Dan posted an update
a year ago (edited)
Fire Beacon Hill, Sidmouth, Devon
Early April 2025
I spotted this raised strip of forest and heathland on Google Maps and decided to check it out.
It sits a couple of hundred metres above sea level and offers some great views. It’s within walking distance of Sidmouth, which has public transport links and plenty of free on-street parking. The area also has two trig points I was keen to bag.
Different sections of the strip have their own names. The heathland at the southern end is called Fire Beacon Hill. It overlooks Sidmouth and the coastline, with flat grassy viewpoints, benches and well-marked paths. The heath itself is fairly small, bordered by woodland and contains one of the trig points.
I only explored about half the woodland strip heading north, stopping when I found the second trig point near an area called East Hill Strip. I’d planned to camp nearby, but I’d walked quite far and didn’t fancy making the same trip back in the morning. So I returned south to look for a spot closer to where I’d parked.
A road runs along about two-thirds of the strip’s length, making access easy with several laybys, picnic areas, car parks and viewpoints. On the eastern side, there are signs warning against entering private land.
That’s also the case with Core Hill Wood, next to the heathland and where I entered from. It was the first area I explored and I thought it would offer a great view of the sunrise. However, the southern part and the end of Core Hill Wood are clearly marked as private land with no public access.
There’s a good mix of dense woodland here, along with a smooth, sandy valley, which I think is well compacted, so I think it is a popular mountain biking spot. The woodland tracks are well worn. I followed one down towards the farmland at the bottom, but the ground turned boggy. It was the same story in the lower areas of Fire Beacon Hill , where I also searched (unsuccessfully) for a camping spot.
Eventually, I headed back to Fire Beacon Hill. I searched for a while for a clear, thorn-free patch in the dark and away from the main viewpoints. In the end, I settled on a small, and not perfect dirt clearing with open views over Sidmouth and the sea.
It was a windy night, but peaceful. I didn’t see another person until I was almost back in Sidmouth.
Coordinates:
GPS: SY 11257 90780
Google maps: 50°42’35.5″N 3°15’29.6 “W
What3words: birds.spillage.shut
Getting there:
I parked on Barn Hayes Road, which has free on-street parking and is less than a mile (1.44 km) from the woodland entrance. I entered Core Hill Wood via the entrance at the end of Core Hill Road where there is a very small car park with enough room for around three vehicles.
There are plenty of other parking options nearby, including larger car parks and several lay-bys along the road and further into the woodland. Some of these are near viewpoints and picnic areas. I’m not sure about any overnight restrictions or how secure these parking spots are after dark.
Heads up:
When I visited, the area was quiet, but I imagine it gets much busier during the summer months. It seems to be a popular spot for dog walkers and people out for a short afternoon walk.
There’s quite a bit of private land in and around the woodland, with various ‘no trespassing’ and ‘private land’ signs. Some areas are fenced off, others are marked by raised earth mounds and a few simply have warning signs to indicate private property.
There are plenty of woodland spots suitable for setting up a hammock, and flat areas that would work well for a tent or a bivi. The whole area – including woodland and heathland, does have lots of well-used paths.
At the southern end of Fire Beacon Hill, the viewpoints offer some larger areas of flat, grassy patches with great coastal views. I avoided these as I was wary of people possibly lingering there, but in the end, I needn’t have worried. I didn’t see or hear anyone during the night or early morning.
Good mobile phone and internet connection.
#wildcamp #devon #firebeaconhill #bivicamp #trigpoint
2 Comments
A few of the car parks.
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There’s quit a bit of flat grass on the southern area viewpoint of Fire Beacon Hill.
