Woods and wildflowers
This circular walk around Combe Wood can be enjoyed at any time of the year, but is at its very best during bluebell season in early May.
Map
Start:
Combe Wood lay-by, grid ref: ST161016
1
Go through the gate into the site and head up the main ride.
Hazel dormouse and other wildlife
The hazel dormouse has golden-brown fur and large black eyes. It's a nocturnal creature and spends most of its waking hours among the branches of trees looking for food. It will make long detours rather than come down to the ground and expose itself to danger. Nesting birds include the nuthatch - listen out for its loud ringing call - and the secretive sparrow hawk, which feeds on smaller birds. These resident birds can be seen all year, but are noisiest in the nesting season.
2
Turn right and follow the waymarked route around the wood. The good thing about this walk is that its almost impossible to get lost. All you need to do is keep the edge of the wood to your right.
Hazel glue fungus
Dead wood is full of nutrients. Fungi and invertebrates play an essential role in recycling the nutrients from the dead wood back into the soil so that trees and shrubs can benefit from them. This is natural recycling at its best - the dead wood acts as a natural slow-release fertiliser. Look out for the hazel glue fungus, or Hymenochaete corrugate, appropriately named because it glues dead hazel twigs to living branches in the canopy, thus preventing them from falling to the ground where they'd be available to other fungi to decompose.
3
If you take any of the paths that go off to the left you'll simply cut a portion of the circle. Continue walking, keeping the wood on your right until you return to the main gate onto the main road.
Valleys and Raleighs
Many place names in Devon have a Celtic origin including combe, which means valley. The Welsh, cwm, has a similar meaning. The valley was owned by the Raleigh family in the 13th century. The most famous member of the family, Sir Walter Raleigh, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, was born at nearby East Budleigh in 1552. The village is worth a visit, for its ancient church and the nearby chantry, which is privately owned and was probably originally built for the priest around 1498.
4
We hope that you really enjoyed this one-mile walk. We look after some of the most spectacular areas of countryside for the enjoyment of all. We need your support to help us continue our work to cherish the countryside and provide access to our beautiful and refreshing landscapes. To find out more about how you too can help our work as a volunteer, member or donor please visit our homepage.
End:
Combe Wood lay-by, grid ref: ST161016
