The Living Map
The Otter Valley Trail
The River Otter is approximately 44 km / 27 miles long, rising in the Blackdown Hills and flowing south to the sea at Budleigh Salterton. We've split the valley into three sections — each with its own character, starting points and suggested walks.
Sections of the river
Upper section of the valley
The Upper Valley
Blackdown Hills to Honiton
Hidden springs, beech-shaded lanes and the lace-and-antiques town of Honiton. Quiet field paths in the river's headwaters.
- Start
- The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery · EX14 9QE
- Parking
- Roadside parking by the inn; small public lay-bys along Old Honiton Road.
- Bus
- No regular service — drive or taxi.
- Walks
- 3 suggested · 2.6–5 mi
- Time
- 1 hr – 2 hr
- Grade
- Easy–Moderate
- Dogs
- Dogs welcome on lanes & field paths — on a lead near livestock.
Explore this section →
Middle section of the valley
The Middle Valley
Ottery St Mary to Tipton St John
Cider orchards, ancient churches and a 14th-century miniature of Exeter Cathedral. The classic flat riverside footpaths.
- Start
- Canaan Way Car Park, Ottery St Mary · EX11 1DQ
- Parking
- Pay-and-display in the town centre; toilets on site.
- Bus
- Stagecoach 9 / 9A / 382 to The Square
- Walks
- 3 suggested · 2–5 mi
- Time
- 48 min – 2 hr
- Grade
- Easy
- Dogs
- Dog-friendly riverside paths — short on-lead stretches by sheep fields.
Explore this section →
Lower section of the valley
The Lower Valley
Otterton to the estuary at Budleigh Salterton
Watermills, wild beavers, Jurassic Coast cliffs and the only English river with a sanctioned wild beaver population. Boardwalks over saltmarsh.
- Start
- Lime Kiln Car Park, Budleigh Salterton · EX9 6HG
- Parking
- Large pay-and-display by the estuary; toilets on site.
- Bus
- Stagecoach 9 / 9A / 157 to The Green
- Walks
- 4 suggested · 2–6 mi
- Time
- 48 min – 2.5 hr
- Grade
- Easy
- Dogs
- Dogs on a lead — wild beavers, ground-nesting birds and the SSSI estuary.
Explore this section →
Distances and times are estimates for the suggested circular walks within each section, not a single continuous waymarked trail. Always carry an up-to-date OS Explorer map and check conditions before setting out.
By time available
Not sure where to start?
Pick a trip length and we'll suggest the section, the starting point and where to stop for lunch — from a half-day on the estuary to a three-day source-to-sea walk.
The whole valley
Source · north — Sea · south
- Food & Drink
- Lodging
- Cider
- Orchards
- Trees
- Other
Coloured ribbons mark each section: oxblood for the Upper, indigo for the Middle, sage for the Lower.