Devon Holiday Inspiration

This holiday recipe is a take on traditional Christmas favourite only with an indulgent layer of custard and crumble. Mince pies with custard & crumble   Easy to make 25 mins prep time Makes 12 pies 20 mins cook time Ingredients Required 180g of plain flour 125g of butter (unsalted) X3 tablespoons of caster sugar X1 large egg 180g – 200g mincemeat 120g of custard Cooking Tips Heat your oven to around 180°c – 200°c, place a baking tray in the oven and leave to warm up. Take your 125g of butter and cut up into small pieces and place in a bowl, before sifting the flour on top and adding a pinch of salt. Rub the mixture together on your hands – stop when the consistency resembles breadcrumbs. Now stir in the x2 tablespoons of sugar. Take half a cup (85g) of the mixture and set it aside (forms part of the crumble topping) Separate the yolk and egg whites and place them into two separate bowls. Now beat the egg yolk with a fork before adding it to the main pastry mixture. need this together and roll into a ball. Sprinkle flour over a smooth work surface and the pastry, before rolling the pastry flat (5-7 mm / the thickness of an iphone) Now take a pastry cutter (ideally 8cm diameter) and cut / re-roll until you have 12 rounds. (Don’t have a pastry cutter? Use the base of a bottle of wine & cut around it with a knife). Take your 12 pastry disks and gently push them into a standard 12 cup bun tin and then add one teaspoon of custard and a small ball of mince meat on top. (Try to avoid over loading the cups with mince meat). Take the final tablespoon of sugar and add to the 1/2 cup of batter you previously set aside (re: point 5). Pinch this together to make crumble like clumps, before adding this on top of your mince meat. Place your tray in the oven for 15 mins, once cooked leave to cool. If you are planning this dish several days in advance be sure to store them in an airtight storage container and consume within 2 days of cooking.

As we prepare for the start of our 75th anniversary season at Ladram Bay Holiday Park it’s time to start planning your next caravanning getaways. With that in mind, we’ve put together a ‘must-have caravan gadgets’ list, full of everyday items that can make your next adventure; more comfortable, safer, easier, dryer and tastier.   1. HUBi Solar Hub Power hookup isn’t an issue at Ladram, but we appreciate the more rugged explorers will visit more secluded sites too. The HUBi is ideally-suited to anyone using a tent, awning or caravan with limited power outlets and provides free, safe power for lights, charging phones, satnav and other gadgets. Alternatively if you’re camping abroad power is very useful for running a cooling fan. The HUBi is lightweight and easily-portable solar with no installation required. Available from Solar Technology – £120     2. Purpleline Nemesis Ultra  When on holiday nobody wants to plan for worst case scenarios, but the Nemesis Ultra can provide some caravanning peace of mind. This high security caravan wheel clamp is super easy to use and incorporates a British Made anti-pick 9-pin lock from premier lock manufacturers Lowe & Fletcher. The lock mechanism is also Thatcham Category 3 Quality Assured – in short your insurance firm will approve, its very bright & extremely tough. Available from Amazon – £138     3. Four Arm Rotary Airer & Stand Laundry will not be top of anyone’s to-do list while on holiday, but in reality kids get muddy and food gets split. This premium stand alone rotary airer from Quest has 4 adjustable arms giving it more strength and stability than standard 3 arm airers. With more usable drying space and the potential to hold more clothes you’re onto a winner. For the weight conscious camper, the airers aluminium frame is very lightweight, making it extremely easy to pick up and carry. It also folds away easily and comes complete with a carry bag. Available from Amazon – £28.65     4. Rear In-Vehicle Video Journey Recorder Your caravan might be your second / third most valuable asset and while 99.9% of us drive sensibly, it only takes one person to cause an accident. The Streetwise Journey Recorder can be mounted to your rear view mirror and allows you to record your journeys from behind. This provides quality video evidence in case of an accident or incident disputes. We like it’s ‘G-Shock’ feature that activates upon significant impact to automatically lock and save the recorded evidence. A 32GB Micro SD card (not provided) can record around 16 hours video, while  the 4.3’ TFT screen provides time screen information – although we wouldn’t suggest using it as a reversing camera. Available from Machine Mart – £47.99 32GB SD card available from Amazon – £13.79     5. Handpresso Possibly the most decadent item on our list. The Handpresso is ideal for those who crave high quality coffee but understandably aren’t willing to bring the kitchen coffee machine on holiday. It will surely get mistaken for a bicycle pump and actually uses a pump action to generate power, so no batteries or external power is involved – perfect for when electrical hookup is not an option. Simply pour in hot water, add an espresso pod or ground coffee and then press the release button – espresso is served. Available at Handpresso – £88     6. Tefal Toast N’Egg Are you always the one left on ‘washing up duty’? If so, look no further that the Tefal Toast N’Egg which combines a 2 slice toaster (muffins also fit) with a pod for a single poached egg or up to four boiled eggs. Available from Amazon or – £32.96   Prices correct at time of publishing (5th October 2017). Ladram Bay did not receive any financial incentives or free products in exchange for the reviews provided in this article.

Our first holiday cooking guide of spring 2017 is possibly our easiest to date, all you will require is a microwave & 8 readily available ingredients. The latest instalment in our series of holiday cooking guides is very caravan friendly & adaptable. Tomato risotto recipe Easy to make 5 mins prep time Serves 4 people 20 mins cook time Ingredients Required 250g of risotto rice 200ml of vegetable stock 500ml of carton passata (tomato sauce) 500g of cherry tomatoes x1 onion (finely chopped) x4 rashers of bacon (optional) 100g of mozzarella (drained & cut into chunks) Parmesan cheese (for grating) Chopped basil (to garnish) Cooking Instructions Place the risotto rice, onion & half the butter into a microwavable bowl, cover & cook on a high heat for 3 mins. Stir in the vegetable stock & passata. Continue to cook (this time uncovered) for another 10 minutes. Stir the bowls contents, before adding in the cherry tomatoes & mozzarella. Microwave for another 8 minutes (until the rice is soft). If you fancy adding bacon, fry up 4 rations & chop into small pieces. (alternatively buy lardons) Leave the bowl to cool down for a few minutes before stirring in the other half of the butter. Stir in some chopped basil & grated parmesan before serving to your lucky guests.

This Summer we’re excited to reveal our newest addition to our accommodation range, our spacious new four-bedroom luxury leisure lodge which makes multi-generation breaks a breeze, Rockpool Lodge… Our new lodge comes courtesy of  major UK leisure home specialist Prestige & Homeseeker Park & Leisure Homes and at 48ft x 20ft its by far the largest and most luxurious lodge to join our hire fleet at Ladram Bay. Lavishly equipped exclusive Rockpool Lodge provides two sets of couples each with their own en-suite double bedroom. Two additional twin bedrooms sleep up to four more people, while generously-sized living areas mean lashings of space for mum, dad, grandparents and youngsters. The architect-inspired interior features contemporary decor and furnishings, and the Rockpool Lodge also boasts a raft of other touches to create a top-end holiday experience. From the wine-cooler and dishwasher to the bath robes, premium toiletries, USB ports, Xbox with games and flame-effect log burner, there are no compromises on comfort. The pampering even continues outside with a private hot tub and the lodge’s own landscaped garden with outdoor furniture for sunbathing and al-fresco dining. Playing a major role in its design were park director Zoe House, general manager Claire Williams, maintenance manager Matt Vining, and housekeeping manager Rob Ball. According to Zoe, many of the features were incorporated as a result of customer feedback: “We are welcoming an increasing number of extended families to Ladram Bay, but teaming-up with Gran and Grandad is about more than simply spreading the costs of a holiday,” she said. “It’s also the chance for everyone to spend quality time together during their increasingly busy working lives, and to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere.  “The lodge will appeal as well to two sets of families who decide to take a holiday together, and of course such arrangements can also mean shared babysitting so couples can have time alone. “We are absolutely delighted at how well the Rockpool Lodge has turned out, and we are already receiving bookings for summer and autumn,” added Claire. Creating Rockpool Lodge Lavish, fresh and contemporary decor has been used throughout the Lodge for an airy, bright and spacious feel to Rockpool Lodge. The Layout The plans (pictured below) give an insight into the technical layout of the lodge. The following images give you an insight into how the lodge was manufactured at Prestige’s Northamptonshire factory before arriving at Ladram Bay Holiday Park. Part 1: The Frame Work to assemble the Lodges 2 foundations and frames begins…   Part 2: Lodge takes shape With the initial frames assembled, the roof, insulation and outer cladding are added.   Part 3: Interior comforts Windows, internal wiring, lighting and blinds are added as the frame now begins to feel homely.   Part 4: Kitchen Installation Rockpool Lodge is now taking shape as the kitchen, radiators and white goods are fitted.   Part 5: Both sides are joined together The 2 near completed sections are now joined together (briefly) while the fitting out process is completed.   Part 6: Separated for transport Prior to transportation, the 2 sections are once again divided and taken to Ladram Bay. For more information or to view, call our team on 01395 568398.

Spring is the time for getting fit and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Our latest holiday cooking guide is a Thai inspired, super simple and delicious prawn and ginger noodle recipe. Thai Prawn & Ginger Noodles Easy to make 10 mins prep time Serves 2 people 15 mins cook time Ingredients required… 100g of rice noodles A thumb size chunk of ginger (shredded) A handful of sugar snaps A handful of chopped basil A handful of chopped coriander Two handfuls of bean spouts 200g of king prawns (raw & shelled) x2 cloves of garlic x1 red pepper (thinly sliced) x1 tablespoon of sunflower oil x1 small orange 2 tablespoons of red curry paste x1 teaspoon of fish sauce x1 teaspoon of brown sugar Preparation Instructions… Boil a large pan of water and put in the noodles, before covering and setting aside to soak for 10 minutes. Curry sauce: Take the zest and juice of the orange and stir in fish sauce, sugar, 3 tablespoons of water and curry paste. Heat a large wok (or pan) and add half the ginger and all the garlic – cook for 1 minute before adding in the red pepper (cook for a further 2 minutes). Now add the beansprouts, sugar snaps, curry sauce, beansprouts and prawns – cook until all the prawns are pink. Now drain your noodles before adding them to the pan along with the remaining ginger and basil and coriander. Mix well and serve. Enjoy!

Looking for a delicious yet quick & easy family dinner ? – this super-simple pasta bake recipe should do the trick. Sausage & Bacon Pasta Bake Recipe   Easy to make 20 mins prep time Serves 4-6 people 40 mins cook time Ingredients Required We’ve used fusilli pasta, but we understand when your on holiday you need to be flexible with ingredients. Try penne or farfalle pastas as alternatives to fusilli pasta – just avoid spaghetti / linguini. 400g of sausages 400g of smoked bacon 400g of pasta (fresh or dried) 1 medium onion (sliced) 1 stick of celery (chopped) 1 tsp of Dijon mustard 300g of parmesan /or/ cheddar Salt & pepper Mixed herbs (a pinch) Oil for frying Cooking Tips Brown the sausages gently in a pan on a medium heat (using oil or butter). Remove sausages & add in bacon & fry until it starts to brown off too. Remove bacon from pan & add onions to the pan to sweat. Turn on your oven to heat up at 180*C. Now return the sausage & bacon to the pan, add in the mustard & mix well  – set aside. Now add the pasta to boiling water + a splash of olive oil. Pasta cooking tip: You’ll want to undercook the pasta because it will be going in the oven for 40 mins after boiling, so if the cooking instructions say ‘boil for 12 mins’ we would recommend knocking off around 30% (i.e. cook for 8 mins). Once your pasta is cooked mix in some parmesan, sausage & bacon before pouring into a baking tray. Now cover the top layer of the tray with a light layer of cheese before adding the bake to the oven for 40 minutes. Serve with a green salad. Ladram Bay Supermarket By now you’re probably wanting to try this recipe for yourself? For those staying with us you’ll be able to find all the ingredients used in this recipe at the Ladram Bay Supermarket

To date our route guides have covered cycling routes and dog walking routes. In the following guide we’ve put together a collection of circular walking routes through some picturesque scenery. Many of the routes intersect with some of Devon’s many public footpaths, giving you the flexibility whilst rambling. With Devon being home to some 3,200 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways, travelling off the beaten track is far easier than you might think – just keep an eye out for the signs. We’ve tried to select walking routes with all ages and abilities in mind and have graded our routes based on their difficulty. The routes start / end point is marked linked to within a given routes ‘coordinates’. Difficulty Rating: Short Stroll: Mid-Length Jaunt: Steeper Climbs: Woodbury Common circular route Park up at Woodbury Castle and follows the road down to Woodbury village, there is also a track alternative which also starts by the car park too. We’ve marked the Maltsters Arms as a half way stop off point. Ramblers can expect excellent views of the Exe Estuary from the start / end point from the car park (pictured below). Route: 4.2 miles Estimated time: 2hrs 30mins Coordinates: 50.67655, -3.37074 (Google Maps) Difficulty:  Colaton Raleigh Common circular route A circular heathland walk, ramblers can park up slightly east of Woodbury Castle (an Iron Age hill fort) and walk through the former Neolithic landscape, with open views to the Jurassic Coast on a clear day. England isn’t home to savannahs – but this comes close. Route: 5.8 miles Estimated time: 2hrs 45mins Coordinates: 50.67655, -3.37074 (Google Maps) Difficulty:    Newton Poppleford & River Otter Circular A lovely walk through orchards, hamlets and along the River Otter to the Old Mill at Tipton St John. Wind your way back along the river and perhaps stop in at the Golden Lion pub (marked on the interactive map). Route: 10 miles Estimated time: 4hrs mins Coordinates: 50.71836, -3.28857 (Google Maps) Difficulty:  Fire Beacon Hill circular route This walk has many fine views both of Sidbury and towards the sea at Sidmouth. There are two steep hills, one ascent and one descent, but the route is not beyond the capabilities of an average walker. The Bowd Inn makes the perfect pre/post stop off point. Route: 6.8 miles Estimated time: 3hrs 15mins Coordinates: 50.70262, -3.26529 (Google Maps) Difficulty: 

Ever fancied working in the holiday industry? If so then have you considered joining the Ladram Bay team. Every year we look for hardworking, responsible and trustworthy people who are motivated and most importantly can welcome and relate to our customers. Working at Ladram Bay provides a family atmosphere set in a stunning location and you will receive a range of career options, training and brilliant people to work with. It’s great fun, but also hard work and is certainly not your standard nine-to-five – challenges can arise at any point during any given season. If your application is successful, you’ll be contacted and invited to an interview with a department manager. Don’t forget your CV! We look out for candidates with strong customer service skills, a willingness to learn and a positive ‘can do’ attitude. Some of our positions will require experience or qualifications such as our Lifeguarding roles. Be sure to inform us of your previous experience and transferable skills. Every day is a different day at Ladram Bay and you never know what to expect in this beautiful corner of East Devon. For online applications please email your CV & covering letter to info@ladrambay.co.uk. Seasonal, Temporary and Permanent positions in a wide range of departments. Potential for additional overtime within our Housekeeping  Department. Work in a stunning location Staff discount scheme* (*after probation period) Competitive salaries offered

Our latest guide looks at birds to look out for in Devon throughout the year and the ideal locations to find them. Many of these can be seen at Ladram Bay and the surrounding areas, you can even lend a hand by keeping little bundles of twigs and dry moss around your holiday homes for them to use as nesting material. Bird Identifier The RSPB have put together this really useful bird identifier to help you confirm your sightings. During spring, Sparrows (pictured below), Blackbirds, Robins and other garden birds will be gathering and carrying twigs, moss and feathers in their beaks as they start to build their nests. You may hear (or spot) tiny warblers such as Chiffchaffs as they return to the UK after a warm winter in Africa. In mid-spring, Finches and other farmland birds often visit gardens seeking extra food. Towards the end of the season you may spot Bullfinches (pictured) lured into gardens by buds on fruit trees. Between May and September, those living near woodlands are often treated to a display of spotted flycatchers, which perch in trees and then surge upwards to catch insects in flight. Devon’s diverse landscape includes marshlands, moors, commons, forest and fields, making it a haven for our winged little friends. For those twitchers itching to find the best bird watching spots in Devon, we’ve put together a list of prime bird watching locations near to Ladram Bay. Woodbury Common Part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths, the wider area also includes Bicton Common, Dalditch Common, East Budleigh Common, Colaton Raleigh Common, Mutters Moor, Hawkerland, Harpford Common and Aylesbeare Common. The sites have been designated a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area. In short the area is considered one of the most important conservation sites in Europe and is also a great place to go dog walking in East Devon. The Pebblebed heaths offer a safe haven for wildlife and a great location to view many rarer species. To date a total of 140 bird species have been spotted on the heaths, of which 66 are known to breed regularly. Of these regular breeders, 28 birds are of conservation concern, these include the Dartford warble (pictured below), the Hobby and the Nightjar, the latter of whom migrate to the common all the way from Africa each year. Look out for: Dartford warbler (pictured) Hobby Nightjar Address: See Google Maps for coordinates Bowling Green Marsh – Topsham Bowling Green Marsh is located on the East Devon side of the Exe Estuary just outside the picturesque town of Topsham (walking distance). The site is an important site for wintering birds and considered by the twitching community as one of the top places to watch birds in south-west. Would be twitchers can see a wide range of waterbirds at very close range in winter, including hundreds of black-tailed godwits and wigeons as they feed close to the hide. Throughout the year, the open water attracts many different species of wetland birds; little grebes, mute swans and a variety of ducks breed here. As there isn’t a car park onsite (except for Blue badge holders), please follow our directions which will take you to the Holman Way car park (click link for Google Maps). Look out for: Lapwings (pictured) Redshanks Listen for rare Cetti’s warblers Address: See Google Maps for coordinates Dawlish Warren Natural Reserve The Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve is located on the west side of the Exe Estuary (adjacent to Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham in East Devon) in an area of grassland, mudflats and sand dunes. The reserve centres on a 1.5 mile long beach at the mouth of the Exe Estuary. Being part of the the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve is an extremely important place for wildfowl and wading birds in the UK with thousands of birds visiting to feed, migrate, or spend the winter. Each autumn up to 23,000 wildfowl and other wading birds travel to the Exe Estuary from the north to escape the cold, they typically start arriving in August and stay until late March / early April. Dawlish Warren is also vital for roosting (and resting) for birds on high tides. During high tides (about 3 hours before and after), thousands of birds gather on the Warren’s shores. These usually include flocks of Dunlin, Grey Plover (pictured above), Bar Tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher. Brent Geese and Wigeon, while Teal also shelter further inshore. Address: See Google Maps for coordinates Seaton Marshes LNR Colyford Common and Black Hole Marsh Local Nature Reserves, collectively know as the Seaton Marshes attract considerable wildlife including Wading and Wildfowl birds in the winter. The paths that run through the reserve are very accessible, making it perfect for a younger and older twitchers alike. The 360-degree viewing hide provides fantastic views of the nature reserve and the Axe Estuary. The marshes teem with bird life in the winter, with some rare visitors using the area as a stop over as well as large feeding flocks of Teal, Shelduck and Wigeon. On colder days visitors may even be lucky enough to spot the elusive Snipe, while Black tailed Godwit can be seen feeding amongst larger numbers of Shoveler and Curlew (pictured below). The flocks of Curlew are often seen feeding on the mud flats as they use their long specially adapted downward curving beaks to scour the ground, used for pulling up food (like lugworms) that hide deep down in the mud. The summer sees many breeding birds return to the marshes, notably Kingfishers, which are often seen fishing from a perch directly in front of the hide. The reserves bird hide and feeding table allows twitchers to get close-up views of birds that wouldn’t normally visit your garden, such as Reed Buntings and even Water Rail. Look out for: Curlew (pictured) Teal Shelduck Wigeon Shoveler Kingfishers Buntings Water Rail Address: Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2LX, this can be reached with a short walk from the Harbour Road car park.

For our first holiday cooking guide of 2016 we thought we would keep it simple, healthy and most importantly shareable. The latest instalment in our series of holiday cooking guides is all of these, think of it as the thinking man’s omelette with an Italian twist. Easy Frittata Recipe Easy to make 20 mins prep time Serves 4 people 40 mins cook time Ingredients Required 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil 1 leek or a bunch of spring onion 85g of macaroni or fusilli 85g of sweetcorn 85g of frozen peas 1 red pepper (deseeded) 2-3 eggs (depending on size) 150ml of semi-skimmed milk 1 tablespoon of thyme 50g of cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan Cooking Tips To ensure your frittata is fluffy, beat and salt the eggs JUST prior to cooking. If you mix the eggs and the salt before you start cooking and allow them to sit around the eggs will be watery (not good). Use a timer because there is nothing worse than an undercooked (runny) or overcooked (rubbery) frittata. Preparation Instructions Turn your oven on and let it heat up fully before using it, this will minimise the chance of undercooking. Turn the oven up to 190 (fan) or 170 (gas). Grease your baking dish with olive oil. Bring a large pan of water to the boil (adding a sprinkle of sea-salt) and cook the pasta for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes add the vegetables to the pan and continue boiling for another 2 minutes, or until the veg begins to soften. The sign of food softening is when you stab it with a sharp knife and the food slides off. Drain the pan and then pour the contents onto your baking dish ensuring the food is mixed evenly. Beat the 2-3 eggs together and add a pinch of salt. Now add the milk and thyme. Mix the two cheeses together and add 75% of it to the egg / milk mixture. Pour the mixture into the baking dish, stirring very gently. Now sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for 35-40 mins until the top of the dish is golden. Once removed from the oven leave to cool for several minutes before serving with a green salad. Ladram Bay Supermarket By now you’re probably wanting to try this recipe for yourself? For those staying with us you’ll be able to find all the ingredients used in this recipe at the Ladram Bay supermarket.

Regular visitors to Ladram Bay will undoubtedly know about the Jurassic Coast and the South West Coastal Path that runs 95 miles through East Devon and Dorset. Our latest post takes sections of this UNESCO natural World Heritage Site and breaks it down into more manageable family friendly lengths and includes paths well trodden by most of the Ladram Bay team. We’ve tried to pick routes with all ages and abilities in mind and have graded our routes based on their difficulty. Difficulty Rating: Short Stroll: Mid-Length Jaunt: Steeper Climbs: Ladram Bay circular walking route This walk takes in the village of Otterton with it’s quaint traditional thatched Devon cottages, stunning scenery along the river banks and the beautiful Jurassic Coastline. Route: 8km / 5 miles Estimated time: 1.5 hrs – 2hrs Coordinates: EX9 7BX – OS Ref: SY 096850 Difficulty:    Route Details: 1) Turn left the main entrance to Ladram Bay Holiday Park and take the lane down the hill into the village of Otterton. 2) Continue along Fore Street to cross the river, turn left onto the footpath alongside the river and follow it downstream, passing the Clamour Bridge. 3) Reaching the aqueduct as a path joins from the right, carry on ahead for a few yards and then take the next path to the right, which curves around to the left. Ignore the next path heading to the right, to carry on ahead parallel to the river, passing a road bridge topped with a small windmill on your right and continuing ahead to go through the gate onto the western side of South Farm Road. 4) Cross the road and carry on along the path ahead , which will bring you back to the Lime Kiln car park. 5) From the Lime Kiln car park in Budleigh Salterton pick up the South West Coast Path as it head inland beside the river, following the tarmac path to South Farm Road. 6) From South Farm Road turn right to cross the river, and then turn left onto the lane which continues inland alongside the other bank of the river, travelling through trees. 7) Carry on past the pillars and Clamour Bridge, to follow the path alongside the river, continuing ahead along the tarmac surface of Park Lane. 8) At the T-junction turn left, bearing left shortly afterwards onto Churchill Hill, following the road to the right around the churchyard and then the Church. Take the main road up through Otterton and back to the Holiday Park. Alternative  Walk: You can extend this walk by leaving Ladram Bay and heading west along the Coast Path following the blue dotted route (see map above) and joining up with the red route at point 6 on the map. Here you can either turn left and take longer walk back via the Lime Kiln car park and the aqueduct, or turn right to take the shorter route back via Clamour Bridge. Both routes take you back through the pretty village of Otterton. Otterton and Mutter’s Moor Walk For the more experienced walker, the Otterton and Mutter’s Moor walk is the perfect route to take if you intend to spend most of the day out and about. You’ll hike through beautiful woods and moorland and view the landscape which is crisscrossed with ancient pathways. Route: 11.3km / 7 miles Estimated time: 2.5hrs – 3hrs Coordinates: EX10 0NW Difficulty:    Route Details: 1) Take the Coast Path, west from Ladram Bay Holiday Park and cross the field, staying above the sea as the path pulls out around Smallstones Point. 2) Turn right on the permissive path on the far side of the second field, and follow it inland, going straight ahead onto the lane when you arrive at the buildings on your right, to where it comes out on the road by Stantyway Farm. 3)  Ignoring Piscombe Lane, on your right just before you reach Stantyway Farm, turn right onto the road a few yards further on, Stantyway Lane, and follow it in a roughly north -westerly direction into Otterton. 4) At the next junction, when Bell Street turns into Fore Street, turn right and walk up Ottery Street for about a mile, ignoring Chockenhole Lane, on your right a little way up. 5) At Pinn Lane Corner fork left and continue along the road past Burnthouse Farm until you come to Pavers and Passaford. 6) Turn right onto the footpath just beyond Passaford and follow it steeply uphill and into the woods. 7) In the woods turn left onto the track, and then sharp right, to reach the track on the open ground at the top. Turn left here and follow the track to the far end of Mutter’s Moor. 8) Ignoring the path which doubles back to your right, take the track to the right which drops downhill along the edge of the forest, turning right again about 150 yards later to pull back uphill along the far edge of Mutter’s Moor. 9) Stay on this track as it runs along the edge of the moor, beside the forest, all the way back to the car park. 10) From the car park cross the road and go through the gate and onto the area of open grassland, heading towards the sea. When you meet the Coast Path, turn right and drop downhill with it to Windgate. 11) The path starts to rise again towards High Peak, and goes into woodland. Ignore the track which bears away to the right, instead staying on the South West Coast Path as it makes its way through the woods. Dropping downhill, it comes out of the trees and heads towards the holiday park. Bystock Wild Walk Explore the Devon Wildlife Trust Bystock Pools Nature Reserve and East Budleigh village by lacing up your walking boots and embarking on this trail. With plenty of wildlife to look out for such as the Emperor dragonfly, common pipistrelle bat and Grayling butterfly, this is the perfect walk for nature lovers. You will even get the opportunity to pass Hayes Barton, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh. Route: 9.5km / 6 miles Estimated time: 2hrs – 2.5hrs Coordinates: EX8 5EE Difficulty:  Route Details: 1) Go through the gate at the corner of Bystock nature reserve north entrance car park and downhill across the field to a wooden gate at the bottom. Take a narrow path on the right and turn right in front of a large beech tree, then left onto a boardwalk. At the end of this loop turn left uphill. About 400 yards later at a path junction go left and very shortly afterwards descend towards the ponds. Follow the boardwalk past a pond to the end and then go straight onto a path. At a T-junction turn right over a bridge and through a gate, and eventually you arrive at a large pool. Go past a bench and continue round the boardwalk as it bends right and along the end of the pool to a lane. This marks the reserve boundary. 2) Turn left along the lane and right at the top of a rise onto a footpath. Follow the yellow waymarkers down the right-hand edge of a clearing, then past Squabmoor reservoir, keeping the reservoir on the right. At the dam follow the waymarkers down a field edge into a wood. Continue straight on, eventually passing a metal field gate where you continue straight on until you bear right onto a track and left onto a lane at Dalditch Farm. Go straight on along the lane to Brookside Cottage where you take a track on the left and approximately 300 yards later turn left onto another track. 3) After 300 yards bear right by a yellow waymarker onto a path. Take the left path at a fork, which goes uphill along the edge of a wood. At the top of a rise ignore a small path on the right and continue straight on along a grassy path into a clearing. Cross a couple of forest tracks to a yellow waymarker then continue five yards and turn left to a stile. Cross this and follow the field boundary, ignoring a metal gate. At the bottom of the field go through two gates and over a stile. Follow a yellow waymarker straight on, down a track and over a stile. Cross a second stile onto a track and turn left. 4) At the lane turn right past the free car park (alternative start point for the walk) into the village of East Budleigh. After your visit to the village, opposite the Sir Walter Raleigh pub retrace your steps up Hayes Lane, past the free car park. 5) Continue about 1 mile (1.6km) until you pass Hayes Barton. Walk another 0.5 miles (0.8km) to a T-junction where you go left. At the next road junction take a path on the right and turn left after 10 yards to join a path parallel to the road you just left. At the fork in the path go left, leaving some quarry workings on the right. 100m after this junction turn left up a path to rejoin the road, where you turn right back to the Bystock nature reserve car park. West Down Beacon Walk This walk travels along the route of the old railway line, taking you along the coast where there is the opportunity to see stunning ocean views. There is also an array of wildlife just waiting to be discovered including bats and lizards. Route: 6km / 3.7 miles Estimated time: 1 hrs – 1.5 hrs Coordinates: EX9 6RJ Difficulty:  Route Details: 1) From Budleigh Salterton’s Public Hall, walk northwards up Station Road, carrying on along Moor Lane to come out at the top of Dark Lane, by the school. Turn right onto Dark Lane, and then almost immediately left, to carry on in the original direction up Bedlands Lane. 2) From the top of Bedlands Lane, turn lift onto the B3178 and then right a moment later to walk up Rear Lane. 3) At the railway bridge pick up the cycle path on your left, leading towards Exmouth, and follow it through the woods to Castle Lane. 4) Turn left up onto the path to Castle Lane, turning onto the lane at the top to head roughly southwards. 5) When Castle Lane turns sharply right, take the footpath ahead which continues in your direction, and follow this alongside the Golf Club for about 1 mile, ignoring the Littleham Church path which crosses yours, also ignoring the detours to the left shortly afterwards. 6) Turn left when you come to the South West Coast Path, and follow it for about three quarters of a mile towards Budleigh Salterton. 7) From West Down Beacon the Coast Path descends gently into Budleigh Salterton. Carry on along it, past the first few houses, until you come to an open green area. At the far end of the field turn left, to walk up Victoria Place and onto the B3178 road beyond. 8) Turn right here, and then take the next left, into Station Road, to return to the start of the walk. Looking for more walking routes in East Devon? Take a look at our Coastal Walks in East Devon.  

Ladram Bay is the perfect location to discover the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. With 95 miles of coastline from East Devon to Dorset, there is plenty to see & do whether you’re an amateur fossil hunter or a prehistoric pro! Our latest post looks at 3 of our favourite spots along this historic & beautiful coastline. Jurassic Coast Map: Lyme Regis: Thanks to the local blue lias clay found on the cliffs & beach, fossil remains of creatures from the prehistoric seas of 180 million years ago are regularly exposed making Lyme Regis a unique place for fossil hunting. Situated where Devon meets Dorset, Lyme Regis was home to keen fossiler Mary Anning whose home later became the location for the Lyme Regis Museum. The town is renown for it’s fossil collection, as well as the fossil walks & talks led by the museum experts. The museum is an excellent day trip and free for children to visit! Generations of children have patrolled this part of the Jurassic Coast hoping to find an ammonite of their own. If fossil hunting isn’t for you, there is always a nice spot for fish & chips or an ice cream on the Cobb. Budleigh Salterton: Just around the headland of Ladram Bay is Budleigh Salterton. A unique sea-side town famed for its unusual pink pebbles derived from the cliffs having once been carried by a river nearly 250 million years ago, before being deposited and buried. Made of a very hard rock known as quartzite, Budleigh’s pebbles have been studied by scientists to understand the formation of beaches as it is a rare example of having had limited interference by humans. Be sure to visit local attraction The Fairlynch Museum to view their radioactive pebbles and much more local history. Sidmouth: A peaceful seaside town, Sidmouth is home to Triassic rocks that are over 230 million years old. These rocks yield particularly rare fossils of desert creatures that show how life was still recovering after a mass extinction that occurred 20 million years earlier. Only a fifteen-minute drive from Ladram Bay, the Sidmouth museum tells the story of the Jurassic Coast with particular emphasis on the rare reptile & amphibian fossils mentioned above.