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Big Wood

✦ Ancient woodland1 ha

📷 John Firth · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeAncient
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

50.76757, -3.30752

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🐦63+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Pheasant and Woodpigeon
  • 🌳Ancient woodland is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Best for

7 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +60 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +60 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Ancient woodland

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600

Foraging

Good match

Varies

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Insect spotting

Good match

Free

Insects — Brachypera zoilus, Fever Fly, Violet Ground Beetle +4 more · last seen 2025

Heritage

Good match

Free

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
East Devon WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef EDWListed length 61kmRegional walking route
Otter Valley WalkWalking route20 km▾
Named routeRef OVWLength 20 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Coleridge LinkWalking route14.5 km▾

A circular route in the Otter Valley.

Named routeRef COLLength 14.5 kmLocal walking route
Orange WayWalking route560 km▾
Named routeRef ORWLength 560 kmRegional walking route
Exeter to Honiton WayWalking route▾
Named routeRef EXHONRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

▾

16 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
N/ACycling route46 m▾
Named routeLength 46 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route481 m▾
Named routeLength 481 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route148 m▾
Named routeLength 148 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route152 m▾
Named routeRef 248Length 152 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route129 m▾
Named routeRef 248Length 129 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route99 m▾
Named routeRef 248Length 99 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

18 photos from nearby open sources

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A30 approaching lay by near Big Wood

📷 John Firth · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

A30 approaching lay by near Big Wood

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Facilities

🅿️

Parking

1 nearby · 477m

✦ AncientFree entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Escot Gardens & MazeUrban park700 m→🌱Escot Park the ParkUrban park900 m→🌱Escot ParkUrban park1.1 km→🐄Red Squirrel EncounterVisitor farm700 m→🌱Escot ParkUrban park1.1 km→🌱Land of CanaanUrban park2.4 km→