Ottery St. Mary set in the beautiful surroundings of the Otter valley, and within twenty minutes drive from Exeter is a perfect tourist destination. The town has Pixie Day and Fete during June. This is a town pageant to celebrate getting rid of the Pixies that troubled local residents in the 14th century. The Pixie hoards, consisting of scouts & girl guides, are whipped into a frenzy by the Chief Pixie who then make for the Church to capture the Bell ringers to parade though the streets before re-enacting their final escape from the Pixies. Finally humiliated the Pixies flee the town. Another event in early November is the famous Flaming Tar Barrel which is really something else as it involves males running down the street with barrels of lit tart on their backs. Ottery St. Mary is the birth place of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and this is celebrated with a Coleridge Festival in the autumn.
The town walk is to savour the town’s heritage and traditions, featuring the 18C Tumbling Weir, and there are a number of other walks close to the town centre. Overlooking the town is the magnificent ancient Parish Church which is modelled on Exeter Cathedral, here there is multi language information explaining the facets and features of this building.
The surrounding villages of Wiggaton, Gittisham, Rockbeare, West Hill, Talaton, Tipton St John, and East Hill each offer something to see, do & visit and at the nearby Escot Country Park & Gardens there is so much to enjoy from a world-class Beech Hedge maze, to woodlands and hidden playgrounds, this attraction is a child and parents delight.
Dalwood is worth visiting to see National Trust Loughwood Meeting House where you travel back in time in this place of worship which has remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century. Another place to visit is the important non-fortified middle ages manor house of Shute Barton which boasts the largest open fireplace in England.
Honiton offers numerous specialist shops dedicated to both lace and pottery for which the town has a manufacturing heritage, it is also a Mecca for antiques and antiquarian book seekers. The history of the town’s Lace industry can be found at the Allhallow’s Museum of Lace and Antiquities which is in the High Street. The town is within easy reach of Dartmoor and Exmoor, as well as being close to Exeter thus making it an excellent base.
Vast tracts of the area surrounding Honiton are designated as areas of outstanding natural beauty and the town’s location, near to the River Otter, provides the visitor with an abundance of country walks and footpaths to explore. The town’s festival is held in May and its annual Agricultural Show is one of the largest and best in the region. The Honiton and District Carnival is held over a two week period, reaching its peak with a grand evening carnival procession, an evening to be enjoyed by all the family.
Dunkeswell is notable for having a busy small airfield initially established as an American Navy air base during World War II, and continues to offer civil flight services to this day. Dunkeswell Abbey is two miles north of the village and is worth a visit.
Sidbury is worth a visit to see Sidbury ‘Castle’ an Iron Age hill-fort, this is a National Trust property open on Bank Holidays only.
Sidmouth offers the possibility of either a leisurely beach holiday or a more active walking trip with plenty of stunning views waiting for those who choose to climb the nearby hills. It is home to an International Folk Festival, when the town literally overflows with colour and swings to the sound of world music. The usually quiet promenade becomes a packed corridor of
Morris dancers, didgeridoos, fire eaters and lyre players. Festival goers trip from pub to pub, pewter tankards in hand sampling the local ale at the town’s many pubs. There is also much
more going on to entertain the visitors who once having visited generally return.
STONELEIGH HOLIDAY PARK near Sidmouth offers self catering accommodation consisting of 35 privately owned brick built bungalows. A
steep path through scenic National Trust land leads to the secluded Weston Mouth beach. The famous Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary is next door, with an excellent cafe serving good food. Many of their bungalows allow you to bring your family dog on holiday for excellent walks around the Donkey Sanctuary. There are pubs in the nearby village of Branscombe, and the Old Bakery and The Forge attractions are open to visitors.
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