The Royal Citadel mid 17th century bastioned artillery defence, incorporating late 16th century artillery fort and 18th century statue, on the Hoe 10 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🦋 Insects
Free entry Dogs welcome 10 ha
Places › England › South West › Plymouth Getting here
50.36491, -4.13808
Open directionsv ✦ Scheduled Ancient Monument — Nationally protected archaeological site on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). Scheduled monuments represent the best surviving examples of England's irreplaceable archaeological heritage.
Fortification scheduled monument c. 1592
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting ☕ Café on site — a good base for a longer summer day out 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting ☕ Café on site — a good base for a longer summer day out £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🚲 Bike parking☕ Café🅿️ Parking· Paid 🚻 Toilets
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Blackbird +72 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Blackbird +72 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Eristalis tenax, Harmonia axyridis form succinea, Green Shieldbug +116 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Eristalis tenax, Harmonia axyridis form succinea, Green Shieldbug +116 more · last seen 2026
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 12 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
European long distance path E9 - part alternative Great Britain Walking route 711 km ▾
Named route Ref E9 Length 711 km International walking route
Show on map West Devon Way Walking route ▾
Named route Ref WDE Regional walking route
Show on map South West Coast Path (Section 35: Portwrinkle to Plymouth) Walking route ▾
Named route Ref SWCP National walking route
Show on map South West Coast Path (Section 36: Plymouth to Wembury Point) Walking route ▾
Named route Ref SWCP National walking route
Show on map Erme-Plym Trail Walking route 27 km ▾
Named route Ref EPT Length 27 km Regional walking route
Show on map 190 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Eurovelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part English Channel Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV1 Point-to-point International cycle route
Show on map NCN 2 link Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map NCN 27 link Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Route 2 Cycling route ▾
National Cycle Route 2 Dawlish to Plymouth
Named route Ref 2 National Cycle Network
Show on map NCN28 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 28 National Cycle Network
Show on map Riverside cycle trail at Saltram Cycling route 3.2 km ▾
Perfect for families, young children, and those new to cycling, the terrain is largely flat with one steep hill.
Named route Length 3.2 km Duration 00:30 Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map Photos Artillery outside an entrance to the Royal Citadel, Plymouth
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Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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id: 4ea447e8-c716-4886-a20c-1c5132b389a2
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
24,850 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 24,850 records · National Biodiversity Network Black-headed Gull · Oystercatcher · Turnstone · Herring Gull · Pied Wagtail +29
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Turnstone Arenaria interpres Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Sparrow Passer domesticus Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Blackbird Turdus merula Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Shag Gulosus aristotelis2025 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Gannet Morus bassanus2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Harmonia axyridis form succinea · Green Shieldbug · Eristalis tenax · Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) · Marmalade Hoverfly +29
Harmonia axyridis form succinea Harmonia axyridis form succinea Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025 Eupteryx melissae Eupteryx melissae Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 24,850 records · National Biodiversity Network Black-headed Gull · Oystercatcher · Turnstone · Herring Gull · Pied Wagtail +29
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Turnstone Arenaria interpres Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba House Sparrow Passer domesticus Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Blackbird Turdus merula Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Shag Gulosus aristotelis2025 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Gannet Morus bassanus2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Harmonia axyridis form succinea · Green Shieldbug · Eristalis tenax · Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) · Marmalade Hoverfly +29
Harmonia axyridis form succinea Harmonia axyridis form succinea Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Ectopsocus briggsi agg. (briggsi/petersi/meridionalis) Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025 Eupteryx melissae Eupteryx melissae Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis
Meliscaeva auricollis Meliscaeva auricollis
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata
Trioza centranthi Trioza centranthi2025
Trioza centranthi Trioza centranthi2025
Syrphus Syrphus
Syrphus Syrphus
Cerobasis guestfalica Cerobasis guestfalica2025
Cerobasis guestfalica Cerobasis guestfalica2025
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis Harmonia axyridis form spectabilis
Syrphus torvus Syrphus torvus2025
Syrphus torvus Syrphus torvus2025
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025
Large Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025
Large Willow Aphid Tuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2025
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis2025
Atlantopsocus Atlantopsocus
Atlantopsocus Atlantopsocus
Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa
Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum
Woundwort Shieldbug Eysarcoris venustissimus
Woundwort Shieldbug Eysarcoris venustissimus
Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria
Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Chaetocnema concinna/picipes Chaetocnema concinna/picipes
Chaetocnema concinna/picipes Chaetocnema concinna/picipes
Cacopsylla Cacopsylla
Cacopsylla Cacopsylla
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata
10-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata
Psychoda sigma Psychoda sigma
Psychoda sigma Psychoda sigma
Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
Spotted-winged Drosophila Drosophila suzukii
Sylvicola Sylvicola
Sylvicola Sylvicola
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Scatopse notata Scatopse notata2025
Scatopse notata Scatopse notata2025
Suillia variegata Suillia variegata2025
Suillia variegata Suillia variegata2025
Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus2025
Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus2025 