Colyford Common Local Nature Reserve

colyford common

Colyford Common is an important wetland site on the Axe Estuary. Being regularly flooded by high tides, this salt marsh has a very unusual flora and fauna, supporting many locally rare and nationally important species. Little egrets fish in the creeks and lagoons on the estuary and large black and white shelduck can be seen grazing on the Local Nature Reserve. Wheatears flit across the Common as you walk through it and you can find evidence of Water Vole in the new reedbed close to the village.

There is a bird hide on the Common which offers fantastic views across the upper reaches of the estuary and surrounding saltmarsh. Funding has been offered from Natural England to extend and upgrade this hide and we are working to make the whole site more accessible to disabled visitors.

A new boardwalk leads to the hide and also to a viewing platform further north which gives great views of waders such as Curlew in winter.

From Colyford Common, you can follow white marked posts to take you to our new reserve at Black Hole Marsh. This route is unsurfaced and has steps and bridges.

Click here to view a copy of the PDF file Colyford Common LNR (253KB - 21 January 2005 - PDF Help) leaflet

How to get there:

Take the A3052 from Exeter towards Lyme Regis. Drive into the village of Colyford and turn right at the Post Office along Seaton road. The entrance to the nature reserve lies on the left, opposite Popes Lane, just through the village. There are one or two spaces on the road, but please be careful not to block gateways or junctions. We have an arrangement for 2010 that visitors can park at Colyford Memorial Hall on the A3052 and walk to the reserve from there.

Page last updated on 11 August 2010