Nature Reserves & Parks

South Devon’s natural landscape is truly a wonder to behold, it’s so stunningly beautiful, that much of the land is protected in order to ensure South Devon remains known for its outstanding natural beauty. There is nothing quite like the diverse natural landscape of South Devon, it's so unique and you won’t know what to explore first.

South Devon has 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one National Park, one World Heritage Site, and countless national nature reserves, sites of special scientific interest, forests, woodlands and parks – all where you can appreciate Mother Nature at its best.

All these areas of landscape are to be enjoyed and cared for – and are best explored either on foot or by bike, where you won't disturb the natural wildlife, flora or fauna.

Dartmoor National Park

Head up to Dartmoor where you can explore the rugged and wild tors, and of course the wild Dartmoor Ponies. Dartmoor National Park is one of the last great wildernesses in the UK with an inspirational landscape of heatherclad moors, mysterious woodland and histoic sites stretching across 368 square miles.

It's a landscape quite unlike any other, populated by lofty granite tors, mysterious hut circles and standing stones, ancient woodlands, sturdy clapper bridges, rushing streams, Dartmoor ponies, bustling stannary towns and secluded villages.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

South Devon has 3 designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) so named to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. South Devon AONB, East Devon AONB and the Blackdown Hills AONB’s cover the wider South Devon area – and all offer different landscapes to explore.

Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

Outstanding in both its beauty and geological significance the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site showcases perfectly the Earth’s history going back over 250 million years. In 2001 it was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO because of its unique landscape. The Jurassic Coast is a spectacular place to visit and explore millions of years through rocks from the Jurassic period as well as the older Triassic period and younger Cretaceous period.

Explore the nature reserves, parks and areas on offer in South Devon below.