A Walk Around Otterhead Lakes in the Blackdown Hills
Otterhead Lakes are two beautiful reservoirs south of Taunton in the Blackdown Hills and are a great spot for a walk. With a little river connecting them there are footpaths, bridges, birds to watch and a carpet of bluebells in the Spring and snowdrops in February.
Despite living only 20 minutes away for quite some time, I’d only recently heard of these lakes – I reckon it’s a ploy by locals in the know to keep it for themselves! Sorry I’ve rumbled you!
On our walk we rather deviated from the main path – hence the alternative muddy route we found ourselves on which the kids loved! But really there is little chance of getting lost on this short walk around Otterhead Lakes.
A Choice of Paths at Otterhead Lakes
In the car park there is a map that is worth looking at. I took a picture on my phone to refer to, but we still managed to veer off the official path. I partly blame our dog who decided to race towards Churchinford after a pheasant!
This really is a lovely place for a country walk. If you follow the route on the map the paths are fairly well maintained and not too muddy.
The area is not pushchair accessible everywhere but some of the paths are. If you head off round the lakes like we did – a bit offroad as it were, then best to leave the pushchair behind and wellies are required most of the year.
The lakes are beautifully peaceful and so was the walk – admittedly it was a Monday lunchtime, but I reckon this is a place reserved for those in the know. Compared to some local beauty spots this is definitely one to keep quiet about!
I’ll let the pictures do the talking (and check out the video too, although it’s quite old now it still gives you an idea).
We spent about an hour at Otterhead Lakes in the Blackdown Hills but I’m sure you could take longer if you loop round more than once, stop to play pooh sticks, climb trees, take a picnic or extend your visit by walking into the village of Churchinford to the shop or pub.
The River Otter Starts in the Blackdown Hills
This is such a great place for children to run around, play in the stream and enjoy being outdoors.
The lakes are as the name suggests just at the source of the River Otter. The river then flows all they way to Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Otterton, finally reaching the sea at Budleigh Salerton. The river gives it name to local beer, ice cream and flour.
When the bluebells are flowering and the trees are in leaf it really will be even more beautiful.
The History of Otterhead Lakes
The lakes were originally part of large landscaped gardens of the Otterhead Estate. There was a house and walled gardens as well. Sadly now no longer to be seen, the area has been turned into a nature reserve.
If you want to learn more about the estate or join a guided walk you can go along to a Heritage Open day guided walk – these are run two or three times year. More details about the estate on the Otterhead Trust’s website. This also includes good directions for getting there.
The reservoirs are managed by Wessex Water and there are also fishing rights on the lakes.
A Longer Walk from Otterhead Lakes
The walk along the the lakes is not much more that a mile but it is possible to extend it. I would suggest you might find an Ordnance Survey map or app useful as having walked the footpaths the sign posting was pretty limited.
We took a footpath route South West from the lakes into Churchinford.
You can stop off at the local pub or village shop. There was then a section of road before we picked up a footpath again that brought us back to the village of Otterford, just short of the carpark. This make the walk about 4 miles.
Dogs are welcome at Otterhead Lakes
Dogs are welcome but a word of warning that there is a lot of wildlife – from ducks and wildfowl to deer in the woods so you will need to keep a close eye on dogs off the lead.
DIRECTIONS to Otterhead Lakes
The lakes are about 7 miles south of Taunton, just off the B3170 – locally known as the Corfe Road to Taunton.
Otterhead Lakes Nature Reserve, Otterford,
Nr Taunton, Somerset TA3 7EE
There is a small free carpark (hard to see until you reach it).
Facilities
There are no toilets or facilities at the lake. The nearest village is Churchinford which has a shop, open every day and selling coffee and snacks as well as a village pub, The York Inn.
Enjoy Your Walks and Days Out
I hope you enjoy this walk and don’t forget to look at other walks in the area such as Musbury Castle near Seaton. as well as my guide to local events and activities. Please feel free to leave comments on here for any walk you complete to let me know how you got on.
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
Join me in finding new places to explore in the West Country as well as further afield.
I hope you enjoy reading and taking inspiration from this website. 
What an informative piece. You take some gorgeous photos too. We visited Taunton last year but missed this spot…one for the next visit! #CountryKids
Gorgeous photos of a beautiful place. Sounds like a lovely walk. #countrykids
What a beautiful nature reserve. I bet it’s lovely to visit throughout the different seasons and see the changes. #countrykids
That really does look like a stunning place to explore, whether on the main path or with a slight detour. Lovely #CountryKids
The places you mention all sound so familiar to me, yet I’ve never been, only passed the signs for them whilst travelling up the A30 and A303 from Cornwall. I associate the Blackdown Hills with single lane traffic jams. How wonderful to get off the beaten track and discover the beauty of the area. Those lakes and woods look very inviting for a day out. I shall think of this post next time I see the signs!
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Thank you. Yes it’s so easy to make those journeys and not really know what lies beyond the main road. This is only about 4 miles off the A303 so worth the detour.
That looks fabulous! I’m loving all your outdoorsy ideas
Thank you for your suggestion of this beautiful walk. With it only being 15 minutes up the road I decided to explore it today. The kids had “the best walk ever” (quote from my second child). I took the camera and snapped away. I can’t wait to return to see all the bluebells in a few weeks.
That’s fantastic and thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed it.
The world certainly provides us with some wonderful places in which to walk.#CountryKids
Such a great idea taking a picture on your phone! I really should try to remember that as we get lost so many places! Love the pictures they definitely do a lot of talking – what a beautiful place to explore #CountryKids
Such a lovely place! We are near Taunton and I am already checking on how we can get there! #countrykids
Hi Clare, thank you for the blog I look forward to each new one. I just wanted to let you know that I have visited Otterhead on a couple of occasions at Snowdrop time and it was lovely. Nevet been at bluebell time. The walks in the woods at Killerton are good for bluebells. Philippa
Looks beautiful. Must find it one day. Many thanks!
Hi Claire, lovely post and inspiration for a bluebell walk .. are those lakes swimmable?
Thank you it’s a pretty place. Sadly I don’t think swimming is allowed.
Just checking out Otterton Lakes ahead of their snowdrop walk in February. It actually says on the website that dogs must be kept on a lead because of the ground nesting birds.