Budleigh Salterton Coast Path - River Otter Loop

This coastal walk starts in Budleigh Salterton Lime Kiln Car Park (what3words ///cargo.warms.chariots) and is just under 6 miles/9.6km long. It will take you alongside the River Otter at the beginning and end of the walk, so great for the wildlife lovers. Sturdy footwear is advised, but in the drier months I’ve done this walk in trainers. There are no cafe stops or toilets along the way, but both are available on the seafront close to the car park.

The view of Budleigh Pines over the Otter Estuary

The Path leading from the car park

From the car park, take the bridge over the Otter Estuary which will then join a gravel path with wetland on the left and reed beds on the right. We usually spot grey heron, little egrets and sometimes kingfishers along this stretch, as well as hearing the loud call of the cetti’s warbler, goldfinches and the noisy black headed gulls. Once you reach the end of this stretch of path, turn right, taking the route signposted ‘Coast Path, Ladram Bay 3m’. Here you’ll be walking over a bridge, keep to the right as you walk round the bend where you’ll then arrive at a road leading to Pynes Farm Shop. Ignore the entrance to the farm shop, instead turn right up a footpath alongside a field with another signpost for ‘Coast Path’. In the summer months, keep an eye out for swallows and house martins that dip down over the water by the bridge and fly over the reed beds and fields in this area.

At the end of this path, turn right to join the coast path

Views over the bridge, on summer evenings, Swallows gather here

This path will take you down some steps, over a little bridge and up into another field. Sometimes you can spot Skylarks flying above these fields where they ground nest, or rabbits running off into the undergrowth to the right once they notice you. Eventually you arrive at the top where the iconic Budleigh pine trees proudly stand on the right, it’s worth taking in the views of Budleigh beach before carrying on following the path, now to the left.

A view of Budleigh seafront from the coast path

Stunning views from the coast path

As you follow the coast path, you’ll pass a cove, on a clear day you should be able to see views in the distance of the rest of East Devon from Sidmouth and all the way along to the Dorset Coastline including the Isle of Portland. The terrain along this stretch of the walk will start to get a bit challenging, with a lovely hill to walk up. You will soon be rewarded for your efforts with some benches to rest on when you arrive at Brandy Head Observation Post (which is now available to book as a holiday stay). Take advantage of reading the interesting information boards about the local wildlife here and the history of the observation post before setting off again on the coast path.

Looking back at Budleigh beach and Pines

Enjoying the view from Brandy Head Observation Post

As you continue on the now narrow coast path, be careful of uneven stones underfoot, but do enjoy the sea views with Ladram Bay Stacks coming into view now. Once you arrive at a forked path with a finger post, turn left following the path pointing towards ‘River Otter’, this path is fairly shaded by the trees; very welcoming on a hot summer’s day. Once you pass through a metal gate at the end, it will open up into a small car park for the nearby treatment works. Continue along the gravel path and when you get to the end, turn left where the sign points to ‘unmetalled road’. As you reach the end of this road, turn right down another public footpath, this part does feel like it goes on for a while, but take the opportunity to listen and look out for birds and other wildlife. We saw a buzzard, plenty of butterflies (the hummingbird hawk moth being our favourite), heard chattering goldfinches flying over and a dragonfly kept darting along the path in front of us.

Coastal views and Ladram Bay Stacks

Leaving the coast path towards the River Otter

Once you arrive at a crossroads by a barn interestingly named ‘WH.Smith’, take the shaded path to the left that states ‘½ mile to Clamour bridge’; this will soon ttake us back on to the River Otter path. As you reach the end, pass through both gates and carry on following the track round the field boundary where you’ll meet another gate at the end. From here, turn right and walk up the slight incline until you arrive at two brick pillars, take the steps to the left and cross the bridge over the River Otter. Once over the bridge, turn left and continue on the dusty path keeping the river on your left.

A shaded path close to the river

The steps down to Clamour Bridge

After a while of walking alongside the river, you’ll reach the end of this path, arriving at a gate. From here you can choose which way to head back. I’ll be choosing the path straight ahead, but you can also choose to turn right, and follow the path past the bird hides which then leads to the other side of the reserve. Around this area I’ve spotted Spoonbill and an Osprey before, have a look at the newsletter on the information board informing you of what wildlife has been seen here recently. Whichever way you choose to walk, you’ll soon arrive at South Farm Road Bridge (which has always been known as white bridge), if you chose the left path, you should now recognise the path at the beginning of the walk. Both ways will now take you back to the car park where there are toilets and a cafe available along the seafront, as well as a play park in the car park.

Swans on the River Otter

One of the Bird hides on the Otter Estuary Reserve

*Map available soon*

West Down Beacon Loop

This is a beautiful 4 mile walk along shaded footpaths and the South West Coast Path with stunning sea view along the Devon Coastline.

The walk starts at Castle Lane, just outside of Budleigh Salterton (what3words ///birds.muffin.thorax) and there’s plenty of roadside parking along the quiet lane here. Once parked up, walk down the road (opposite direction from the main road) where you’ll pass some houses on the left. Once you pass a house called ‘Oak Glade’ you’ll soon see a signpost ahead informing you of a public footpath. Take the path on the right which is signposted ‘West Down Beacon/Coast Path’ You’ll now be following a shaded path through East Devon Golf Club. As you walk along this path between the golf course, have a look to your left and enjoy the sea views in the distance, on a clear day you can see the white cliffs of Beer and Branscombe.

The shaded path through the golf course

The sign as you cross over the golf course to join the coast path

Ignore any footpaths branching off of this path, it won’t be long before this track opens up onto the golf course. Be aware of golfers as you take the gravel path, then turn right onto the grass path where you should spot a footpath sign ahead by some trees. That’s the direction you’re heading! Once across the golf course, take the path between the trees with the sign that states ‘To Coastal Path’. This wooded path will eventually open up onto the South West Coast Path and will treat you to sea views ahead, with Exmouth and Devon Cliffs holiday park over the fields on your right, and the golf course on your left.

Views of Exmouth and Devon Cliffs Holiday Park

West Down Beacon

You’ll soon pass a bench, to the right oh which is a narrow path leading to a trig point, this is West Down Beacon. It’s worth standing here for a moment to enjoy the panoramic views before heading back down onto the coast path. Once you reach the signpost at the end of this path, turn left, taking the route marked ‘Budleigh Salterton’. Follow this stoney path, but be sure to take in the views and wildlife along the way. When I did this walk recently in the summer I saw so many Swallows dipping down in front of me, I heard Stonechat amongst the gorse and ferns, a Bullfinch calling out in the distance and I was even lucky enough to spot a Dormouse amongst the grass on the path! Be sure to spot Budleigh Salterton’s famous Pine trees up ahead before they disappear when the path takes you under shaded tree coverage. Here, I normally hear lots of Goldfinches chatting away to each other.

We’re taking the path to Budleigh Salterton

The South West Coast Path

When you reach a post with two yellow arrows, take the path on the left with some steps leading up, once again to the golf course. As this path opens up, keep the golf course on your left as you pass another post on your right, where soon this path leads you onto a residential street. From here, take the road on the left down Links road, passing the Golf Club entrance and car park on your left. This road will take you down between some trees, (there is no pavement on this stretch so be aware of any cars that may pass) where it will then open up onto a residential street again. At the end of this road you’ll meet the B3178, the main road through Budleigh Salterton. Cross this busy road and take the little steps into the green wooded area, by the end of summer the ground here is covered in pine cones. Once you meet the tarmac footpath, turn right and continue to the end of the green space.

A shaded section of the Coast Path

The steps leading back onto the golf course footpath

Turn left down ‘Halse Hill’ where the first house you pass on the right has some cuddly toys greeting you on the fence! This lane soon becomes shaded by trees as you descend down the hill and then reach a ford. Cross the ford via the bridge (unless you don’t mind getting wet feet!), and carry on to the end of this road. At this point you can choose to carry on to the left down Knowle Road, or take a quick detour up ‘Dark Lane’, the lane that carries straight on. This sunken ‘Holloway’ is worth exploring, with impressive thick tree coverage and high walls of sandstone carved with people’s initials, it was believed to have once been a smugglers route. Once you’ve had a look round, turn around and go back down to the junction, turning right to carry on with our circular route.

Once back on Knowle Road, you’ll pass a quaint cottage on your right, continue up the hill past hedgerows then houses on your left, where you’ll then go down the hill passing houses on both sides before meeting a main road at the end.

Crossing the bridge at the ford

The impressive Dark Lane

Cross this busy road and turn left, then turn right down Dalditch Lane (The lane opposite Knowle Garage). You’ll soon be walking past The Ford Estate, with a stone boundary wall on your left. On your right, there are beautiful Lillies growing in the stream by the entrance to Lily Farm Vineyard, from which I assume the Vineyard got its name. This can feel like a long lane, but it’s peaceful listening to the birdsong and gentle trickling of the stream. It won’t be long until you walk under a very tall old railway bridge, which used to carry the railway line from Exmouth to Budleigh, and onto many other destinations. It’s now a shared cycle and footpath which we will be joining later.

The old viaduct

After passing under this bridge, the stream on your right will sound louder as the lane turns off to the right. We aren’t going that way, instead take the gravel path on the left. At the right time of year a fair number of butterflies fly around this path, attracted to the Buddleia that grows here. Once you reach a gate at the end of this path, enter through it and turn right, joining the old railway line we walked under earlier. Be aware of any cyclist that will also be using this popular path between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton.

The shaded cycle path in Summer

One of the old railway bridges

This old railway line is a lovely walk in all seasons, especially in summer when the dappled light shines through the trees onto the path, and in autumn when the trees put on a show with their changing colours. This area is lovely for wildlife spotting, Robins hop along the path in front of you hopeful for any food you may have, Blackbirds and Wrens scurry across the undergrowth by the trickling water, and I sometimes hear a group of Long Tailed Tits calling out to each other in the trees above. In the past I've seen deer running across the path ahead and into the woods, as well as little mice doing the same thing but in a less obvious way!

This path is shaded from the heat in Summer

Leaving the old railway line at Castle Lane

Once you walk under the second (and last) bridge, look out for a blue sign pointing left saying ‘Castle Lane’. Take this path and you will soon be walking alongside the last bridge we just walked under. There’s an information board close to the roadside, detailing more on the disused railway line, explaining how it closed in 1967 and reopened as a cycleway in 1998. As you reach the road, you should recognise that this was where we first began the walk on Castle Lane.

If you enjoyed this walk, I have previously posted a different one that starts at the same location but loops round via Exmouth instead of Budleigh, which is equally lovely.

Information about the old railway line

The Dormouse I saw on the coast path

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