Exmoor's most magical butterfly walk
Take a walk through a deep woodland coastal combe and high cliff paths with views across to Wales, on the look-out for one of the UK’s rarest jewels of a butterfly: the high brown fritillary. You’ll really test your butterfly identification skills as there are two similarly patterned fritillaries. Whether you see all three or not, you’ll enjoy superb scenery in one of the most beautiful valleys in Exmoor.
Map
Start:
National Trust car park, grid ref SS656480
1
Set out from the car park, passing the Hunters Inn. Cross the bridge and pass an orchard and white cottages. Take the steep lane up towards Trentishoe.
2
There's a colony of high brown fritillaries and many dark greens at Trentishoe Combe (the steep bracken slope beyond the oak trees). Look for them on bramble and thistle flowers. There are also many birds to see on your walk - keep your eyes peeled for woodpeckers, nuthatches and migrant birds like pied flycatcher and wood warbler, whose song is unmistakable (imagine a spinning coin on a hard surface).
High brown fritillary
Heddon Valley holds one of the best UK populations of the spectacular high brown fritillary, which flies from mid June to mid-late July. Look for it on violets growing under bracken. Many of the narrow paths through bracken have been created especially for this butterfly to encourage the egg-laying females, which require some open areas. The high brown fritillary has disappeared from 80 per cent of its range since the 1970s. Look for the row of dark brown pearls towards the edge of its hind wing undersides which distinguish it from the dark green fritillary.
3
Where the bracken ends, turn right on to the level footpath which runs above the bracken slope. If you spot a fritillary here, chances are its the dark green variety as high browns do not venture so high. You may also see small coppers, wall browns and graylings.
Dark green fritillary
Unlike the high brown fritillary, the dark green fritillary, is widespread in the UK. As its name suggests, the butterfly has more of a green tinge to its undersides than the rare high brown, and no silver-pupilled brown spots.
4
Follow the path which skirts field boundaries to the coast.
Silver-washed fritillaries
Silver-washed fritillaries are most common here from mid July to late August. Note the pointed forewings which help distinguish them from other orange fritillaries in Heddon Valley. You may also see grayling, purple hairstreak and the odd wall brown butterflies on your ramble through the valley.
5
This is one of the finest stretches of the South West Coast Path and you'll see plenty of seabirds gliding below. Walk east along the cliff top to Peter's Rock take care here as it is a very steep cliff face.
Marine life
When you reach the coast, seabirds including razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes frequently fly by, and its not uncommon to see porpoises, dolphins and even basking sharks. The best chance of spotting them is when the sea is flat.
6
Take the path to the right, which leads back through bracken and into high brown territory.
7
Either walk along the west side of the river through woodland (better for butterflies), or cross at the bridge, turn right and head along the east side through water meadows (route marked here). Enjoy the butterflies on the huge buddleias before stopping at the Hunters Inn for lunch.
End:
National Trust car park, grid ref SS656480
