The beautiful UK seaside town even prettier in December – and there's barely any tourists
Nestled between chalky cliffs and a shingle beach, a quaint village on the Jurassic Coast transforms into a serene winter wonderland, revealing its quiet charm.
This tiny fishng village on the Jurassic Coast might be teaming with tourists in the summer months but in December it is quiet as a mouse and even more beautiful.
Sheltered by white chalky cliffs above a steep shingle beach, its rocks provide a haven for wildlife, even in winter, and it’s a site of geological and historical interest, too.
Despite its popularity in the summer months, Beer is a peaceful spot in winter, somewhere to while away the hours watching fishing boats and foaming waves crashing onto the beach. It boasts a picturesque fishing harbour and stunning coastal scenery.
Visitors can find historic pubs serving locally brewed ales and ciders, as well as numerous restaurants offering freshly caught seafood. The village also features a history of fishing, a local brewery, a heritage centre, and other local independent shops.
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Beer is a seaside village in East Devon situated on the world famous Jurassic Coast. the seaside village faces Lyme Bay and is just over a mile west of the larger town of Seaton. Its picturesque cliffs, including Beer Head, form part of the South West Coastal Path
Beer is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and had 28 households. Today the population is still only just over 1000 residents.
Its name is not derived from Beer the drink but from the old English word bearu, meaning grove and referring to the forestation that once surrounded the village.
Beer grew up around a smugglers' cove and caves which were once used to store contraband goods. These are now part of the attraction of the village.
Beer is home to a cave complex, the Beer Quarry Caves, resulting from the quarrying of Beer stone. This stone has been prized since Roman times, because of its workability for carving and for its gentle yellow colour on exposure to air.
Beer stone was used in the construction of 24 cathedrals around the UK, including Exeter Cathedral, Westminster Cathdral, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's. Bovey House, an Elizabethan manor house is a mile inland and also worth a visit.
Historically, the main sources of income for the village included fishing and lace production.
A stunning winter walk is to follow the coast from nearby Branscombe to Beer, then relax with a pint at the Anchor Inn, the Barrel of Beer or the Dolphin Hotel., perfect for a winter weekend break.
One reviewer on TripAdvisor described Beer as "a gorgeous town and pebble beach with outstanding scenery. We visited twice because we loved it so much. Locals were very friendly and parking was available."
The local tourist board website describes it as "a little piece of heaven". They add: "The picture-postcard village of Beer, Devon nestles in Lyme Bay, on the 95-mile long Jurassic Coast, England’s first natural World Heritage Site and forms part of the South West Coastal Path.
"The shingle beach still boasts a small fleet of working fishing boats and the surrounding picturesque white chalk cliffs provide a natural suntrap sheltering the cove from prevailing westerly winds.
"From campsites and caravans to B&B’s and hotels, Beer has a wide range of facilities to cater for most British holiday requirements."
