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  1. Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary, which is known locally as Ottery, sits on the banks of the River Otter which offers walks down to the estuary in Budleigh Salterton. Ottery St Mary is surrounded by a family of small villages full of nostalgic delights, such as thatched cottages and narrow streets.

Quirky events and history

Ottery St Mary is a delightful town that is steeped in history, it is the home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It is also the home of the world-famous Tar Barrel ceremony which takes place every November. Thousands come from miles around to watch the ceremony, where residents run through the streets with barrels that are alight.
Pixie Day is another exciting event that takes place in the town, be sure to get involved if involved if you’re in town in June.

Tar Barrel Rolling is a world-famous event and Ottery St Mary is one of the only towns in the west country that kept up with the annual tradition of torchlight processions. The tradition included barrels being rolled along the streets until it was decided that rolling the barrels was too tame and the practice of carrying them on your shoulders was more appealing. 5th November is the usual day for the Tar Barrels, this only changes when the 5th falls on a Sunday.

Pixie Day is where children dress up as pixies and re-enact an old legend. The day includes capturing the town’s bell ringers and hiding them in their cave.

Both events are great to witness!

Independent shops 

One of the big draws of Ottery St Mary is the great variety of independent shops. Much like high streets of old, you can find almost everything you need in the form of independent retailers, from DIY stores, art shops, local butchers, bakers, dress shops, book shops, fish mongers and more. With these stores, visitors can be sure of a friendly, personal service and real advice from people who know their trade inside out. Anyone thinking they are missing out, need not worry, there are also a few branches of high street names to be found.

The high street also has a great variety of eateries, including cafes, local pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and a chip shop, all of which offer delicious local food. You’ll also find a great community market which is held each month with produce from local farms and home-made cakes.

There are a whole host of sports and activities that take place in the town for you to join in with and a number of events that welcome visitors. Not content with keeping their traditional events and being the birth place of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ottery St Mary also inspired a location in J K Rowling’s wizarding world. See if you can recognise the areas of Ottery St Mary in the book as Ottery St Catchpole.

  1. Places to Stay in Ottery St Mary
    Places to Stay in Ottery St Mary
    Full of thatched cottages, narrow streets and traditional West Country events, a stay in Ottery St Mary is the perfect way to really immerse yourself in Devon life. You can find some lovely countryside cottages with a real home from home atmosphere or in the wider East Devon area, there are a host of other accommodation options.
  2. Food & Drink in Ottery St Mary
    Food & Drink in Ottery St Mary
    East Devon is a real haven for foodies with the abundant countryside offering the perfect environment for good quality home grown meat, veg and fruit and the nearby coast providing fresh fish and seafood.
  3. Things To Do in Ottery St Mary
    Things To Do in Ottery St Mary
    Also simply known as Ottery, Ottery St Mary is one of the most charming villages in East Devon. With a host of traditional events and activities still taking place throughout the year and plenty of history and walking trails to explore, you’ll have a variety of fun things to see and do.

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Number of results: 17

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  1. Tar Barrels at Ottery St Mary

    Add Ottery St Mary - Tar Barrels to your Itinerary

    Ottery St Mary - Tar Barrels

    Ottery St Mary

    The World Famous Tar Barrel carrying and Bonfire – Every year, for reasons lost in antiquity, the Flaming Tar Barrels are carried through the streets of Ottery St Mary to the…

  2. Radio and TV legend David "Fitz" Fitzgerald to visit retirees in Ottery St Mary

    Add Radio and TV legend David "Fitz" Fitzgerald to visit retirees in Ottery St Mary to your Itinerary

    Radio and TV legend David "Fitz" Fitzgerald to visit retirees in Ottery St Mary

    Ottery St Mary

    The UK's leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy and Stone is inviting Ottery St Mary retirees to join them, and well-known television and radio…

  3. mazzard farm

    Add Mazzard Farm Holiday Cottages to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - from 257 review(s)from 257 review(s)

    Mazzard Farm Holiday Cottages

    Ottery St Mary

    6 comfortable holiday cottages, sleeping between 2 and 10 (24 in total), grouped around a pretty, car free courtyard.

  4. Ottery St. Mary Food and Families Festival

    Add Ottery St. Mary Food and Families Festival to your Itinerary

    Ottery St. Mary Food and Families Festival

    Ottery St. Mary

    The Ottery St. Mary Food & Families Festival is a not-for-profit, free, event, organised by a group of individuals enthusiastic about local food and drink.

  5. Bazaar Christmas Market

    Add Bazaar Christmas Market to your Itinerary

    Bazaar Christmas Market

    Ottery St Mary

    The Bazaar traditional Christmas market!

    Fun for all the family, with local craft stalls, toys, raffle, comprehensive book stall, cakes including homemade Christmas…

  6. Otter Vale Art Exhibition

    Add Otter Vale Art Exhibition to your Itinerary

    Otter Vale Art Exhibition

    Ottery St Mary

    Art Exhibition from local artists with over 160 artworks to view and for sale .

  7. Mountain Bike Weekend: Discover East Devon

    Add Mountain Bike Weekend: Discover East Devon to your Itinerary

    Mountain Bike Weekend: Discover East Devon

    Ottery St Mary

    Enjoy a weekend of super singletrack, fabulous views with luxurious accommodation

    Treat yourself to some great riding in the stunning surroundings of East Devon on this…

  8. Ottery St. Mary Choral Society Spring Concert

    Add Ottery St. Mary Choral Society Spring Concert to your Itinerary

    Ottery St. Mary Choral Society Spring Concert

    Ottery St. Mary

    Ottery St. Mary Choral Society and concert orchestra presents Gounod's Messe Solennelle, St. Cecilia and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2, "Hymn of Praise". The performance will,…

  9. Women's mountain bike weekend

    Add Women's mountain bike weekend to your Itinerary

    Women's mountain bike weekend

    Ottery St Mary

    Treat yourself to great off-road cycling in the stunning beauty of East Devon on this women's mountain bike weekend.


    You will:

    ​

    Ride the best trails in the area,…

  10. Women's Mountain Bike Weekend

    Add Women's Mountain Bike Weekend to your Itinerary

    Women's Mountain Bike Weekend

    Ottery St Mary

    Treat yourself to great riding in the stunning beauty of East Devon on this women's mountain bike weekend.

    You will:

    ​- Ride the best trails in the area, including miles of…

  11. Mountain Bike Weekend for Women in East Devon

    Add Mountain Bike Weekend for Women in East Devon to your Itinerary

    Mountain Bike Weekend for Women in East Devon

    Ottery St Mary

    Treat yourself to great riding in the stunning beauty of East Devon on this women's mountain bike weekend.


    You will:

    ​

    - Ride the best trails in the area, including miles…

  12. James Bond Casino Royale New Year's Eve Bash

    Add James Bond Casino Royale New Year's Eve Bash to your Itinerary

    James Bond Casino Royale New Year's Eve Bash

    Ottery St. mary

    Join us in style this New Year's Eve, James Bond is taking over the Lamb & Flag with a Casino Royale night!

    Experience a red carpet entrance into The Lamb & Flag casino! Don…

  13. Exclusive free event in Ottery St Mary

    Add Exclusive free event in Ottery St Mary to your Itinerary

    Exclusive free event in Ottery St Mary

    Ottery St Mary

    Residents at McCarthy and Stone's Tumbling Weir Court Retirement Living development on Tumbling Weir Way in Ottery St. Mary are inviting locals to join them in getting into…

  14. Women's mountain bike weekend

    Add Women's mountain bike weekend to your Itinerary

    Women's mountain bike weekend

    Ottery St Mary

    Treat yourself to great off-road cycling in the stunning beauty of East Devon on this women's mountain bike weekend.


    You will:

    ​

    Ride the best trails in the area,…

  15. McCarthy and Stone extends the hand of friendship to Ottery St Mary retirees

    Add McCarthy and Stone extends the hand of friendship to Ottery St Mary retirees to your Itinerary

    McCarthy and Stone extends the hand of friendship to Ottery St Mary retirees

    Ottery St Mary

    Ottery St. Mary retirees are invited to a 'Friendship Friday' event at the Tumbling Weir Court Retirement Living Development on Friday 20th March, from 11am until 1pm, where…

  16. Ottery Food and Families festival

    Add Ottery Food and Families festival to your Itinerary

    Ottery Food and Families festival

    Ottery St Mary

    The Ottery St. Mary Food & Families Festival is a free event organised by a group of volunteers who are enthusiastic about local food and drink.
    As a not-for-profit…

  17. Ottery st Mary

    Add Ottery st Mary to your Itinerary

    Ottery st Mary

    Ottery St Mary

    Ottery St Mary is a delightful town that is steeped in history, it is the home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I

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