East Devon has some delightful villages to explore, right across the area.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury cottages. Ref shs 16 18TI 1560. Picture: Terry IfeSidbury cottages. Ref shs 16 18TI 1560. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

The thriving community of Sidbury nestles in the Sid valley, a few miles inland from where the river flows out to sea in Sidmouth.

Thought to be one of the earliest settlements in the county, its name is though to have been derived from a nearby Iron Age fort.

Devon, by W G Hoskins, pays particular attention to the village church of St Giles, sating it is ‘one of the most interesting in Devon’.

It said: “Restoration work on the chancel in 1898-9 revealed a Saxon crypt underneath, the precise date of which is unknown.”

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury cottages. Ref shs 16 18TI 1560. Picture: Terry IfeSidbury cottages. Ref shs 16 18TI 1560. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

The crypt is one of only six to be found in the whole country, dating from around AD 680 and tours are available during the summer months.

Sidbury also marks the mid-way point of the East Devon Way, which runs from the Exe estuary to Uplyme and takes walkers along a route of approximately 40 miles, through the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Another site in the centre of the village that is worth a visit is Deepway Meadow.

Also known as Sidbury Millennium Green, it is open to the public for recreation and was created in 2000 as a Millennium Project in 2000.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury's millenium pond. Ref shs 16 18TI 1575. Picture: Terry IfeSidbury's millenium pond. Ref shs 16 18TI 1575. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Next to the River Sid, the area features grassland, woodland planting, a pond, dipping platform and rustic benches and there is access to the site via a public footpath and you can also get to the village cricket pitch.

With so many interesting things to see in Sidbury, it is well worth taking a little time to explore this modern East Devon village which has strong historical links.

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury Stream. Ref shs 16 18TI 1591. Picture: Terry IfeSidbury Stream. Ref shs 16 18TI 1591. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury Stream. Ref shs 16 18TI 1591. Picture: Terry IfeSidbury Stream. Ref shs 16 18TI 1591. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury view. Ref shs 21-16AW 8040. Picture: Alex WaltonSidbury view. Ref shs 21-16AW 8040. Picture: Alex Walton (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Sidbury Church. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref shv 7951-16-11AWSidbury Church. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref shv 7951-16-11AW (Image: Archant)