A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Leave the city centre to explore the fields, cherry orchards and wooded lanes of Ludwell Valley Park. Follow trails along the Northbrook stream or climb to the top of Pynes Hill for stunning views over Exeter.
About the reserve
Ludwell Valley Park is one of six Exeter Valley Parks managed by Devon Wildlife Trust.
The park is a working farm on the edge of the busy city of Exeter. Many of the fields provide free access to people wishing to enjoy this tranquil setting.
Next to the farmland is Wonford Playing Fields where there is space to kick a ball around, jog with the dog, or take a leisurely stroll beside the Northbrook. The valley is a real wildlife haven. Harvest mice nest in the fields, whitethroats and blackcaps skulk in the hedgerows and orange-tip and painted lady butterflies feed on the wildflowers.
Getting around the park
Access is from Ludwell Lane, Topsham Road, Parkland Drive and Pynes Hill. There is a range of circular walks.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/ludwell-valley-park
Photo: Derek Harper https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6546773
Caring for the park
Ludwell is valuable for the large numbers of farmland birds that live there - birds such as chaffinch, goldfinch, as well as the rarer bullfinch and meadow pipit.
Getting there by Bus
BusTimes.org is the unofficial home of bus, coach and ferry transport information. This interactive map shows bus stops and live bus positions with links to routes and time tables.
https://bustimes.org/map#15/50.71/-3.494
Getting there by Bicycle
As of August 2021, the best traffic-free cycle route to Ludwell Valley Park is to follow Exeter Cycle Route E1/NCN34 along the River Exe, turn off at Ducke's Marsh, pass Exeter Crematorium to the Topsham Road entrance of Ludwell Valley Park.
From Polsloe, you can cycle through Hamlyn Lane playing fields, follow the cycle paths along Vaughan Road and Sweetbriar Lane. Rifford Road is a suggested route on Travel Devon's Cycle Routes map, but you may prefer to follow the Exeter Green Circle walking route through Heath Road and Woodwater Lane which leads to the northern entrance of Ludwell Valley Park.
The almost completely traffic-free Exeter Cycle Route E2 (Exminster - Broadclyst) passes to the east of the Ludwell Valley Park near the Rydon Lane (A379) entrance
Exeter Cycle Route E9 (City Centre - Newcourt) goes through Ludwell Valley Park, but this is not yet traffic free.
Getting there by Foot
Ludwell Valley Park is on the Exeter Green Circle
Ludwell Life
The overall purpose of Ludwell Life is to protect and increase the social and environmental value of Ludwell Valley Park – for people and for wildlife.
