Ottery St Mary sits beside the River Otter and is well known for its literary connections to the poet Coleridge and for its beautiful church often referred to as a Exeter cathedral lookalike. Ottery St Mary is also famous for its traditional ‘Tar Barrels’ which attracts more than 3000 visitors on 5th November each year. Ottery has welcoming traditional Devon pubs and plenty of individual shops, offering quality local produce and a warm welcome to visitors. The area is a walkers’ paradise, with strolls along the banks of the River Otter or hill climbs offering magnificent views as far as Dartmoor. Nearby Escot Country Park is a fabulous wildlife visitor attraction for the whole family and the dramatic 20 mile stretch of Jurassic Coast, England’s first natural World Heritage Site is a short drive from Ottery where resorts such as Seaton, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth and Sidmouth are found along this stretch of coastline. Sidmouth is an elegant seaside resort on the south Devon stretch of Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site of great natural beauty. Lined with stylish Regency cream-and-white architecture, creating an elegant Esplanade which makes for a relaxing stroll whilst looking out towards Beer Head. There are a variety of attractions around Sidmouth including Pecorama with award-winning miniature railway and gardens, the Seaton tramway and the Otter Estuary Nature Reserve. An easy drive from Ottery is the cathedral city of Exeter with plenty of large shops, a wealth of museums, a theatre and many fabulous restaurants.
