Here, we want to introduce you to some of our favourite places and offer some suggestions of things to do during your stay with us.  All are within easy reach of Otter Rise.  Choosing just a few, was a real challenge as there are so many great places to suit everyone.  They’re in no particular order, no doubt you will find some of your own favourite places too.

Honiton

Famous for, but in no means limited to, a plethora of antique shops, the town was once the heart of the Devon lace-making industry dating back to the 1600‘s and a thriving pottery centre.  A visit to the museum sited in the town’s oldest building, dating back to 1327 is well worth a visit.

The whole town is lovely with a great friendly feel, lots of individual, quirky shops.   No one is in a rush, people have the time and the interest to stop and chat in the street.  Market days are Tuesday; a street market and livestock market and Saturday; street market only.  Check out Wine World at 83 High Street, opposite the Post Office, excellent wines at a fraction of the supermarket price together with friendly, knowledgeable advice from Jonathon, Alison and Hugh.

Otter Valley Ice Cream

At Aplins Farm on the A30 just east of Honiton you’ll find this gem.  A little hut on the farm serving the most fabulous and unusual flavours of artisan ice cream that you won’t find anywhere else.  Seabuckthorn is our favourite, although ginger and butter-nut squash is pretty good too!   All made on the farm with milk from the cows you see in the surrounding fields.  Delicious!  www.ottervalleydairy.co.uk

Our closest shops

Churchinford Community Shop – in the small village of Churchinford, Somerset only 2 miles away this shop is an alladin’s cave of goodies – groceries, stationary, cards, magazines, an off license, lots of fruit, veg and fresh produce. There is also a post office on weekdays from 9am – 5pm, a coffee shop with WiFi access open every day.  Check out their wares at www.churchinfordshop.co.uk

Beaches and the Seaside

Lyme Regis – a beautiful old seaside town that’s only a 25 minute drive away, with the famous Cobb sheltering the picturesque harbour.  Here you’ll also find Mark Hix’s renowned Oyster and Fish House www.hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk  and a lovely sandy beach by the harbour.  Try your hand at mackerel fishing or crab dipping off the harbour wall.  Local tip – the town has very narrow, steep streets  At busy times don’t even attempt to drive in, better and easier to use the park and ride bus service.

Seatown – a little further east along the coast from Lyme Regis is the tiny hamlet of Seatown.  Perfect for fossil hunting and when you’ve dug up your dinosaur, you could relax in the Anchor Inn right next to the beach www.theanchorinnseatown.co.uk

Sidmouth – a pretty, typically Victorian traditional seaside town, half an hours drive from Otter Rise.  Local tip – time your visit for low tide and head towards Jacobs Ladder, you’ll find a lovely sandy beach and rock pools that are only exposed at low tide.

Branscombe and Beer – the South West coast path joins these two, whichever way you do it there’s something lovely at each end – buy freshly landed fish off the beach at Beer direct from the little fishing boats (a blackboard on the slipway lists the days catch) or relax in the pub on beach at Branscombe.  Branscombe is also home to the Donkey Sanctuary, free admission and plenty of ‘furry people with long ears’ to befriend and cuddle.

Restaurants and Pubs

What can we say?  We’re very lucky to be spoilt for choice with such a fabulous selection of hostelries close by, all offering excellent and diverse menus.  The Candlelight Inn at Bishopswood www.candlelight-inn.co.uk, The York Inn in Churchinford, The Half Moon at Clayhidon www.halfmoondevon.co.uk, The Sidmouth Arms in Upottery www.sidmoutharms.com, an American Diner – Route A303 www.routerestaurants.co.uk on the opposite side of our valley, River Cottage Canteen in Axminster www.rivercottage.net/canteens/axminster and Cookery courses and demonstrations at nearby River Cottage HQ www.rivercottage.net/hq.

Activities

Too many to shake a big stick at!  Here are a few ideas, all within half an hours drive of the cottage:

Sky diving and fly a plane at Dunkeswell.

Tennis courts in Upottery.

Horse-riding near Clayhidon.

WWII Nissen Hut – only a short walk from the cottage, a fascinating restored hut that tells the story of the major part that Upottery airfields played during the D Day landings www.southwestairfields.co.uk/?page_id=28

Golf – 27, 18 and 9 hole courses; championship courses and driving ranges. www.top100golfcourses.co.uk will list them for you.

Walks – Blackdown Hills AONB, Dartmoor, SW Coast path, Jurassic Coast, Quantock Hills, Exmoor.

Cycling – the Blackdown Hills form a plateau on the tops with steep sided valleys in between, so you’ve got the best of both worlds!  We’re also less than a mile from the Lands End to John O’Groats route.  Excellent mountain bike trails for all abilities at Haldon Forest Park near Exeter www.forestry.gov.uk/haldonforestpark

Star gazing – on a clear night, you’ll be able to see every star in the sky and many planets too, better yet – the cottage sits right under the milky way.

Fishing – sea fishing close by on the Dorset, East and South Devon coasts and coarse, fly and trout fishing at many locations including Otter Head lakes; Kennick, Tottiford and Trenchford and Wimbleball Reservoir www.swlakestrust.org and www.go-fish.co.uk/devon have more information.

Bird and wildlife watching – deer, foxes, squirrels, badgers, rabbits, voles, owls, buzzards, woodpeckers, pheasants and probably all the garden birds you can think of, right on your doorstep.

REGULAR MARKETS

• Bridport – every Saturday in the centre of town
• Churchinford – First Saturday of every month in the village hall
• Hemyock – 3rd Saturday of every month in the village hall
• Honiton – every Tuesday and Saturday in the main street
• Taunton – every Thursday in the High Street

REGULAR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

• Charmouth – Fossil hunting walks.  Weekends and school holidays.
• Lyme Regis – Rockpool rambles (www.charmouth.org/chcc/events)
• Seaton – Seatn Eats Boutique.  Street food market overlooking the sea.  First Friday of the summer months.

For children

So much for small (and not so small) people to do!

Escot, near Honiton – www.escot-devon.co.uk.

Crealy Great Adventure Park, near Exeter – www.crealy.co.uk.

Donkey Sanctuary, Branscombe – www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk. No admission charge.

High ropes courses at Taunton and Haldon Forest Park

Woodlands Park, near Totnes – www.woodlandspark.com.

Events

Keep an eye on our News page for more detail and new events throughout the year, here are just a few.

Devon County show – May each year

Woodland fair – July

Honiton Agricultural  show – first Thursday in August

Yarcombe Terrier races – August

Donkey Sanctuary, Donkey days – during the summer