Exe Estuary

The Exe estuary is an estuary on the south coast of Devon, England.

The estuary starts just to the south (grid reference SX9589) of the city of Exeter, and extends south for approximately eight miles to meet the English Channel (SX9980). The estuary is a ria and so is larger than would be the case given the size of the River Exe, the main river feeding into the estuary.

On the east shore (from north to south) is the town of Topsham, the villages of Exton and Lympstone and at the estuary mouth, the seaside resort of Exmouth. Opposite Exmouth on the west shore is the village of Dawlish Warren with its sand spit extending across the mouth of the estuary. Above this there are fewer settlements on the west shore, with just the villages of Starcross and Cockwood, both adjoining the lower portion of the estuary.

The River Clyst also feeds into the estuary, just below Topsham.

The River Kenn feeds into the estuary near Kenton.

The soil is alluvial, derived from Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian rocks.