3,500 acres of woodland just 15 minutes from Exeter
Whether you want a quiet gentle stroll or an exhilarating mountain biking experience, there’s something for you at Haldon Forest Park.
With a range of walking and cycling trails to suit all abilities, as well as a pump loop, cycle skills area, orienteering courses and so much more just waiting to be discovered.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/haldon-forest-park
Haldon Forest Park Bullers Hill, Kennford EX6 7XR
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haldonforestpark (21k)
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The estuary is the visual focus of this area; and although Devon has a number of estuaries few are as extensive as the Exe. This is a landscape of open skies characterised by the sound of seabirds, the masts of boats, and mud and dunes at Dawlish Warren. Views over the river are distinctive and the detail of the scene changes according to tide and season. The open expanse of intertidal mudflat when covered with water reflects the colour of the huge skies above. The whole scene is framed by rising landform on either side, which provides low level enclosure. The land rises gradually to the high ground of Woodbury Common to the east and Haldon to the west.
This landscape is complex and diverse, combining ridge and valley systems with the open estuary landscape and red sandstone cliffs. The patchwork of fields and hedgerows, designed landscapes, woodlands and estuarine and coastal features creates a landscape of high scenic quality which forms an important part of the setting to Exeter, Exmouth and Dawlish. The underlying red soils, frequent vernacular buildings, estuarine and coastal views and hillside backdrops lend a strong sense of place. The shoreline railway and canal add distinctiveness and frequent small boats and moorings emphasise the maritime character.
This area focuses on the Exe Estuary to the south of Exeter and extends inland to the east and west to include adjacent farmland. The northern boundary is defined by the built up area of Exeter, and the southern boundary by open sea. The eastern and western boundaries are transitional and defined by declining association with the estuary as the farmland becomes increasingly undulating and rises to meet Haldon Ridge to the west and Pebble Beds to the east.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/teignbridge-and-east-devon-area/exe-estuary-and-farmlands
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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The Haldon Ridge and Foothills has a strong sense of place and is one of the most prominent landscape features in eastern Devon, affording a textured, rising backdrop to much of the surrounding landscape, including the towns of Teignmouth and Dawlish and parts of Exeter. The area encompasses a narrow, forested plateau with adjoining steep scarp slopes broadening to more open farmed ridges and valleys to the south. From this landscape there are spectacular panoramic views east to the coast and west to Dartmoor. In places, the sides of the main wooded ridge are deeply incised with combes and small river valleys lending topographic interest. This landscape supports a diverse range of habitats including heathland, conifer plantations, mixed and broadleaved woodland, with a higher concentration of pasture and arable fields to the south. Collectively these land uses give rise to high scenic quality and provide varied texture and seasonal changes. This landscape also includes notable areas of parkland.
This area comprises a distinctive sandstone ridge running north-south from the A30 to the Teign Estuary and its surrounding farmland. To the north, the ridgeline gives way to a rolling upland landscape; in the west the spurs and valleys of the valley slopes interlock with the River Teign; and to the east, a patchwork of minor ridges and valleys flows eastwards towards the Exe estuary and coast. To the south the area is more open and broadens into farmland comprising a series of ridges and valleys extending to the coast at Dawlish.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/teignbridge-and-east-devon-area/haldon-ridge-and-foothills
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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The landscape includes an extensive area of moorland fringe comprising rolling hills, many of which contain pockets of open heathland commons, and in the west an area of distinct plateau. The plateau land is dominated by conifer plantations associated with the Kennick, Tottiford and Trenchford reservoirs, around which is a gently undulating mixed farmed landscape interspersed by belts of woodland and rough heathy grassland. Here the enclosure pattern, where it is evident, is medium to large in scale and regular in form, which contrasts with the intricate pattern of medieval and post-medieval fields further west. The landscape is sparsely settled and crossed by a network of minor lanes and there is a strong sense of history presented through a rich scattering of archaeological sites and stone crosses. The generally open character of the area in the west affords long views, including views to the high Dartmoor moorland.
This area comprises the north-eastern edges of Dartmoor National Park and includes an expansive area of enclosed moorland edge and farmed slopes and a more forested plateau in the east. Bounded to the west and south by the rising and open landscape of Central Dartmoor and High Dartmoor North, this area of enclosed pastoral land contains the distinctive incised upper and middle Teign valley. To the north there is a gradual transition to the Yeo Uplands and Slopes while to the east the change in character into the Teign Valley and Slopes is relatively abrupt.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/teignbridge-and-east-devon-area/east-dartmoor-morland-fringe
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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The Teign valley is perhaps the most dramatically steep and consistently wooded valley in Devon. Its steep, deep, narrow valley, twisting course, woodlands and nearby moor on Dartmoor are inspiring. It provides a wooded and often rocky flank to the eastern boundary of Dartmoor National Park. The steepness of the valley sides is accentuated by the height of the land either side, giving it a distinctive appearance in the wider landscape. The valley floor is relatively narrow (even in the south) and is flat-bottomed, open and marked by the tree-lined course of the river with occasional historic stone bridges, which add interest. Frequent broadleaved woodland along the valley sides (some ancient), gives a heavily wooded appearance, although many areas are in fact pastoral. These are marked by small, irregular fields with mature hedges and broken by a series of interlocking tributary valleys – particularly to the north where the valleys become narrower and more intimate. This is a landscape with high levels of tranquillity and dark night skies. Within the valley are scattered settlements and farmsteads and there has been a history of mining, reflected in the now dismantled railway.
This area comprises the middle Teign valley between Dunsford in the north and Chudleigh in the south. It is a linear landscape with a north-south orientation flanked to the north by the higher ridges of the Yeo Valley Uplands, to the west by the rising fringes of Dartmoor and to the east by the wooded Haldon Ridge.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/teignbridge-and-east-devon-area/teign-valley-and-slopes
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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This small site, located halfway between Exeter and Exminster, is an excellent vantage point for watching wildfowl and waders. Cyclists, walkers and joggers regularly use the track which leads to it, sharing this quiet reserve with green and common sandpipers, mallards and mute swans.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/matford-marshes/
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The creation of the Woodland Park has been a major development of The Bridford Trust. The park has been established as an amenity for the community, offering a natural environment for all to enjoy.
The design, which was created by David Price, Environmental Planning Consultant, includes a raised seating area, an information centre, and many pathways weaving their way across the park.
http://www.bridfordtrust.co.uk/bridford-woodland-park/
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Newton Abbot Museum This amazing 13th century survivor in the middle of town is available to visit thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. The open season usually runs from mid-May to September every Wednesday between 10am – 1pm. It is also open on some Saturdays, usually when there is an event on in the town centre. Each year opening of the Tower is announced on Facebook, where current dates are kept pinned to the top of the page throughout the season.
https://museum-newtonabbot.org.uk/visiting/st-leonards-tower/
St Leonard's Tower Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Newton.Abbot.Museum
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewtAbbMuseum
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Just five miles from Exeter city centre, Exminster and Powderham Marshes are great places to see birds all year-round. Enjoy a lovely walk here in this fascinating landscape, where flocks of geese, ducks and waders are numerous. Regular visitors include lapwings, redshanks, wigeons and warblers.
Find a range of tasty refreshments on sale in the car park from Hope Coffee Wednesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm every week. From drinks to cakes, be sure to share what wildlife you see with Hope Coffee to add to their sightings board while you visit! You can also get refreshments from the Swan’s Nest Inn and the Turf Hotel (closed in some winter months).
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/exminster-and-powderham-marshes/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPBExeEstuary/ (1.1k)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSPBExeEstuary (2.8k)
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Paths lead you through a heathland landscape of gorse and heather. A great place to spot secretive reptiles and nightjars.
About the reserve
This is one of the best remaining examples of the heathland landscape which once dominated this part of Devon.
Take any one of a number of paths to explore the reserve's heather and gorse covered landscape. As you go look out for basking reptiles - common lizards, adders and grass snakes all live here.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/bovey-heathfield
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