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Visiting Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary is a delightful, history-rich town nestling in the glorious Otter Valley just a six miles away from England's first Natural World Heritage site - the Jurassic Coast, and only eleven miles from the ancient Cathederal City of Exeter.

Ottery St Mary is home to the world-famous Tar Barrels event which takes place in November. Flaming Tar Barrels are carried through the streets of the town to the delight of thousands of townsfolk and visitors who turn up to watch the exciting event. This is an old custom said to have originated in the 17th century where 'Tar Barrellers' compete to see who can hold the burning barrel on their back the longest.

Ottery St Mary is the birth place to the poet Samuel Taylor-Coleridge and is home to the annual Pixie Festival every June. On this day local children dress up as pixies and re-enact an ancient legend. They run to the Church of St Mary where they take captive the local bellringers and spirit them off to their cave in the Town Square.

Ottery St Mary has a friendly town center with a wide range of family-owned business offering local produce, original gifts and crafts. It is also home to one of the largest and finest churches in the West, modelled on Exeter Cathederal. The town has featured in many books and films, the most recent being 'Ottery St Catchpole', the home of the Weasleys in J.K.Rowlings popular Harry Potter books.

There are many local attractions and villages full of character surrounding the area as well as the luscious Devon countryside providing the opportunity for wonderful walks and picnics. Ottery St Mary makes a lovely day out or a great base for a holiday.

For more information about visiting Ottery St Mary or finding holiday accomodation in the area please contact Phillis on 01404 813964.

Joshua's is the perfect place to stop on route and fill your picnic basket up, or pop into the cafe for lunch, a cold local cider or a traditional Devon cream tea. Visit our page on Picnics and Local Walks for more ideas.