Upottery: Blackdown Hills, History and Riding Route

Upottery combines landscape, local history and a distinctive riding route to create a destination with many different discoveries. The parish lies within the Blackdown Hills, which are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For your holiday planning, this results in an interesting combination of natural surroundings, historical traces and rural paths.

Blackdown Hills Landscape

The parish of Upottery includes water meadows and fields. Old hedgerows and narrow paths are also part of the local scenery. These elements give the surroundings a distinct rural character and offer opportunities for days when you would like to combine landscape and activity. When looking for a holiday rental, you can consider whether your trip should focus more on excursions in the Blackdown Hills, culture or a more active pursuit.

Historic Places and Stories

A notable building is St Mary the Virgin in Upottery, a parish church classified as Grade II*. Its historical significance can be included as a separate item in your travel plans, without needing to infer any specific opening hours or current visitor access.

The farmhouse Twistgates, also known as Twisgates, likewise has an unusual history. It was built in the 15th century as a passage house; an open fire was located in the middle of the room. Details like these bring the site's past to life and give a trip to Upottery a cultural and historical focus. Upottery's historical development also reaches back to the Domesday Book.

The Upottery Heritage Centre is accessible at ground level apart from one room. For visitors who also consider the structural accessibility of their destinations when choosing excursions, this specific information is helpful when planning a day out. Another historical connection is RAF Upottery, which opened on 17 February 1944. The name Upottery derives from the River Otter.

The “Luppitt and Upottery” Riding Route

Those seeking a more active form of travel can consider the “Luppitt and Upottery” route. It is one of five riding routes in the Blackdown Hills National Landscape and covers 12 miles. The route includes views across the tributaries of the Otter. The stated length is important for planning your day: it helps you compare the desired scope of an activity in advance with your personal travel pace and other interests, without assuming a specific duration or level of difficulty.

Upottery is therefore suitable as a starting point for various travel ideas: you can put historical themes first, explore the landscapes of the Blackdown Hills or plan the riding route as a focus in its own right. When looking for a holiday rental or holiday home, it is worth deciding on your preferred pace first. If the trip is primarily to include cultural discoveries, the ideas for each day will differ from those for a stay in which the 12-mile riding route is the main item on the itinerary.

More Destinations for Your Planning

If you would like to compare other location pages alongside Upottery, you will find the direct selection options here: Exeter, Ottery Saint Mary, Saint Giles in the Wood, Cullompton, Postbridge, Tiverton, Swimbridge and Westward Ho.

For the overarching travel overview: Devon.