What’s going for it? “Tradition has it”: three words to strike terror into the souls of the sane. Tradition has it that on 5 November the people of Ottery St Mary shall run through the streets of the town carrying flaming 30kg barrels of tar above their heads. Why? Why not? Tradition has it. The West Country is full of fire and light festivals as autumn tumbles towards winter. No stranger, after all, than throwing effigies of catholics/Donald Trump on a bonfire. Some say Ottery St Mary’s Guy Fawkes night tradition was to cleanse the streets of evil, or maybe rats. Whatevs. These days it’s all about prowess. Only Ottery families born and bred can take part in the dozens of barrel runs around the town’s old streets from pub to pub. In these days of banned bonfires and ’elf and safety gawn mad, we can only applaud this plucky town. Indeed, Ottery is fond of its quaint customs. The parish church peals out the Ottery Song three times a day, and just wait till you hear what the townsfolk get up to with the bellringers on Pixie Day.
The case against No butterfingers, please! There are hills in Ottery. A little Wicker Man from this end of the A303.
Well connected? Trains: no, you’ll need to head to Exeter. Driving: half an hour to Exeter, 20 mins to the M5.
Schools Primaries: Ottery St Mary Primary “requires improvement”, but nearby Tipton St John CofE and Sidbury CofE are “good”, says Ofsted, with West Hill and Feniton CofE “outstanding”. Secondaries: The King’s School is “outstanding”.
Hang out at… The Rusty Pig – locally sourced meat, veg and salads, and run like a supper club on Thursdays to Saturdays. Good breakfasts, too. Tickety-Boo coffee shop: cakes, play area.
Where to buy Ottery is a predictably pretty affair, with old streets of cottages and town houses huddling round the parish church, its twin transept towers echoing those of Exeter cathedral. There’s a nice line in two-bed, 18th-century cottages. Explore the country lanes and neighbouring villages like Tipton St John. Large detacheds and town houses, £400,000-£750,000. Detacheds and smaller town houses, £220,000-£400,000. Semis, £140,000-£300,000. Terraces and cottages, £125,000-£240,000. Rentals: few, a three-bed house might be £950pcm.
Bargain of the week Pretty, double-fronted, two-bed detached house with a lovely little garden, £169,950, with humberts.com.
From the streets
Rosina Northcott “I love that it’s a five-minute walk to the countryside yet still only 15-20 minutes to drive to Exeter. A bit of flooding happens every now and again.”
Ruud Jansen Venneboer “Lovely independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Traffic can get crazy. Not a huge amount for teenagers to do.”
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