several naturists who were on the beach before me. The first thing I noticed was that they all had all brought some form of shade with them! It is an absolute must on a cloudless day, there is no natural shade available from what I could see.
Later on I took a walk back along the beach and towards the eastern end. After only quite a short distance past the footpath entrance to the beach there were a fair number of naturists, mainly couples of varying ages. Towards the far eastern end of the beach it looked as though there were a number of lone males camped up close to the cliff but I guess they were too far away to be of any concern.
The water clarity on the day of my visit was without question the clearest I have ever experienced in the UK. In fact, only the absence of a beachside taverna served to remind me that I was not in Greece! "
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