Ottery St Mary is just on the edge of East Devon's 'Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty' offering magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. The area is noted for it's wide variety of bird life by the riverside and in the eclectic mix of farmland and wide-open spaces. By the river can be seen heron, dippers, egrets, wild duck and a brilliant flash of colour as a kingfisher passes by. On the hills surrounding the town buzzards circle in the sky and the occassional 'croak' of a passing raven may be heard. The Tipton St John area covers an amazing variety of breeding species, some of which are rarley seen in other parts of Devon. In the fields fringing the wooded hill, one may glance a solitary deer snatching a feed amongst the luscious grass and it is not unusual to spot a fox searching for a tasty snack for the familycosily tucked away in its lair beneath a nearby hedge. The whole ambiance of the area is one of peace and tranquility, far removed from the hustle and bustle of life in the city and so a day or two walking the miles of well maintained footpaths offers a welcome opportunity to enjoy our unrivaled countryside.