Topsham

It’s not surprising to find that the whole of the old town of Topsham has been declared a conservation area. Its narrow streets are lined with fine examples of 17th and 18th-century merchants’ houses, many built in the Dutch style with curved gable ends. One of these contains Topsham Museum, which has a model of the town as it was in 1900, local craftwork and records of prominent local families. There’s also an exhibit with memorabilia connected with the film star Vivien Leigh whose brother-in-law founded the museum.

The town has a wealth of specialist and antique shops, and some stunning views over the Exe estuary with its extensive reed beds, salt marshes and mud banks. These  provide an important winter feeding ground and summer breeding area for birds from all over the world. The estuary is also home to the largest winter flocks of avocets in the county. There are walks along the banks of the estuary that lead right from Exeter to the coast at Exmouth, and also river and bird-watching cruises from Topsham quay.