Colyton

For details of places to stay and things to do in Colyton, please try the links on the left.

WHERE the Coly and Axe valleys meet the beautiful scenery provides the perfect setting for the small and friendly town of Colyton. St Andrew’s Church, with its imposing lantern tower, is the town's most prominent feature and boasts many interesting characteristics dating back to the 14th century. A Saxon cross was discovered embedded in the tower after a fire in 1933.

During the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 Colyton provided more men than any other town in Devon in support of the Duke of Monmouth, earning the town the title of 'the most rebellious town in Devon'.

Colyton is within a conservation area, and the rural landscape is dotted with farms. A number of farmers have opened their doors to visitors and farm holidays are becoming increasingly popular.

The level riverside walks are a delight and the river is home to egrets, mallards and, occasionally, kingfishers. Colyton offers a variety of shops, many family owned and unique to the town – wander through the Antique Centre for a bargain, make tracks to the amazing Hardware Store - a real Aladdin's cave, or pop into the leather shop. Welcoming hostelries provide a choice of cream teas, light snacks or pub lunches.

There is a host of ancient buildings in the town, many dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries; here you will find the last Oak Bark Tannery in the country, with its excellent leather shop alongside. Unique to this delightful area is the electric tramway, which connects Colyton to Seaton with a stop at Colyford. This is an experience not to be missed as a tram journey affords a fine opportunity to view wading birds and wildlife.

En route to Seaton from Colyford is the pretty ‘sister village’ of Colyford. Its long main street is lined with character houses, ancient thatched stone cottages and the interesting St Michael’s Church containing a high relief modelled on Bartollemo’s famous masterpiece ‘The Entombment’.