Twelve members of the Devon Group met at the car park in Budleigh Salterton to set out on a six mile walk to explore the Otter estuary.

The estuary has recently been rewilded with the removal of the flood defences allowing the formation of marsh land thus restoring the historic flood plains. This rewilding took several years and was done through the Otter Estuary Flood Plan.

The walk joined the footpath which is situated on the original Sidmouth railway single track branch line, from a junction at Tipton St John then continuing to Exmouth. The line operated between 1897 to 1967. Apart from the odd bridge crossing over the footpath there are few clues that it was a railway.

After a short while we crossed over a road, went through a car park and it was from here we saw our first view of the estuary! A newly created footpath led us around the western edge of the marsh which afforded the opportunity to see the wildfowl that were dotted all around. There were Egrets, Canada Geese, wading birds and numerous types of ducks. We continued on this path, crossing the marsh which then started to follow the river down to Otterton where our lunch stop was on the beautiful village green.

After lunch we made our way out of the village and joined a rural tree lined lane situated above the river. We walked two miles looking down on the river below and then rejoined the main path, discovered a hide and once again took the opportunity to look at the birds on the marsh.

Onwards we travelled to a newly built pedestrian bridge over the estuary which gave us impressive views along the Jurassic coastline of the towering sandstone cliffs.

It was then onto a popular coffee shop on the High Street where in the tradition of the Devon Group drinks and cakes were consumed!

To round off the day on our way back to the car park we spotted a knitted Grand Piano!!