Ottery Saint Mary: Culture, Walks and Extraordinary Traditions

Ottery Saint Mary combines remarkable buildings, paths through the East Devon countryside and an extraordinary local tradition. Anyone planning a trip can combine cultural history, walks and special experiences here. The town also offers various points of interest for families – from a historical tour to the play area in Land of Canaan Park.

Discover Buildings and History

An important starting point for visitors interested in culture is Cadhay in Ottery St Mary, a manor house built in 1550. Tours of Cadhay include the Long Gallery and the Roof Chamber, among other areas. This makes it possible to learn about the history of the house not only through its exterior, but also through selected interior rooms.

St Mary’s Parish Church was built in 1342 as a collegiate church modelled on Exeter Cathedral. Its construction is largely attributed to John de Grandisson, who was Bishop of Exeter from 1312 to 1369. Particularly striking features include the painted ceiling and the early 16th-century fan-vaulted section of the side aisle known as the Dorset Aisle. The south transept is also home to the Ottery St Mary Astronomical Clock, one of the oldest surviving mechanical clocks in the country.

The Ottery St Mary Heritage Society’s Museum presents the social and cultural history of Ottery St Mary and its surrounding area over a period of 2,000 years. From 3 April 2026 to the end of September 2026, it was open from Thursday to Saturday. The Blue Plaque Trail highlights places associated with significant events, people and buildings. This allows you to explore the town’s history through individual stops without restricting it to a single building.

Coleridge, Walks and Countryside

Ottery St Mary is the birthplace of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The 36-mile long-distance walking trail, the Coleridge Way, passes through the East Devon countryside and connects Ottery St Mary with other places associated with Coleridge, including Exeter. This gives you a clear choice when planning your days: you can focus on the town’s cultural history or include longer sections of the route in your trip.

Ottery St Mary and the surrounding parish have many miles of public footpaths, including paths along the River Otter. The countryside can therefore also be enjoyed on shorter excursions, without every day of the trip having to follow the same focus. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment can take their own preferences into account: accommodation in Ottery Saint Mary is a natural search direction if historical attractions, paths and local experiences are to be at the centre of the trip.

Special Experiences for Different Days of Your Trip

Land of Canaan Park has a large children’s play area with an inclusive otter play structure for climbing, balancing and sensory activities. Families can combine this specific activity with a cultural visit or a walk without structuring their entire stay around a single activity.

One of the town’s most unusual traditions is Tar Barrels. The event takes place every year on 5 November, except when that day falls on a Sunday. Ottery is the only town in the country where large, lit tar barrels are carried in their entirety through the streets. This event is clearly distinct from the historical attractions and should be considered a separate occasion when planning a trip, rather than an ordinary evening activity.

Further Places for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Ottery Saint Mary, you can also view Bradninch, Barnstaple, Upton Pyne, Alston, Ashprington, Beer, Ipplepen and Bratton Fleming.

Whether you are looking for a holiday apartment for cultural discoveries, walks along the River Otter or a stay centred around a special event, Ottery Saint Mary offers several clearly distinct reasons to tailor your trip individually. The combination of the manor house, church art, local history, connection with Coleridge and extraordinary tradition makes the town a versatile base for your further planning.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.