You can now explore East Dartmoor NNR with our series of walking leaflets. These can be downloaded here or they are also available as paper copies at the Reservoir Bird Hide in Yarner Wood (access Yarner Wood via the entrance opposite the Middle Trendlebere car park, turn left on the wide track as you enter the wood, and after a short distance turn left off the main track up the all access path to the Bird Hide).
Woods and Trees Trail
The two walking routes described in this leaflet allow you to compare the Atlantic oak woods of Yarner Wood with the Bovey Valley woodlands. The shorter route (1.5km) takes you into the heart of Yarner Wood where majestic oaks stand high above you. The longer route (4.5km) takes you through Hisley, Rudge and Pullabrook Woods where deciduous trees stand side by side with introduced species, planted for timber during the last century.
Lichen Trail Bovey Valley
This 5km walk takes you along a series of old tracks and through ancient woodlands, examining some fascinating lichen along the way. Some of the lichens found here are internationally important, such as the witches’ whiskers lichen.
Download a copy of the Lichen Trail (A3)
Tracks and Signs of Woodland Mammals
Whether large or small woodland mammals can be difficult to find. Many of them live in these woods and some of them are rare and protected by law, but when you know where to look you can see their tracks and signs.
Download a copy of Tracks and Signs of Woodland Mammals (A3)
Butterflies of the Bovey Valley
This beautiful 4.5km circular walk takes you along woodland tracks by the River Bovey and along heathland paths on Trendlebere Down. Hand drawn illustrations show a selection of the butterflies you may see along the route but, depending on the time of day and the season, you may not see all of them …but you may see many more!
BOVEY VALLEY HERITAGE WALKS
Haytor and Yarner Wood
This circular walking route starts at the Haytor Visitor Centre. Crossing open moorland and following woodland tracks, this is a hilly walk with spectacular views around East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. From the moor, the route takes you into Yarner Wood, part of the East Dartmoor NNR, where you will pass the remains of a copper mine and follow the route of the granite tramway through the woods. Approx 9km, allow 5-6 hours.
You can download a pdf of the walk leaflet here Heritage Walks – Haytor and Yarner Wood A4 . For a paper copy you can pick up a leaflet from inside the new Reservoir bird hide in Yarner Wood, or from outside the Natural England office, Yarner Wood.
Hisley Heritage Walk
This walking route through Hisley Wood starts at the car park on the edge of Trendlebere Down and takes you along a series of ancient tracks, examining the heritage of the area along the way. The route climbs gently through woodland, providing dramatic views before a steady descent back to an old bridge, returning to the starting point. Allow 2.5 hours.
You can download a pdf of the walk leaflet Hisley Heritage Walk 1 pdf (A3), Hisley Heritage Walk map (A4) or you can pick up a leaflet from outside the Natural England office in Yarner Wood. To read a walk description and see photos of the route – do take a look at the Hisley Heritage Walk blog.
East Dartmoor Woods blog 