The Otter Valley

East Devon

A Walking Itinerary

Pick a length, plot the river

If you've only got a day, the lower valley is the easiest to reach and the easiest to walk. Flat surfaced paths, a watermill café, the chance of a beaver sighting at dusk and the sea at the end — Budleigh Salterton to Otterton Mill is roughly 3 miles each way along the Otter footpath.

The route

2.5 miles · 1 leg

The River Otter itself is approximately 44 km / 27 miles long. Suggested walking, cycling or driving routes may differ — they follow public rights of way, lanes, bridges and access points rather than the river channel. The Otter Valley Trail is a curated guide, not a single continuous waymarked path.

Key
  • Food & Drink
  • Lodging
  • Cider
  • Orchards
  • Trees
  • Other

Route validation

Snapped against OS footpaths & OpenStreetMap

The backbone line is checked for loops, southward backtracks (the spine should run monotonically north of Queen Elizabeth Bridge), unnecessary detours, and unverified long hops between waypoints.

Last cross-referenced against OS Maps · 2026-06-10

✓ No loops, backtracks or unexplained detours detected. The spine runs cleanly from The Star to Otterton Mill.

Waypoints & turns

Budleigh → QE Bridge → Pynes → Otterton Mill

Cross-referenced against OS footpaths and the East Devon Way. Distances are cumulative along the line shown on the map.

  1. 01

    The Star · Marine Parade

    Start. Walk east along Marine Parade with the sea on your right.

    0.0 mi
  2. 02

    Lime Kiln Car Park & Toilets

    Cross into the car park; pick up the East Devon Way / Otter path heading north along the river's west bank.

    0.29 mi
  3. 03

    Queen Elizabeth Bridge (west end)

    Bear right onto the bridge across the River Otter.

    0.66 mi
  4. 04

    Queen Elizabeth Bridge (east end)

    Off the bridge, follow South Farm Road north-east for ~250 m.

    0.74 mi
  5. 05

    Pynes Farm Shop

    Farm shop & butchery. Leave the shop heading north — rejoin the riverside footpath at the gate behind the yard.

    0.92 mi
  6. 06

    East-bank footpath (Otter Estuary north)

    Keep the river on your left; flat, level path through reedbed and pasture.

    1.26 mi
  7. 07

    Clamour Bridge meadows

    Continue straight; the path runs parallel to the river, with beaver dams visible at low water.

    1.74 mi
  8. 08

    Otterton riverside approach

    Cross the small wooden footbridge into Otterton village.

    2.16 mi
  9. 09

    Otterton Mill

    Finish. Watermill, bakery and café on Fore Street.

    2.48 mi
Leg I2.5 mi · 4.0 km

A Day on the Lower Otter

Budleigh Salterton to Otterton Mill

The most accessible stretch — watermills, wild beavers and the sea.

Start Budleigh Salterton · EX9 6NG

Start at The Star / Budleigh seafront, walk east to Lime Kiln car park, cross Queen Elizabeth Bridge, call at Pynes Farm Shop, then keep to the east-bank River Otter footpath all the way north to Otterton Mill. Return the same way or use the bus between Otterton and Budleigh.

Stops along the way

  1. 01
    The Longboat CaféBudleigh Salterton

    The seafront café marks the Budleigh end of the walk, close to The Star / Marine Parade start.

    Address
    Marine Parade, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6NS
    Hours
    Daily 9.00–17.00 (winter to 16.00)
  2. 02
    Pynes Farm ShopBudleigh Salterton

    Farm shop and butchery on South Farm Road, just after Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

    Address
    Unit 10 South Farm Court, South Farm Road, Budleigh Salterton EX9 7AY
    Hours
    Mon–Sat 9.00–17.00 · Sun 10.00–14.00
  3. 03
    Otterton MillOtterton

    Stoneground flour, a bakery and a café in a working watermill.

    Address
    Fore Street, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton EX9 7HG
    Hours
    Daily 10.00–16.00 (mill demos Tue & Thu, 11.00 & 14.00)
  4. 04
    Otter Estuary Nature ReserveBudleigh Salterton

    Boardwalks over the saltmarsh; the hide at the southern end is best at falling tide.

Where to stay

Day trip — no overnight needed. Mostly flat surfaced paths along the Otter footpath.