Scadson Woods & Occombe

5km / 3 m Moderate

The route follows two of Torbay's ribbon woodlands, up from sea level to the boundary of Torbay, and back down.  On the way you will discover dry stone walls overgrown with ferns and trees, old dams, leats and pumping systems deep in the woods, ancient wood-banks overhung with huge boundary trees and hazel coppice, flush with bluebells in spring.  

Occombe

Site of Special Scientific Interest Route 2 passes the Occombe wetlands, recently recognised as of national importance for wildlife.  They are now being managed to conserve that wildlife value, which includes orchid meadows, rare butterflies and wet alder woodland.   This is a fragment of old Devon farmland, untouched by the modern world of fertilisers and pesticides - a time capsule telling us of how farms would have looked a hundred years ago.