The Buturi 18 k Walk
From the car park at Peak Hill, walk out to the cliff top at Peak Hill and then along the coast to High Peak. Remember to look back for superb views over Sidmouth and beyond to the white cliffs at Beer Head. As you descend steeply from Peak Hill, take in the ruggedly beautiful Ladram stacks. These pinnacles provide homes for cormorants, terns and various species of gull.
From Ladram the route is more level but still offers superb views of the coast and inland. Pass beyond Brandy Head – its name hinting of previous smuggling activity – and Danger Point, before reaching the mouth of the Otter. Before following the estuary inland, you’ll pass a Second World War Pill Box that has been converted to a bat hibernaculum. The estuary is good for bird watching, and there is a bird hide nestling in the woods above the river. You may wish to stop at Otterton Mill to have a late cheese platter or a soup.
After reaching White Bridge, follow the Otter upstream through open farmland with the striking river cliffs to your right hand side topped with natural woodland. Leave the river at a footbridge near the village of Colaton Raleigh and join a narrow road at Burnthouse Farm. Follow it for a few hundred yards northwards before turning right on to Passaford Lane. This ancient sunken Devon track way, climbs steeply eventually passing through woodland and up onto Mutters Moor, an area of ancient lowland heath.
You may be lucky enough to spot a Dartford Warbler here. The moor was named after Sam Mutter, a celebrated smuggler who sailed out of Sidmouth. He is reputed to have taken his contraband into Exeter by wagon hidden under turfs and faggots cut from the heath. The walk from here is level and returns you to the car park at Peak Hill.
In case of emergency, call Dee on 07970 814568
Peak Hill, Sidmouth (Postcode for Sat Nav:EX10 0NW), Lime Kiln Budleigh Salterton (Postcode for Sat Navs: EX9 6JD). Toilets Ladram Bay & Otterton
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