Water Safety

This guide is designed to assist you during your visit to our beautiful town and coastal area in order that your use of the water is safe and fits in with the activities of other harbour and water users. ;

Axe Harbour is a commercial working harbour situated at the mouth of the river Axe, behind a shingle spit.  The entrance is located beneath Haven Cliff and is open to the prevailing south westerlies. It is approximately 10m wide and bounded by the shingle spit to the west and a short piled pier to the east.  The Axe estuary extends some two miles inland and is navigable at high water by small craft.

The tidal streams run strongly in the entrance, especially during spring tides or when the river is swollen from rainfall.  There is a shingle bar off the entrance, which is liable to frequent change, altering the direction of the entrance channel.

It is imperative that ALL water users keep clear of the Harbour Mouth, which at times becomes busy, and do not attempt to cross it unnecessarily without the utmost care and attention. 

Most water activity takes place along the main beach with specific guidelines and zones.

There are no lifeguards on duty at Seaton Beach.  It is a long stretch of pebble beach and so there could be a variety of water-based activities going on in the same place at the same time.  Great care should be taken to avoid other water users.  It is not permitted to launch powered vessels from anywhere on Seaton Beach.

Please navigate the water safety menu to see further information for your specific activity.