There are golf courses, and then there are golf courses with a view worth lingering over. Set in over 55 acres of Devon countryside on Exminster Hill, Exminster Golf Centre looks out across one of the South West’s great natural set pieces: the Exe Estuary. Tee off on the right morning and you’ll see the tide sliding in over the mudflats, light moving across the water, and — if you keep an eye out — the birdlife that makes this stretch of coast internationally important.
This is a guide to making more of your visit: a round of golf paired with the estuary on your doorstep. Whether you’re a visiting golfer, a local looking for a half-day out, or someone who fancies a walk and a meal as much as 18 tees, the Exminster setting rewards a little exploring.
A course shaped by water
The estuary isn’t just a backdrop here — water runs through the course itself. A natural spring feeds two lakes, and the holes weave around ponds and a valley crossing, so club selection matters as much as the scenery. The layout is a 9-hole, 18-tee design playing to a par of 66/67 and around 5,255 yards from the white tees, which makes it friendly enough for newcomers and interesting enough for regulars chasing a score.
The majority of the course enjoys those open views across the estuary, so even a wayward drive comes with a consolation prize. If you’d rather warm up first, there’s a floodlit driving range with 16 bays (14 covered, 2 open-air) before you head to the first tee. When you’re ready to play, you can check tee times and book online.
The Exe Estuary on your doorstep
Step back from the golf and you’re on the edge of a landscape that birdwatchers travel for. The estuary is fringed by the RSPB’s Exminster and Powderham Marshes, described by the RSPB as Devon’s premier wetland and lying just five miles from Exeter city centre. It’s a vital feeding and resting ground for huge numbers of birds on migration and through the winter.
What you’ll see changes with the seasons, which is part of the charm:
- Winter: flocks of wigeon and teal, brent geese, lapwing, curlew, black-tailed godwit and elegant avocet gathering on the flats.
- Spring and summer: breeding lapwing and redshank, the explosive song of Cetti’s and reed warblers in the reedbeds, and passage waders dropping in.
- All year: the area is also known for the scarce cirl bunting, a South West speciality the RSPB has worked hard to protect.
And swans. Mute swans are a familiar sight gliding on the estuary off the marshes — there’s even a spot near Exminster known as Swans Nest — and few birds suit this calm, reflective water better. It’s a fitting emblem for a club that sits right above them.
Walking and cycling the Exe Estuary Trail
If you’d like to stretch your legs before or after golf, the Exe Estuary Trail runs close by. It’s a largely flat, surfaced route of around 26 miles that loops the whole estuary, linking Exmouth, Exeter and Dawlish. The western side — the Exminster shore — passes nature reserves, sea walls and those wide-open estuary views, making it ideal for an easy walk or a family-friendly cycle.
One of the trail’s quirks is that you don’t have to do it all on foot or wheels: seasonal ferries cross the estuary at several points, including the long-running Topsham ferry over to the western bank. It’s a charming way to hop between the two sides of the river.
Make a day of it: Topsham and Powderham
Two of the estuary’s best-loved destinations sit within easy reach, and both pair beautifully with a round at Exminster.
| Nearby spot | What it offers | Why pair it with golf |
|---|---|---|
| Topsham | Historic estuary port with Dutch-gabled houses, Georgian streets, independent shops, pubs and cafés | A relaxed afternoon across the water after a morning round |
| RSPB Exminster & Powderham Marshes | Devon’s premier wetland for waders and wildfowl | A gentle wildlife walk right beside the course |
| Powderham Castle | Ancestral seat of the Courtenay family with an ancient deer park | A grand half-day on the estuary’s western shore |
Topsham is a town with serious heritage. Granted town status by royal charter from Edward I in 1300, it grew into a thriving port and shipbuilding centre, and the Dutch-influenced houses along the Strand still hint at that trading past. Today it’s all independent shops, riverside pubs and walks — a lovely contrast to a morning on the fairways.
Powderham Castle, on the estuary’s western bank near Kenton, has been home to the Courtenay family — the Earls of Devon — since around 1390, over 600 years of unbroken family stewardship. Its parkland and ancient deer park, home to a herd of fallow deer, run down towards the water, and you’ll glimpse the estuary much as generations of Courtenays have.
A suggested estuary-and-golf day
Here’s one easy way to put it all together:
- Morning: warm up on the driving range, then play your round with the estuary in view.
- Lunch: refuel at the clubhouse before heading out.
- Afternoon: walk a stretch of the Exe Estuary Trail and the RSPB marshes for some birdwatching, or take the ferry over to Topsham for a wander.
Where to finish: the clubhouse
After all that fresh air, there’s a natural place to round things off. The licensed bar and restaurant at the centre is open to the public — not just to golfers — so it’s an easy spot to meet non-playing friends or family who’ve spent the afternoon birdwatching or shopping in Topsham. Settle in, compare scorecards, and enjoy those estuary views one more time as the light fades over the water.
Plan your visit
Exminster Golf Centre is at Exminster Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8GA, a short hop from the A379 and the M5. For directions, opening times and the practical details, see our visit page — and bring binoculars as well as your clubs. On this corner of the Exe, the wildlife is part of the round.