Exmouth Dock is a proper working harbour spot with several distinct crabbing locations to choose from — good for spreading out if it’s busy, and the combination of dock crabbing plus a nearby beach makes it an easy full day out.
Lifeboat station wall, The Point, marina slipways
Pier Head (small/busy) or Camperdown Terrace
RNLI shop, Lockdown Deli, Harbour News & Gifts
Beach nearby for a full day out
🎣 The Crabbing Itself
There are three solid spots here depending on where’s free when you arrive:
The Lifeboat Station — the concrete wall and pathway extending out from the lifeboat station offer good drop-offs and are well worth trying first.
The Point and Marina — both sides of the dock entrance near The Point and the Exmouth Marina slipways are popular with locals and usually produce well. These are consistently rated as the best spots at Exmouth Dock.
🪱 Gear and Bait
You’re well covered for supplies here without having to bring your own. Pick up lines, nets, and buckets from the RNLI shop at the lifeboat station, The Lockdown Deli on the Quay, or Harbour News and Gifts.
🚗 Parking
The Pier Head Car Park is the most convenient for the crabbing spots but it’s small and gets busy fast — don’t rely on it in peak season. The better fallback is Camperdown Terrace, roughly £2.20 per hour with both long and short stay available. No overnight parking at either.
🍦 Food and Drink
The Point restaurant sits right on the marina and is a great option for a meal after a session on the water — good location and handy if you’re already down that end of the dock. Combine crabbing at the marina with an afternoon on Exmouth beach and you’ve got a straightforward full day sorted.
🦺 Safety and Accessibility
The dock walls and pathways are mostly flat and manageable, though the slipways near the marina need care underfoot, particularly when wet. Keep children within reach near the dock edges — the drop into the water is direct with no barrier in most places.
📝 Final Thoughts
Exmouth Dock is a flexible spot with enough different crabbing locations that you’re unlikely to be stuck without a space, even in busy periods. Sort your parking at Camperdown Terrace rather than gambling on Pier Head, stock up on bait from one of the quayside shops, and make an afternoon of it with the beach nearby.