Herepath trails
Otterford and Otterhead Lakes
Gentle 3 miles - shorter route available
Yes
4.8 Km (3 miles)
A figure of 8 walk – so you can either do one or both loops. The first loop explores typical Blackdown Hills features; the plateau cut by the river valley. The shorter loop is a gentle amble around Otterhead lakes, ending at a picnic area.
Otterhead Estate
The historic and now deserted Otterhead estate lies in the valley of the River Otter. Originally dominating the estate was a manor house, built in 1845 and demolished in 1952, traces of which are barely visible today, and about which little is known. Of the estate itself, enough survives to make it a fascinating place to explore, particularly the lakeland areas which have become a nature reserve. The stable block remains, along with garden terracing, dilapidated weirs, the last vestiges of a boathouse, and the overgrown walled-in garden.
Otterhead Lakes car park (Map ref. ST 224 141)