← Back🌲 Conifer forest

West Norton Wood

✦ Ancient woodland10 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Free entryDogs welcome10 ha

Getting here

50.35664, -3.62673

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

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

Best for

7 activities

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 — Herring Gull, Swallow, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Herring Gull, Swallow, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Violet, Whiskered Veilwort +7 more · last seen 2022

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +127 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly +127 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Heritage

Good match

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

John Musgrave Heritage TrailWalking route

Named routeRef JMHTRegional walking route

Greenway WalkWalking route

Named routeRef GWLocal walking route

South West Coast Path (Section 40: Torcross to Dartmouth)Walking route

Named routeRef SWCPNational walking route

South West Coast Path (Section 41: Dartmouth to Brixham)Walking route

Named routeRef SWCPNational walking route

Dart Valley TrailWalking route

Named routeRef DVTRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 28Cycling route

Named routeRef 28National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route3 km

Named routeRef 28Length 3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route493 m

Named routeRef 28Length 493 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.8 km

Named routeRef 28Length 1.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route2.1 km

Named routeRef 28Length 2.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route5.3 km

Named routeRef 28Length 5.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

1,293 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

1,293 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds26 species

spring

2025

Robin · Herring Gull · Blue Tit · Great Tit · Canada Goose +21

RobinErithacus rubecula
Herring GullLarus argentatus2021
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BuzzardButeo buteo
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
CootFulica atra2021
RavenCorvus corax2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

summer

2023

Lesser Horseshoe Bat · Hedgehog

Lesser Horseshoe BatRhinolophus hipposideros
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2021

🦎

Reptiles2 species

springsummer

2020

Grass Snake · Common Lizard

Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Common LizardZootoca vivipara2019

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2024

Frog

FrogRana

🐝

Insects74 species

springsummer

2025

Azure Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Platycheirus albimanus · Emperor Dragonfly · Platycheirus +69

Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2020
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2022
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2020
PlatycheirusPlatycheirus2022
Black Oil-beetleMeloe proscarabaeus
Beautiful DemoiselleCalopteryx virgo2020
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Hebrew CharacterOrthosia gothica2019
Bloody-nosed BeetleTimarcha tenebricosa
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2022
CheilosiaCheilosia2022
Violet Oil-beetleMeloe violaceus2022
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
Buff ErmineSpilosoma lutea2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2019
Great Green Bush-cricketTettigonia viridissima
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2024
Oil BeetleMeloe2023
St Marks FlyBibio marci2022
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2022
SyrphusSyrphus2022
MelanostomaMelanostoma2022
Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2022
Eudasyphora cyanellaEudasyphora cyanella2022
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2022
RhamphomyiaRhamphomyia2022
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2022
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2021
Western Bee-flyBombylius canescens2020
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2020
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2019
Angle ShadesPhlogophora meticulosa2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2019
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Feathered GothicTholera decimalis2019
Pretty Chalk CarpetMelanthia procellata2019
Vine's RusticHoplodrina ambigua2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Silver-ground CarpetXanthorhoe montanata2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
LackeyMalacosoma neustria2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Mottled RusticCaradrina morpheus2019
July HighflyerHydriomena furcata2019
Common FootmanEilema lurideola2019
V-pugChloroclystis v-ata2019
Ingrailed ClayDiarsia mendica2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Mottled BeautyAlcis repandata2019
Green CarpetColostygia pectinataria2019
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2019
Pale ProminentPterostoma palpina2019
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Muslin MothDiaphora mendica2019
StreamerAnticlea derivata2019
Common QuakerOrthosia cerasi2019
Water CarpetLampropteryx suffumata2019
Early GreyXylocampa areola2019

🌿

Plants17 species

summer

2022

Violet · Pale Persicaria · Black-bindweed · Sheep's Sorrel · Sun Spurge +12

VioletViola
Pale PersicariaPersicaria lapathifolia2019
Black-bindweedFallopia convolvulus2019
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2019
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2019
Fat-henChenopodium album2019
Sharp-leaved FluellenKickxia elatine2019
Corn MintMentha arvensis2019
Weasel's-snoutMisopates orontium2019
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2019
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2019
Field WoundwortStachys arvensis2019
CharlockSinapis arvensis2019
Field BindweedConvolvulus arvensis2019
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis2019
Buckler-FernDryopteris affinis subsp. affinis2018
Wood DockRumex sanguineus2018

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

1,293 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds26 species

spring

2025

Robin · Herring Gull · Blue Tit · Great Tit · Canada Goose +21

RobinErithacus rubecula
Herring GullLarus argentatus2021
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2024
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BuzzardButeo buteo
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BlackbirdTurdus merula
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater2024
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria2024
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
CootFulica atra2021
RavenCorvus corax2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

summer

2023

Lesser Horseshoe Bat · Hedgehog

Lesser Horseshoe BatRhinolophus hipposideros
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2021

🦎

Reptiles2 species

springsummer

2020

Grass Snake · Common Lizard

Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Common LizardZootoca vivipara2019

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2024

Frog

FrogRana

🐝

Insects74 species

springsummer

2025

Azure Damselfly · Large Red Damselfly · Platycheirus albimanus · Emperor Dragonfly · Platycheirus +69

Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2020
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2022
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2020
PlatycheirusPlatycheirus2022
Black Oil-beetleMeloe proscarabaeus
Beautiful DemoiselleCalopteryx virgo2020
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronuba2019
Flame ShoulderOchropleura plecta2019
Heart & DartAgrotis exclamationis2019
Hebrew CharacterOrthosia gothica2019
Bloody-nosed BeetleTimarcha tenebricosa
Melanostoma scalareMelanostoma scalare2022
CheilosiaCheilosia2022
Violet Oil-beetleMeloe violaceus2022
Common Marbled CarpetDysstroma truncata2019
SnoutHypena proboscidalis2019
Brimstone MothOpisthograptis luteolata2019
Barred StrawGandaritis pyraliata2019
Buff ErmineSpilosoma lutea2019
Treble LinesCharanyca trigrammica2019
Western Conifer Seed BugLeptoglossus occidentalis2019
Great Green Bush-cricketTettigonia viridissima
Orange LadybirdHalyzia sedecimguttata2024
Oil BeetleMeloe2023
St Marks FlyBibio marci2022
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2022
SyrphusSyrphus2022
MelanostomaMelanostoma2022
Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2022
Eudasyphora cyanellaEudasyphora cyanella2022
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2022
RhamphomyiaRhamphomyia2022
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2022
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2021
Western Bee-flyBombylius canescens2020
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020
Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans2020
Flounced RusticLuperina testacea2019
Angle ShadesPhlogophora meticulosa2019
Lesser Yellow UnderwingNoctua comes2019
Light EmeraldCampaea margaritaria2019
Dusky ThornEnnomos fuscantaria2019
Feathered GothicTholera decimalis2019
Pretty Chalk CarpetMelanthia procellata2019
Vine's RusticHoplodrina ambigua2019
Square-spot RusticXestia xanthographa2019
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow UnderwingNoctua janthe2019
Silver-ground CarpetXanthorhoe montanata2019
Riband WaveIdaea aversata2019
UncertainHoplodrina octogenaria2019
LackeyMalacosoma neustria2019
Scalloped OakCrocallis elinguaria2019
Mottled RusticCaradrina morpheus2019
July HighflyerHydriomena furcata2019
Common FootmanEilema lurideola2019
V-pugChloroclystis v-ata2019
Ingrailed ClayDiarsia mendica2019
Buff-tipPhalera bucephala2019
Willow BeautyPeribatodes rhomboidaria2019
Mottled BeautyAlcis repandata2019
Green CarpetColostygia pectinataria2019
Common CarpetEpirrhoe alternata2019
Pale ProminentPterostoma palpina2019
Orange-tipAnthocharis cardamines2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
Small WhitePieris rapae2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Muslin MothDiaphora mendica2019
StreamerAnticlea derivata2019
Common QuakerOrthosia cerasi2019
Water CarpetLampropteryx suffumata2019
Early GreyXylocampa areola2019

🌿

Plants17 species

summer

2022

Violet · Pale Persicaria · Black-bindweed · Sheep's Sorrel · Sun Spurge +12

VioletViola
Pale PersicariaPersicaria lapathifolia2019
Black-bindweedFallopia convolvulus2019
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2019
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia2019
Fat-henChenopodium album2019
Sharp-leaved FluellenKickxia elatine2019
Corn MintMentha arvensis2019
Weasel's-snoutMisopates orontium2019
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2019
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2019
Field WoundwortStachys arvensis2019
CharlockSinapis arvensis2019
Field BindweedConvolvulus arvensis2019
Corn SpurreySpergula arvensis2019
Buckler-FernDryopteris affinis subsp. affinis2018
Wood DockRumex sanguineus2018

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Robin Stott · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

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🌱Royal Avenue GardensUrban park3.5 km→🌱Royal Avenue GardensUrban park3.5 km→🌱The HamUrban park3.7 km→🌱Wildflower GardenUrban park3.4 km→🌱Coronation ParkUrban park3.5 km→🌱Dartmouth Green Partnerships floral areaUrban park2 km→

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