Ideford Common

Ideford Common is a beautiful reserve of lowland heath on the southern edge of the Haldon Hills.

Location

Ideford Common is on the southern edge of the Haldon Hills quite close to Ashcombe. Leave the A380 at the Ashcombe Cross junction and take the B3192 Teignmouth Road. Take the first right (400m after the roundabout) down an unsigned lane. Just as this lane turns sharp left you will see the Ideford Common car park in front of you.

Know before you go

Size

39 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Parking information

Car park at main entrance (not managed by DWT)

Access

Once at the nature reserve there is a network of tracks which provide access around the site. Three of the tracks are designated public bridleways and access on horseback and bicycle is permitted over those. All other tracks, one of which is designated as a public footpath, are pedestrian access only. Although many of the trackways are quite level in gradient and therefore suitable for less mobile people, their surface consists of eroded, exposed flints. Therefore they are not suitable for conventional wheelchairs, electric scooters and pushchairs.

Dogs

Under effective control

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

All year

About the reserve

Great Haldon Heaths were notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1988. Ideford Common falls within this SSSI. Ideford Common represents about 2% of the remaining lowland heath in Devon.

Typical heathland species are abundant across the site and there are areas of silver birch and willow scrub, valuable for feeding nightjar, on the margins. These birds arrive in spring and depart in August. Visit the nature reserve at dusk during this time to hear their amazing churring calls.

Other of Ideford Common's birds include stonechats and Dartford warblers, while it is also a refuge for reptiles including common lizards and adders.

Visit in September to see a spectacular display of pink and purple coloured heather blooms.

A trip to Ideford Common also offers great year-round views across the Teign Valley and beyond to Dartmoor.

NOTICE: If you are visiting our reserves, please note that there have been instances of H5N1 Avian bird flu found in birds in Devon. There is very low risk to public health but we do ask that if you come across any unusual or unexplained bird deaths on or near our reserves please do not touch them. Call Defra on 03459 33 55 77 and report your findings. Please also report your findings to DWT by email at contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org