This tiny Devon village was home to one of Queen Elilzabeth I’s courtiers

On the edge of East Devon’s rolling farmland, the quiet village of East Budleigh sits in the shadow of ancient oak trees and flint-stone cottages. 

Today, it’s a peaceful stop for walkers heading across the Otter Valley or cyclists winding their way towards Budleigh Salterton. 

It’s well worth a stopover, although it’s most famous for being the birthplace of one of Elizabethan England’s most remembered men – Walter Raleigh. 

About East Budleigh

Home to around 800 people, East Budleigh is known for its historic cob and thatch cottages. 

The village sits just upstream from the River Otter estuary, tucked between rolling fields and wooded footpaths. 

Its centre is small, but every corner hints at its age. 

The 14th-century St Michael’s Church stands beside a row of well-preserved medieval cottages, several of which still show original timber frames and cob walls. 

The churchyard is one of the best places to start; inside you’ll find finely carved bench ends, some dating to the 1500s, and a plaque honouring the Raleigh family.

A walk through the village leads past the Sir Walter Raleigh Inn – which is still operating today – and onto quiet lanes lined with garden walls made from local stone. 

These walls sometimes conceal millstones or reused medieval stonework. 

Keep walking and you’ll reach a public footpath with views across the Otter Valley.

You may also see Hayes Barton, a private farmhouse where Walter Raleigh was born around 1552. 

The surrounding area is a magnet for walkers and birdwatchers. 

Several circular trails lead into the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with routes following old cart tracks through ancient woodland or running alongside the river itself. 

East Budleigh History

East Budleigh likely took shape in the late 600s or early 700s, when Saxon settlers moved inland via the River Otter and cleared land along the Budleigh Brook.

The name “Budleigh” combines Saxon words meaning a settlement in a clearing.

By the 11th century, it had become a Royal Manor with substantial farmland, confirmed in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Its boundaries were probably similar to today’s parish, and it may already have had a church on the current site of All Saints’.

Lower Budley once had a small port called Budley Haven, located near the mouth of the Otter, downstream from the village.

This port handled wool exports and fishing boats, but in 1347, a French pirate attack captured 15 vessels and over 140 men.

Centuries later, smuggling became widespread along the Devon coast.

In East Budleigh, even the vicar and chapel minister were rumoured to be involved, using church buildings and the Salem Chapel to hide contraband, especially during the Napoleonic Wars.

The surrounding region—especially the Otter Valley—was heavily involved in sheep farming.

Finished cloth would be taken down to the haven, where it could be loaded onto small vessels bound for Exeter, Dartmouth, or further afield to the Low Countries.

Records from the Elizabethan era mention merchant activity at Budleigh Haven, including cargoes of woollen goods, grain, and locally quarried stone. 

By the 17th century, though, the river mouth had begun to silt up. Storms and shifting coastal currents made it harder for ships to dock safely, and over time the harbour was abandoned. 

By the mid-1800s, Budleigh Salterton—originally part of East Budleigh parish—had grown from a coastal hamlet into a thriving seaside town.

Its population surged, helped by tourism and new infrastructure like the railway, while East Budleigh remained a small rural village. In 1894, Budleigh Salterton became an Urban District with more residents than East Budleigh.

During the Second World War, East Budleigh and the surrounding countryside saw an influx of military activity.

Royal Marines and other troops trained on nearby Woodbury Common and were billeted in and around the village.

Local halls were used to host dances and events to entertain the soldiers, and wartime fundraising eventually led to the building of a new Village Hall, opened in 1955.

Who was Walter Raleigh?

But of course, the most famous thing about East Budleigh is that it was the birthplace of Walter Raleigh.

Born around 1552, Raleigh spent his early years in a farmhouse just outside the village. Hayes Barton still stands, its sturdy gables and Tudor chimneys much the same as they were when Raleigh was a boy. It is privately owned and not opened to the public though!

In the village itself, St Michael’s Church bears a plaque commemorating Raleigh, and there is a statue of him in the village. The Raleigh family still have a pew in the church too. And the pub is named after him.

However, I believe that you can’t talk about Raleigh without acknowledging the negative effects of his profession. He was an explorer and colonist; his aims were imperialist and ethnocentric and was the start of the displacemen – and often destruction – of native peoples and culture. 

While it is interesting that he came from a small East Devon village, I don’t believe he should be celebrated without all of this being acknowledged.

Quick tips for visiting East Budleigh

🚗 Getting there
East Budleigh is 20 minutes by car from Exeter and around 10 minutes from the seaside town of Budleigh Salterton. There’s no train station in the village itself—closest is Exmouth, with buses (Stagecoach 157) connecting to East Budleigh. Parking is free but limited—best option is near the village hall or church.

🥾 What to see

• St Michael’s Church: Look for the Raleigh family memorials inside and the commemorative plaque outside.
• Hayes Barton: Raleigh’s childhood home is privately owned, but visible from the roadside about a mile west of the village.
• Otter Valley walks: Several scenic public footpaths cross fields and woodland around the village—good for spotting deer, buzzards, and otters if you’re lucky.
• Historic buildings: Many of the cottages are 16th or 17th century with thatched roofs and old millstones set into garden walls.
  

🍰 Where to eat
The Sir Walter Raleigh Inn is the village pub, serving food and local ales with an outdoor seating area. For more options, head to Budleigh Salterton for cafes and bakeries.

📅 Best time to visit
Spring or early autumn for mild weather and quieter footpaths. In summer, combine your trip with the Budleigh Literary Festival or a swim at Budleigh beach.

🧭 Local tip
Bring walking shoes—even a short loop through the valley involves uneven paths and can get muddy after rain. Also, mobile signal is patchy, so download maps in advance.