Synopsis: Ottery St Mary and East Hill Strips. Icy start with a dusting of snow on the ground. Views from Beacon Hill looking out to Sidmouth quite spectacular. A superb walk!
This walk is route 14 from the book Walk! Devon. The day was cold and there’d been a dusting of snow overnight. I was up early as I wanted to get a meal in my slow cooker for later and I was keen to catch the 8:30 bus. Things became dicey even before I got to the bus as the steep path to the bus stop was very icy and watching cars slithering about the road was sufficient warning to take extreme care. Safely ensconced on my bus I was at the walk start in Ottery and on my way by 9:10.
Starting out from Ottery St MaryThe sky was clear, the air fresh and the snow-dusted fields gleaming in the early morning sun. With just the odd dog walker and jogger for company, I left the outskirts of Ottery following a path from the bridge along the River Otter, warding off an attack from a Jack Russell.
Landscaped wooded garden
Not far out from Ottery I came across what my guide book describes as a ‘landscaped wooded garden’. It does rather look as if someone’s garden has spilled over a little valley, with the path taking me past some non-native plants such as tree ferns. One of the nice things about snow is that every animal that walks over it leaves its mark. It’s evident that deer were out earlier than me this morning.
Trig point with view down to SidmouthIt wasn’t long before I start my ascent up an ice covered lane to East Hill Strips. At the car park at the top my track took me into the woods. All along this section of the walk there are tremendous views out across the valley of the River Otter. Then, finally, out near a trig point I was afforded with the best view of all, out to Sidmouth and the coast. This is a truly stunning view, one that my photograph fails to do justice.
From here the path zigzags down the hills side through heather and gorse then picks up a lane which took me down off Beacon Hill to pick up the course of a dismantled railway through Harpford Wood. This was the route of the old Sidmouth Railway Company line between aforesaid place and Ottery St Mary. At its peak in the 1930s as many as 24 trains ran on this line daily. Sadly it went the way of so many lines during the Beeching cuts of 1966.
Old mill on River OtterJust past the village of Tipton St John the path regains the River Otter near an old disused mill. I find a sheltered spot nearby to break for lunch and brew up a nice cup of tea. There’s an impressive weir just up from the mill which is the draw-off point for the water that once drove the mill. I see quite a few egrets out fishing this stretch of the river.
Approaching Ottery St Mary
The walk from here is level and easy. It makes for a casual and easy two mile stroll back to Ottery St Mary. I see some baguettes in a bakery window and think to myself they would would make a nice accompaniment to my supper, only to find out on asking they’re purely decoration and there are none to be had. I guess a wax baguette would lack flavour.
It’s the same friendly bus driver who picks me up as took me out in the morning. He asked me how my walk had been and I was able to report it had been a splendid day full of glorious views. By now I was looking forward to my Devon Turkey, turkey and bacon cooked in celery, mushrooms, apple and cider, washed down with a glass of scrumpy. Now that’s what I call a little of the good life.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 10.7 miles
Moving Time: 4hrs 11min
Stopped Time: 50min
Total Ascent: 371 metres
Maximum Elevation: 239 metres
Buses: 380 & 60A
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