Countryside Mobility Member, Eve is an avid fan of the Trampers. On a regular basis she shares her wonderful stories and experiences as she explores different hire locations alongside her family.
Read Eve’s latest account of her adventure this time, a family trip to the Otter Estuary.
Eve’s Tales from the Tramper: A Family Day on the Otter Estuary
Budleigh Salterton, 14 August 2026 — On a hot August morning, a pop-up Tramper hire at the Otter Estuary opened up a much-loved landscape to one family in a way that felt both practical and quietly joyful.
With thanks to the volunteers, family walkers and one very comfortable passenger, this is a recollection of a countryside visit made possible by accessible outdoor mobility.
The day began early. There was a sense of purpose in the house before the eldest daughter arrived: bags packed, a salad lunch prepared, and the destination fixed — the Otter Estuary. By 11.45am, the family had arrived for a pop-up Tramper day, with the all-terrain mobility scooter brought down from the Donkey Sanctuary to help visitors with limited mobility enjoy the reserve.
“This makes it so much easier for me to get around and enjoy the surroundings.”
At the pick-up point, the welcome mattered. The volunteers were described as “lovely people”: chatty, helpful and attentive, taking time to ask whether the Tramper had been used before and making sure the experience began with confidence. It was a small exchange, but the kind that sets the tone for a visit — practical support delivered with warmth.
From there, the route unfolded gently along the upper stretch of the Otter Estuary. The paths were flat and even, ideal for the Tramper, and the family moved at an unhurried pace through a landscape that seemed to be thriving despite the summer heat. On either side, the vegetation looked green and healthy; perhaps, the recollection goes, because the incoming tide had brought the water the plants badly needed elsewhere.
The party reached a viewing point overlooking Little Marsh, where an interpretation board explained how former agricultural land had been re-created as wetland. Across the path, another viewpoint looked towards Big Bank. It was a reminder that this is not just a pretty route, but a living, managed landscape — one where water, wildlife and people meet.
Shade was sought whenever it appeared. In the open, the sun was fierce, but the pace remained calm. The family continued back towards the starting point, crossing the bridge over the River Otter. There, the visit became less about access and more about the simple privilege of being present: ducks and swans moving steadily downstream, large fish slipping through the water, and smaller fish visible in the shallows.
“One swan in particular was majestic.”
That swan stayed in the memory: wings fluffed, feathers ruffled, its head reflected beautifully in the river. It was the kind of detail that turns a walk into a story — not grand, not staged, but vivid because someone had the time and the means to stop and notice it.
After returning safely to the pick-up point, the Tramper was handed back and the family settled on a shaded seat for their picnic lunch. The outing had been comfortable, accessible and shared: the family walked, while mum travelled in ease, able to take in the estuary without the strain that might otherwise have limited the day.
There was humour too. The son-in-law claimed his foot had been run over by the Tramper, though this was firmly disputed.
“I have got a photo to prove that I was nowhere near it.”
It was a light-hearted family moment, but it also captured the spirit of the day: independence, companionship and the freedom to be part of the whole outing rather than watching from the sidelines.
For Countryside Mobility schemes and countryside organisations, stories like this show the value of access in human terms. A Tramper is not simply a vehicle; it is a way back into landscapes, conversations, picnic stops, wildlife encounters and shared family jokes. It helps turn a route into an experience everyone can join.
“It was a beautiful visit and one I would do again.”
The final thanks went to the staff and volunteers who made the visit possible. Their welcome, combined with the Tramper itself, gave one family a day at the Otter Estuary that was memorable for all the right reasons.
“Thank you again to the staff who were very helpful and welcoming.”
Our thanks to Eve and her family for sharing their Otter Estuary trip with us. Otter Estuary is part of the Countryside Mobility pop-up initiative. You can visit the pop-up booking pages to see the latest availability.
