Situated in the centre of a beautiful bay on the western side of the river Otter estuary, Budleigh Salterton is a tranquil town where you will find quality local shops. Budleigh Salterton's location is ideal for walking and bird watching. Salterton is derived from the days when the main industry of the area was salt-panning - in those days the town was known as Ottermouth. The beach at Budleigh Salterton is a steeply shelving crescent of pebbles, overlooked at the western edge by high red cliffs. The beach is famous for its fat round pebbles - 'like buns or muffins'. Though the beach is quite steep, the swimming is safe - for those who require a sandy foreshore, a short walk westwards will bring them to the small sheltered beach at Littleham Cove. In the centre of Budleigh Salterton is the Fairlynch - a small museum with displays of local and natural history of the area as well as a display of Devon Lace and a fine collection of costumes. Next door to the museum is the Octagon where the artist Sir John Everet Millais stayed during the creation of his famous painting, 'The Boyhood of Raleigh' - which can be seen in the Tate Gallery in London. Sir Walter Raleigh was born just two miles away from Budleigh Salterton at Hayes Barton.