A tourist guide to exploring the Otter Valley and The Exe estuary The River Otter may be a Devon river, but it actually starts its south-westerly journey to the sea from across the county border in Somerset.

Otter by name...

The River Otter in East Devon gets it name from the creatures which once thrived in the waterway - that's how the story goes, anyway.

The past century, however, has been disastrous for otters - not just in the River Otter, but everywhere.

The good news is that after decades of decline, the otters are now making a comeback to the river as a result of conservation efforts.

The river actually starts just over the border near Otterford in Somerset.

It flows south-westerly, passing through villages and towns including Ottery St Mary before reaching the sea at Budleigh Salterton. The Otter Valley also takes in places such as Honiton.

Haven for wildlife

Large stretches of the river are of environmental importance. The estuary is a nature reserve managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust. It's a special site of scientific interest (SSSI).

The saltmashes, mudflats and reed beds are a great habitat for birds and this area attracts birdwatchers keen to catch a glimpse of the species which winter on the estuary.

Among them are redshank, greenshank, dunlin, common sandpiper, ringed plover, grey plover, curlew, brent goose, reed bunting and little grebe. For centuries, the river supported industries such as corn and textile mills. These days, the river is largely a recreational resource, visited by walkers and people just taking in the scenery.

The river is important for trout and salmon

Other places have been affected too, including the village of Tipton St John - where erosion is also a problem. Here, the banks of the river are being pushed further and further back, eating into adjoining land.

The River Otter isn't one of the biggest rivers in the county, but it's among the most scenic and has played a big role in the past and present of the communities it flows through.

And its environmental importance is huge...let's hope the revival of the otter population continues so that the river can again be 'Otter by name, otter by nature.'

The River Exe is more than 50 miles long and stretches almost all the way from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south.

The source of the Exe is near Simonsbath on Exmoor - and it reaches the sea at Exmouth.

En route, it passes through many communities, including Tiverton and, of course, the county town of Exeter.

Here come the Romans...

Historically, the river has played an important role.

For example, the Romans reached Exeter in 50AD and turned it into a stronghold because this was the lowest point where the river could be crossed.

Exeter Quay

Over the centuries, Exeter developed as an important trading port and the quay was really the hub of the city. But the Countess of Devon threw a strop in the 13th century, having fallen out with the port of Exeter. So she built a weir, thus preventing big boats from reaching the city! Which was why the Exeter Canal was built in 1566 - making it England's oldest Ship Canal. It was built so that boats could again navigate their way to Exeter Quay from Turf Lock - where it rejoins the River Exe.