Little Axminster offers an embarrassment of riches when it comes to location and charm. Within East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, alongside the River Axe, and just a few miles inland from the spectacular Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Axminster is totally surrounded by picturesque views. It’s very pretty itself, too, with an impressive Minster at its centre, a proper green surrounded by a row of pastel-coloured cottages, a lively historic market place and a couple of excellent old pubs. Visitors will find some of the best places to stay in Axminster within the historic part of town, and some in the beautiful countryside surrounding the town.
Axminster is popular with walkers, cyclists and twitchers. There’s a myriad of walking trails, towards the coastline — including the East Devon Way — and in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (where you’ve a chance to spot an otter, or even a kingfisher). Birdwatchers will be interested in the AONB, but also in the mudflats of the Axe estuary, where you can spot oystercatchers, egrets, and curlews. Cyclists should look up the Buzzard Route cycle track, which passes close by the town.
Axminster may also be a popular option for artistic types — look out for the sculpture trail — and for anyone with an interest in history. There’s a small local museum, specialising in the town’s connection to carpet weaving, and Axminster is on the Taunton Stop Line, a WW2 defence line, which ended up being a row of pillboxes and anti-tank defences stretching from Axminster to Highbridge in Somerset. Every June Axminster hosts the Axe Vale Festival of Gardening and Craft — the largest festival of crafting in the South West.
With its myriad of attractions, this is a busy little town. If you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Axminster during peak season, get organised and book well ahead.
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