Each year on 5th November, for reasons lost in antiquity, locals and visitors alike gather together to see one of the country's premier spectacles; the famous flaming tar barrels of Ottery St Mary in Devon.  The Tar Barrel tradition is hundreds of years old and whilst the exact origins of this fascinating custom are unknown, it is thought to have probably started after the gunpowder plot of 1605.

Ottery St Mary is now the only town in the country where the townspeople carry full sized lighted tar barrels on their shoulders through the streets.  Traditionally, the barrels are set alight at various pubs and hotels around the town and follow a tight schedule until the final barrel is carried in the square around midnight.

Think you’ve got the barrel carrying skill of a ninja?  Maybe.  But don’t try and have a go yourself!  The Barrel Rollers jealously guard their right to carry barrels and visitors must adhere to strict safety guidelines while watching the event.  The object of the evening is to perpetuate a tradition, so simply stand back and enjoy one of the grand spectacles of our country's history.

Bonfire night wouldn’t be the same without Guy Fawkes, and Ottery St Mary's giant bonfire is an integral part of the annual tar barrels tradition.  After all the excitement, snuggle up for some cosy camping at some of Devon’s best campsites, at idyllic locations within easy reach of Ottery St Mary and the Flaming Tar Barrels.

Click here to find and book a great campsite near the Flaming Tar Barrels

Find out more about the Flaming Tar Barrels