Natural Environment - Landscape Overview

The wild natural environment of North Devon is the perfect habitat for experiencedevon’s customized itineraries. Our expert local guides can help you discover the best of British wildlife in this unique conservation wilderness.

“One could write a chapter about this wide, buzzard-haunted countryside, so remote and withdrawn from the villainies of the human race, far from railways and the lunacies of the modern world. Buzzards sail slowly above the quiet combes, throwing their shadows on the sunlit slopes below, the wild bubbling cry of curlews is everywhere on the moory grounds above, swallows flash in and out of ancient slate-grey courtyards: it is a timeless scene” – W. G. Hoskins 1954

...and it still is. The North Devon Coast is dominated by impressive towering cliffs, of sandstones and mudstones, up to 500 feet high. This vertical backdrop, from the Devonian age, is often scarred with dramatic folds in the rocks caused by tremendous pressure, in the ancient past, of tectonic plate collision. The twisted and pitted rocky shore, with its beaches of boulders and treacherous reefs is punctuated with magnificent golden sandy bays.
Virtually the whole coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Between land and sea lies the shore and here too North Devon can claim great diversity of habitat and wildlife. Much of the coast is of considerable geological significance and provides rocks and rock-pools that supports a diverse marine life. The colourful sea anemones, assorted sea snails, and characterful crabs hint at this richness. Seals breed on Lundy Island and can often be seen off the North Devon coast throughout the year. Porpoise are there too and dolphin, basking sharks, and sun fish may be spotted in summer.
The coastal strip of North Devon enjoys a mild climate rarely cold enough for snow in the winter and the summer’s heat being tempered by the sea breezes. The ancient steep wooded valleys scattered along the coast have microclimates of their own. These are densely populated with stunted oaks, ferns and wildflowers and wouldn’t seem out-of-place in a tropical climate. Grasses and furze clings to any earth it can find on the rocky cliff tops. The vertiginous cliffs house a multitude of seabirds and are also home to peregrines and ravens.
The Exmoor Pony roams the moors where they have lived for longer than people have. Red deer have lived here since prehistoric times, half of all the red deer in England live in North Devon and Exmoor. North Devon is also the habitat of Badgers, foxes, wild goats, grey squirrels, rabbits, dormice, stoats, weasels and hedgehogs, and some of the country’s rarest bats. North Devon is home to most British reptiles, adders (also known as vipers), grass snakes, common lizards and slow worms, sand lizards have recently been introduced to Braunton Burrows.