Walk Details
Our walk today begins at the entrance to Forestry England’s Core Copse Forest, where there is ample parking available. The route runs through the gate and onto the well-defined path. During your walk you will be greeted with hard standing, accessible tracks for most of the route. Some areas can get boggy in winter with small sections of the track proving more challenging than others.
Surrounded by a variety of conifer and mixed deciduous woodland you can expect to see some of Britain’s most iconic trees such as Beech, Oak, Hazel and Sweet chestnut mixed with a variety of productive timber crops such as Douglas fir, Grand fir and Japanese larch (particularly stunning in the autumn months!).
Deer roam freely through the site and, for wildflower enthusiasts, there are spectacular displays of colour along the rides and tracks at Core Copse in the summer months supporting many butterfly species including fritillaries and skippers. Look out for bluebells, agrimony, fleabane and vetch growing wild on-site.
If you’re very lucky you might catch the sound of the resident bird of prey, not to mention many varieties of other bird life including cross bills, robin and nightjar. It’s a great place to take your dog for a walk and there is a dog bin on-site for our four-legged friends.
Access TOG Verdict
The track here is good – although I can imagine in places it could get a little muddy after heavy rain, making it a bit trickier for a manual wheelchair user to navigate.
There aren’t any facilities at Core Copse – but it’s a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy an afternoon stroll.
Nearest accessible toilet: Sidmouth. Nearest changing places facility is in Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, EX1 1EU
Nearest Train (or tube) Station(s):
Exeter
Read the Countryside Code before venturing out
Make sure to take a map and compass, and know how to use them before going into our National Parks #BeAdventureSmart
Tips for New Walkers: click here to download (PDF).
Remember to prepare properly before heading out on any type of walk or outdoor activity. Tell people where you are going and what time you are expected back. As Wainwright says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing".