Snug Harbour Guidebook
Sightseeing
Topsham
Bike Hire - explore Topsham and local surrounding areas. Ride down from Topsham to Exmouth. Dedicated bike trails.
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Route 2 Bikes Topsham
4 Amity PlBike Hire - explore Topsham and local surrounding areas. Ride down from Topsham to Exmouth. Dedicated bike trails.
A national site. Protected. RSBP. OUTSTANDING views of the Estuary. 5 minute walk from Snug Harbour
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RSPB Bowling Green Marsh
Bowling Green RoadA national site. Protected. RSBP. OUTSTANDING views of the Estuary. 5 minute walk from Snug Harbour
Fantastic day trip. Stunning coastal town. Lovely independent shops and restaurants. Water activities. Boat trips
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Dartmouth
Fantastic day trip. Stunning coastal town. Lovely independent shops and restaurants. Water activities. Boat trips
A quaint little museum, detailing the history of our stunningly unique home town. Situated a matter metres down the road… a fantastic place to visit. You can even enjoy a glorious Devon Cream tea in the gorgeous walled garden.
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Topsham Museum
25 StrandA quaint little museum, detailing the history of our stunningly unique home town. Situated a matter metres down the road… a fantastic place to visit. You can even enjoy a glorious Devon Cream tea in the gorgeous walled garden.
A great day out. Quirky bohemian town with much to see and do.
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Totnes
A great day out. Quirky bohemian town with much to see and do.
Exeter City. But 4 miles from Topsham. Catch the train in for a relaxed day out or drive. Plenty of parking.
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Exeter
Exeter City. But 4 miles from Topsham. Catch the train in for a relaxed day out or drive. Plenty of parking.
Fab place to grab some fish n chips and check out all the stunning boats. Day boat trips …. Along the world famous Jurassic Coastline…can also be taken from here.
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Exmouth Marina
Fab place to grab some fish n chips and check out all the stunning boats. Day boat trips …. Along the world famous Jurassic Coastline…can also be taken from here.
National Trust Property. Sweet 50p shaped house where two sisters lived together. Shaped so that they could r joy the sunshine, as it moved throughout the day, in each room. 15 minute drive.
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National Trust - A la Ronde
Summer LaneNational Trust Property. Sweet 50p shaped house where two sisters lived together. Shaped so that they could r joy the sunshine, as it moved throughout the day, in each room. 15 minute drive.
The Jurassic Coast at its finest. 25 minutes away. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Huge smooth round pebbles. Fantastic Devon clotted cream ice-cream to boot!
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Budleigh Salterton Beach
The Jurassic Coast at its finest. 25 minutes away. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Huge smooth round pebbles. Fantastic Devon clotted cream ice-cream to boot!
At the end of The Strand, you will find our magical haven. The Goat Walk. But a two minute walk from Snug Harbour and you will have views across the estuary and down to Exmouth and out to sea. Truly magical.
The Goat Walk
At the end of The Strand, you will find our magical haven. The Goat Walk. But a two minute walk from Snug Harbour and you will have views across the estuary and down to Exmouth and out to sea. Truly magical.
Food scene
The Galley Restaurant
41 Fore StFantastic Fish restaurant.
Outstanding Hotel and Restaurant.
Michelin Star rated.
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The Salutation Inn
68 Fore StOutstanding Hotel and Restaurant.
Michelin Star rated.
The Globe
34 Fore StGood pub grub.
Award winning Portuguese Bakery. Fantastic coffee. 10 minute walk from Snug Harbour.
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Sara's Petite Cuisine
80 Fore StAward winning Portuguese Bakery. Fantastic coffee. 10 minute walk from Snug Harbour.
An amazing chance to eat your lunch or supper in a truly unique and special location in the middle of the River Exe. Seafood is the main food focus. All locally sourced. A meal experience you’ll never forget. River taxis take diners from Exmouth and back. Booking essential.
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River Exe Cafe
An amazing chance to eat your lunch or supper in a truly unique and special location in the middle of the River Exe. Seafood is the main food focus. All locally sourced. A meal experience you’ll never forget. River taxis take diners from Exmouth and back. Booking essential.
An independent off licence. Jim, the owner, and his team are always on hand to offer the very best advice on wine and what offers he might have on local grapes. He delivers too!
Topsham Wines
36 High StreetAn independent off licence. Jim, the owner, and his team are always on hand to offer the very best advice on wine and what offers he might have on local grapes. He delivers too!
Fantastic independent coffee shop. 5 minutes walk from Snug Harbour. Alongside amazing local coffee and cakes…. An array of house plants and local art/ceramics/prints will also great you. Eat in or take away.
Circle
37 Fore StreetFantastic independent coffee shop. 5 minutes walk from Snug Harbour. Alongside amazing local coffee and cakes…. An array of house plants and local art/ceramics/prints will also great you. Eat in or take away.
Micheal Caines stunning hotel and restaurant. 5 star luxury.
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Lympstone Manor
Courtlands LaneMicheal Caines stunning hotel and restaurant. 5 star luxury.
Activities
Glorious ‘natural’ outdoor pool. Solar heated. No chlorine.
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Topsham Swimming Pool
Glorious ‘natural’ outdoor pool. Solar heated. No chlorine.
Topsham Tennis Courts
Local Tennis courts.
Exmouth Beach
3 Queen's Dr15 minute drive from Snug Harbour /Topsham
A stunning National Trust property. Huge grounds to explore. Fantastic cafe. Woodlands and fields. Stunning views of the Devon countryside.
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Killerton House
A stunning National Trust property. Huge grounds to explore. Fantastic cafe. Woodlands and fields. Stunning views of the Devon countryside.
City/town information
Topsham – a town’s spectacular history
Stroll along the Strand to see the Dutch gables; seek out ancient quays and causeways; peep into cobbled courts and explore narrow lanes; along the way you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Exe Estuary.
Two thousand years ago the Romans visited Topsham to supply the garrison at Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter). They landed goods, built a small fort and constructed the straight road into Exeter that is still used today.
At some time before 670, a Saxon called Toppa was granted the land by the king, and so it became known as Toppa’s village, or Tops-ham. There is still debate about whether we should pronounce it Top-sham or Top-sam!
In 1300, a grant was given by King Edward I to the Earl of Devon (Hugh de Courtenay) to hold an annual fair and a weekly market, and this Royal Charter elevated Topsham from a village to a town.
The 17th and 18th centuries were the ‘golden’ years. Farmers throughout Devon invested in long-wool sheep and Exeter became the centre of a thriving export trade for woollen cloth. The finished serge was shipped to the continent from its port at Topsham. Visit the Quay to see where the cloth bales were loaded onto ships bound for Holland and elsewhere. Take a walk along Strand to admire the Dutch architecture adopted by local merchants. In Topsham Museum (25 Strand) you can see how the merchants lived, learn more about the town and enjoy a cream tea in the garden.
The Exe Estuary and the Exeter Ship Canal (opened in 1566) were and remain central to local life.
From Topsham Quay, ships set off to fight the Spanish Armada, settle the Americas, trade with the continent or fish for cod off Newfoundland. Smaller boats ferried goods and passengers up, down and across the river, netted salmon and fished for mackerel. From the high churchyard wall, you can see up and down the estuary and imagine how life on the river has changed over the years.
Along the shore, shipbuilders sawed and hammered and while wooden ships ruled, Topsham shipyards were some of the busiest in the country.
Forges made anchors and chains, rope-makers twisted hemp, a factory produced specialised nails. During the 18th and 19th centuries, cargo ships for merchants and warships for the Navy were built here. One of these was HMS Terror. Commissioned as a gunboat, the Terror was lost in 1848 during Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated voyage to discover the North-West Passage. At Topsham Museum you can see a model of the ship and learn how it was rediscovered in 2016, following an improbable tip from an Inuit guide.
In the fields, market gardening was big business, and after the railway arrived in 1861, daily goods trucks laden with fruit and vegetables chuffed their way to Covent Garden. In this working-class environment, there were once 42 pubs and a reputation for rowdiness. As late as the 1990s, local students regarded a pint in each of the ‘Topsham Ten’ as a rite of passage.
Today, Topsham is both a tourist destination and a vibrant all-year-round community.
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Topsham
Topsham – a town’s spectacular history
Stroll along the Strand to see the Dutch gables; seek out ancient quays and causeways; peep into cobbled courts and explore narrow lanes; along the way you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Exe Estuary.
Two thousand years ago the Romans visited Topsham to supply the garrison at Isca Dumnoniorum (Exeter). They landed goods, built a small fort and constructed the straight road into Exeter that is still used today.
At some time before 670, a Saxon called Toppa was granted the land by the king, and so it became known as Toppa’s village, or Tops-ham. There is still debate about whether we should pronounce it Top-sham or Top-sam!
In 1300, a grant was given by King Edward I to the Earl of Devon (Hugh de Courtenay) to hold an annual fair and a weekly market, and this Royal Charter elevated Topsham from a village to a town.
The 17th and 18th centuries were the ‘golden’ years. Farmers throughout Devon invested in long-wool sheep and Exeter became the centre of a thriving export trade for woollen cloth. The finished serge was shipped to the continent from its port at Topsham. Visit the Quay to see where the cloth bales were loaded onto ships bound for Holland and elsewhere. Take a walk along Strand to admire the Dutch architecture adopted by local merchants. In Topsham Museum (25 Strand) you can see how the merchants lived, learn more about the town and enjoy a cream tea in the garden.
The Exe Estuary and the Exeter Ship Canal (opened in 1566) were and remain central to local life.
From Topsham Quay, ships set off to fight the Spanish Armada, settle the Americas, trade with the continent or fish for cod off Newfoundland. Smaller boats ferried goods and passengers up, down and across the river, netted salmon and fished for mackerel. From the high churchyard wall, you can see up and down the estuary and imagine how life on the river has changed over the years.
Along the shore, shipbuilders sawed and hammered and while wooden ships ruled, Topsham shipyards were some of the busiest in the country.
Forges made anchors and chains, rope-makers twisted hemp, a factory produced specialised nails. During the 18th and 19th centuries, cargo ships for merchants and warships for the Navy were built here. One of these was HMS Terror. Commissioned as a gunboat, the Terror was lost in 1848 during Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated voyage to discover the North-West Passage. At Topsham Museum you can see a model of the ship and learn how it was rediscovered in 2016, following an improbable tip from an Inuit guide.
In the fields, market gardening was big business, and after the railway arrived in 1861, daily goods trucks laden with fruit and vegetables chuffed their way to Covent Garden. In this working-class environment, there were once 42 pubs and a reputation for rowdiness. As late as the 1990s, local students regarded a pint in each of the ‘Topsham Ten’ as a rite of passage.
Today, Topsham is both a tourist destination and a vibrant all-year-round community.
Shopping
Local National Award winning farm shop. 15 min walk through Topsham, into the Dart Valley. Local wine, cheese, breads, meats, flowers, fish, fruits, jams… the list goes on… even Mulberry Handbags!
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Darts Farm Restaurant
Local National Award winning farm shop. 15 min walk through Topsham, into the Dart Valley. Local wine, cheese, breads, meats, flowers, fish, fruits, jams… the list goes on… even Mulberry Handbags!
Fore Street - aka our local high street. Jammed packed with glorious independent clothing, interiors, book, art, antique and curiosity retailers. A local market is held every Saturday morning until around 1pm
Fore Street
Fore StreetFore Street - aka our local high street. Jammed packed with glorious independent clothing, interiors, book, art, antique and curiosity retailers. A local market is held every Saturday morning until around 1pm
Gorgeous independent shop. Full of pretty French homewares and a fantastic selection of preloved clothes.
Nest
60 Fore StreetGorgeous independent shop. Full of pretty French homewares and a fantastic selection of preloved clothes.
Stunning homewares store selling beautiful plants, cookware, textiles and so much more!!!
Cooks Aweigh
22 Fore StreetStunning homewares store selling beautiful plants, cookware, textiles and so much more!!!
Pea & Mint
17 Fore StFun shop with great clothing and lifestyle accessories
Squid & The Kid
62 Fore StreetCracking kids store… selling fantastic clothing and toys for children 10 and under.
A truly fantastic womens fashion boutique. Selling unique independent clothing brands from France, Spain, UK, Denmark, USA. Beautifully curated. High end product. Love love love.
Allotment
48 Fore StreetA truly fantastic womens fashion boutique. Selling unique independent clothing brands from France, Spain, UK, Denmark, USA. Beautifully curated. High end product. Love love love.
Eccentric lifestyle, interiors and seasonal gift store. You’ll always find a treasure in there.
Lark Topsham
16 Fore StEccentric lifestyle, interiors and seasonal gift store. You’ll always find a treasure in there.
The most wonderful treasure trove of vintage, antique, affordable, collectibles. Spread across three floors, you’ll get lost for hours. It takes no less than 5 mins to walk to from Snug Harbour. A dream!
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Topsham Quay Antiques Centre
StrandThe most wonderful treasure trove of vintage, antique, affordable, collectibles. Spread across three floors, you’ll get lost for hours. It takes no less than 5 mins to walk to from Snug Harbour. A dream!