The Journal
Seasonal Notes
Quiet evergreen notes from the valley — events, sightings and customs to look out for through the seasons. Always check directly before travelling to a specific event.
Spring notes
Summer notes
Autumn notes
Autumn · Ottery Tar Barrels
Ottery Tar Barrels
Every 5 November, Ottery St Mary hosts its famous Tar Barrels tradition. Check official event information before travelling.
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Autumn · Cider Pressing at Bowhayes
Cider Pressing at Bowhayes
In October, the orchards around Venn Ottery move into harvest and pressing season. Public access varies, so check before travelling.
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Winter notes
Reader contributions
Share a photo from the valley
Walked a stretch of the Otter? Spotted beavers at dusk, frost on the orchard, or tar barrels in Ottery? Tag your photos so others can find them, and we may feature them in future journal entries.
- Hashtag
#OtterValleyTrailon Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky or X.- Tag us
- Mention
@ottervalleytrailand we'll see it come through. - Send directly
- Prefer email? Get in touch with your photo and a short caption — please confirm you took it and are happy for it to be credited.
Please respect wildlife, private land and other visitors — no drone flights over the Pebblebed Heaths or the Lower Otter Restoration Project, and keep beaver lodges undisturbed.
Reader gallery
From the valley
A curated selection of photos sent in by readers. New submissions are reviewed before they appear here.
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