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  • Aylesbeare Common

Aylesbeare Common

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Address
RSPB Aylesbeare Common, , Joney’s Cross car park. (This is off the A3052 opposite Aylesbeare Common entrance - SY 057897)
Grid ref
SY057898
See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

Enjoy a walk over quiet heathland, where the woodland fringes, streams and ponds abound with butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. Don't miss the chance to see Dartford warblers and stonechats during the summer months. Or stay late into the evening to see nightjars hunting moths at dusk.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

  • Car park
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Guided walks
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Exeter St Davids/Central is the nearest station, 8 miles (12 km) east on A3052.

By bus

Buses 9 and 9A, request stop at Joneys Cross.

By bike

Buzzard trail 52.

By road

Eight miles (12.8 km) east of Exeter. Six miles (9.5 km) east from the M5 on the A3052. Travel 0.5 mile (0.8 km) past the Halfway Inn, turn right towards Hawkerland and the car park is immediately on the left.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

There is livestock on site for the majority of the year.

What will the weather be like?

11 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Aylesbeare Common

  • RSPB Aylesbeare Common, , Joney’s Cross car park. (This is off the A3052 opposite Aylesbeare Common entrance - SY 057897)
  • aylesbeare.common@rspb.org.uk
  • 01395 233655

What will you see?

Our star species

    Dartford Warbler male

    Dartford warbler

    Visit in spring to watch the males perched on top of the gorse.

    Nightjar male illustration

    Nightjar

    Linger until dusk to encounter this amazing bird between May and July.

    Male stonechat

    Stonechat

    Pairs remain together throughout the year and you can see family groups in summer.

    Tree Pipit

    Tree pipit

    You could see the display flight of the male tree pipit.

    Male yellowhammer

    Yellowhammer

    In spring, listen out for the yellowhammer's song.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Spring brings an influx of warblers and vocal yellowhammers.

In summer, you can see Dartford warblers and nightjars, as well as some reptiles.

During autumn, the heather is in flower. Keep an eye out for hobbies hunting dragonflies.

In winter keep your eye out for snipes and winter thrushes. 

About Aylesbeare Common

Habitat

Aylesbeare Common is made up of quiet heathland, with woodland fringes, streams and ponds abound with butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. 

Conservation

We are working to maintain and enhance the heath for the benefit of birds such as Dartford warblers and nightjars, as well as other wildlife such as southern damselfly and silver studded blue. We manage the site using a range of specialist techniques to ensure a rich diversity of habitats across the heath, maintaining a balance of mixed aged heather and gorse, ensuring there is enough bare ground, managing invasive pine and bracken to keep the heathland open. 

Site information

As a great place for wildlife, Aylesbeare Common is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Natura 2000 site.

It is managed with kind permission from Clinton Devon Estates and is part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths. Visit Pebblebed Heaths for more information about all of its associated commons, including codes of access for cyclists, horse-riders and dog walkers.

 

Latest forum posts

  • Visit to Aylesbeare Common to search for Dartford Warbler

    Visited Aylesbeare yesterday to search for Dartford Warbler.  I parked up and entered the reserve where I picked up one of the two fire damaged reserve leaflets. I started off round the reserve trying to use the map  but there are so many paths and n...

    Posted 29/03/2017 by Bobs_Still_Retired
  • Annual Heath Week events

    Thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers for a brilliant 'Darties at Dawn' walk this morning, on last day of the excellent annual East Devon Heath Week (see www.eastdevon.gov.uk/heath_week_2014.pdf). Toby, the Site Manager, led our sub-group and ...

    Posted 01/08/2014 by RussLus
  • Aylesbeare Nature Reserve

    I saw a stonechat and a goldcrest at Aylesbeare today.   

    Posted 21/09/2012 by Ursa
  • Unidentified birds on Aylesbeare Common

    On sunday 1st of july 2012 saw a yellow hammer, sorry no photo to confirm this but, most definately a yellow hammer. I will try to be more prepared next time

    Posted 03/07/2012 by devon-wild
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