Ottery St Mary Exploration
12 people attending
3 places left
"Is this the hill? is this the kirk?
Is this mine own countree?
O let me be awake, my God!
Or let me sleep alway."
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Ottery St Mary is an ancient and historic town in Devon that was referenced in the Doomsday Book.
And for poetry fans, it was also the birthplace of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
On this hike we'll explore the town of Ottery St Mary with its impressive parish church before heading up to the ridgeline at East Hills Woods along to Beacon Hill, with its fantastic views down to the coast at Sidmouth and along the coast to Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth.
We'll then drop down into the valley to follow the River Otter back to Ottery St Mary, and if we're lucky we might even spot evidence of the beavers that have returned to the river.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome to join us on this event but we do ask the following:
- Please appreciate the fact that not everyone is a dog owner or lover- especially when we stop to eat
- Please ensure you adhere to the Countryside Code at all times - see (Keeping Dogs Under Effective Control)
If your dog is uncontrolled and strays in open land frightening other animals or livestock, the leader is supported by the OutdoorLads board of trustees to ask you to leave the event as this is not acceptable behaviour.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
Photo Credits: All photos taken by OutdoorLads members and permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.
What to bring
Hand sanitiser and a face covering: whilst we are living with Covid-19, please bring your own to events to help keep everyone safe
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for the day.
There are no plans for any pub stop during the walk.
There is a Sainsbury's supermarket at the start if you forget to bring anything.