East Budleigh, Bicton and River Otter

The walk includes a stretch of the bank of the River Otter, and an opportunity to visit Bicton Park, well known for its Italian garden, brilliant displays of shrubs and bedding plants, farm museum and narrow-gauge railway, complete with a steam locomotive, the Woolwich.

A stream overhung with ferns and flowers, including red valerian and wild mignonette runs through East Budleigh and is crossed by little bridges that lead to rows of colour washed cob and thatched cottages.

The village church dates from the 12th century and has a collection of intricately carved bench ends. The pew, where the Raleigh family worshipped, can be found immediately in front of the pulpit. It is dated 1537 which makes it one of the earliest pews in England that is inscribed with a date.

Beside the church is the Rolle Mausoleum. It was designed by the 19th century architect Augustus Pugin. The Rolle family built Bicton House in 1730.

The route skirts Bicton Park, formerly Bicton Gardens, which covers over 60 acres. It was laid out by Henry Rolle to designs by Andre Le Notre, who designed the grounds of Versailles. Special features are the pinewood, one of the finest pinewoods in Britain, and the Italian garden. The countryside museum houses a fine collection of farm equipment.

A late section of the walk follows the River Otter, which runs into Lyme Bay. Wildflowers grow in the watermeadows and along the riverside, stands of yellow flag iris, rushes and purple loosestrife. Pink shaded cliffs pitted with the tunnels of sand martins and draped in ivy and honeysuckle overshadow the water. White breasted dippers can be seen standing in the shallows.