After the Exeter Marathon: Topsham

The Route: Exeter → Topsham Logistics: By train or bus; a short, straightforward trip from central Exeter. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Exeter ──(train/bus)──> Topsham

Legs that have just completed two laps of the River Exe and Exeter Canal circuit don't need much more walking, and Topsham obliges: a compact estuary village a short hop from the city, built for wandering slowly along a waterfront rather than covering distance. May in Topsham: settled spring weather and the estuary at its most active with wading birds.

The Village

Topsham sits where the River Exe widens into its estuary, a former shipbuilding and wool-trading port whose Dutch-influenced merchant houses still line the main street. The waterfront itself is the main draw: a short walk along the quay, with views across the estuary, asks nothing of legs that raced the day before.

Where to eat: The village's cafés and pubs cluster along Fore Street and the quay, several with outdoor seating overlooking the water.

Getting Back

The return journey to Exeter by train or bus takes a matter of minutes, making this a genuinely low-commitment add-on to a marathon weekend.