Beer hotels and self catering cottage accommodation in Beer

Devon » Beer accommodation

An old smugglers' town, complete with a cove and secret contraband-stashing caves, the charming town of Beer is located on Lyme Bay, in South East Devon. Its residents used to be regarded as the 'Kings of smugglers', while local son Jack Rattenbury was somewhat of a smuggling celebrity. Strangely, the town's name has nothing to do with the much smuggled alcoholic drink, but is in fact an Anglo-Saxon term referring to the surrounding forests. The town’s land was once a gift from Henry VIII to Catherine Parr, and its inhabitants are teasingly referred to as Spaniards by the nearby towns, since a Spanish ship once sank off its coast and the survivors had to settle here.

A naturally sunny town, any outdoor activity is a great choice and there is a pleasant beach here. The Jubilee Gardens offer some great views, while following the stream that goes through town will lead to the sea.

Lace making is an important local tradition, while fishing is a big source of income for the local residents. Boats usually rest on the beach, while fresh fish is usually sold nearby. And yet, the town is best known worldwide for another thing: the extraordinary Beer stone.
Numerous cathedrals worldwide have been built with this stone, famous for its great workability and the particular colour it takes upon being exposed to open air. Thus, the local Beer Quarry Caves have supplied the stones for such icons as St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Christchurch Cathedral in New York, and Buckingham Palace.