Collections of period costumes and geological phenomena are among the highlights in a free museum within a quaint and historic thatched house.
The Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre is tucked away inside a charming thatched cottage. Its exhibits provide an insight into the rich history of the town of Budleigh Salterton and the surrounding Lower Otter Valley. Enjoy the rural charm, as you chat with the staff and volunteers about the development of the bucolic landscape around you.
Arrive at the outdoor steps and sloped lawn in front of this Grade-II listed building, which was constructed in 1811 and is nicely preserved. Admire its whitewashed façade, with a thatched awning above the door, pointed arched windows and a thatched cupola.
Make your way inside and explore the site’s two floors for the array of diverse displays. Inspect the works by local artists to see the region through their eyes.
Let nostalgia take hold in the Children’s Toys section, featuring stuffed toys, dolls and games that entertained kids decades and even centuries ago.
Other exhibits take you through the local and natural history of the region. See vintage photos of the main street as it was years ago and learn about the beavers near the River Otter. Piece together the life of a 16th-century poet and politician in the Sir Walter Ralegh Room and read about the different ways to spell his name.
On a sunny afternoon, head out into the award-winning gardens made up of flowers and plants popular at the time of the house’s construction.
The site opens Tuesday through Sunday for two or three hours in the afternoon. The museum was inaugurated in 1967. Enter the site, including the museum, for free.
Find the Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre in the heart of Budleigh Salterton, in the eastern outskirts of Exmouth. From Torquay, drive northeast for 30 miles (50 kilometers) to arrive in less than 1 hour.
While in the town, make sure to go to some of its other attractions, including the Brook Gallery, St. Peter’s Church and the Salterton Drama Club.
