The River Otter and the Coast, Devon

From Otterton village centre walk (west) towards the river Otter. Cross over then turn right and follow the riverside path (ignoring the first footbridge over it) until you reach the second footbridge (dedicated to the memory of Alan Jones). Cross over the bridge then continue straight across the field in front of you and through some trees until you reach the road at Burnthouse Farm. Turn left and follow the road until you reach Passaford Farm.

Take the dirt track off to the right just after the Passaford Farm buildings - Passaford Lane signposted to Mutters Moor. Follow the main track round to the right and pass through a metal gate. Continue on up this path which starts climbing steadily but does become gradually steeper as it progresses. Cross over a stile then follow the path to the right up towards Mutters Moor (quite a steep climb here). Turn left when you get to the top and follow the path along the bottom of a steep slope off to your right. Ignore the first path that switchbacks off to the right up into the trees. Take the next path off to the right (you will see a permitted path waymark on a post to the left of the trail) and follow it up until you reach a dirt road at the top.

Turn right onto the road and follow it round as it bends to the left. At the fork in the road follow the left hand path (NE-ish direction) making sure to look over the heather on your right for the first of the sea views. Keep following the road as it bends round to the left then turn right at a crossroads in the path (you will see a heavily waymarked post to the right of the trail). Then fork left and continue until you reach another dirt road where you should turn right and follow it down to a car park.Cross over the road at the car park entrance, go through the gate and continue straight across the open land ahead, turning right when you join the coast path. Follow the coast path towards Ladram Bay, turning left through the wooden gate when you reach High Peak.

You might want to take a detour up the permissive path to the top of High Peak (see POI detail) before continuing along the coast path to Ladram Bay. Here you can follow the path skirting around the coastal side of the holiday park (visitors are welcome to take a paddle in the bay), continuing up across the field in front of the foremost holiday homes to rejoin the main coastal path towards Budleigh Salterton.

Shortly after Smallstones point you will pass a signpost for a path off to the right towards Otterton. If you want to cut the walk short here you can head back to the start point (see alternative route for information). Otherwise continue along the coastal path until you reach the mouth of the river Otter. Turn right to follow the path back up alongside the river until you reach a road. Turn left along the road and then follow it round to the left to cross the Otter. If the weather is bad or you want to cut the walk short for any reason then take the path off to the right towards Otterton, going through the kissing gate at the top of the field and following the dirt track until you arrive at a road. Turn left and follow the road for 50 yards before you turn right onto an "Unmetalled Road": Lea Lane. Follow this road, keeping straight on when you reach a junction (do not turn left) and eventually down through trees to a road. Turn left and then almost immediately right. A left turn at the end will take you down Fore Street and back to the starting point in Otterton.

Once over the river turn right and follow the riverside path back up until you reach the road at Otterton Mill. Turn right along the road, back across the river and on into Otterton and the starting point.