Haldon Forest Park

Sept. 2021 – What’s not to love!

This is a great place for young and old, there are some great walks and cycle paths, and children’s walks with great little finds along the way. Our grandchildren loved the giant Stick Man, one of their all time favourite stories.

Nov 2021

Lovely afternoon up in the forest 🌳 so near to Exeter yet makes you feel so far breath taking scenery and a great place to get back to nature wish I had worn better foot wear and dressed a bit better for the time of year still had a nice afternoon.

Autumn Sunshine

Very well maintained paths and attractive woodland, neat visitor centre with clean toilets.Different trails for everyone’s capabilities and tastes. Best views were from Belevedere Tower in our opinion just a short walk off the Haldon forest routes

June 2021 – Family -Segway

We visited the Forest for the Segway experience. It was brilliant both instructors were very helpful and informative and made the whole experience fun.

June 2021 – Wonderful morning Out!

We visited in May half term and did the Kiddens cycle trail (dark blue) with our 6 and 7 year olds, which seemed to have been created by a mountain biking ARTIST and to somehow consist of all downhill and almost no uphill sections! What a fantastic morning out. I nearly didn’t come because of some of the bad reviews recently, but so glad we decided to give it a try. It’s a lot like Glentress, but with blue skies and sunshine at 24 degrees C! I’d go back in a heartbeat. The skills track was also a lot of fun. We only met one other group the whole way round the Kiddens trail, which was incredible given that it was half term – very quiet once you get out of the main carpark. Awesome!

Visit to Haldon Forest

We spend a couple of hours here as had elderly relatives with us.we did some of the green walking trail lovely scenery. Would come back when in the area.

May 2021 – Family – Great time at Go Ape

Great time at Go Ape. Really kind and friendly staff who were great with kids that were scared. Our 4 and 6 year old loved it.

May 2021 – Great Place

Nicely kept park, well drained and sloping so your dog won’t get too muddy when it is wet, though can make walking some of the routes an effort. Parking charges can be forgiven as they go towards keeping the park nice. There is plenty to entertain children too, from butterfly trails, to swings and for older children flywires through the canopy. Good little cafe too. Great for mountain bikers, dog walkers and families.

Good place for walks and other activities with stunning view over Exe estuary

My first time to Haldon Forest. In my mind I had associated the name with the busy and noisy A38 – but this place felt peaceful.

Well organised entrance and good range of activities available (cycle, running and walking trails) with more available in non-coronavirus times. Easy to pay parking fee (took card) and charge seemed reasonable £5 for up to 4 hours. So I don’t agree with some comments I’ve seen that too much (in particular as I understand money goes to help support the place).

We did the Butterfly walk (4 miles, I think). The signage was very clear – meant a rare treat of a family walk without moans about getting lost and my incompetent map reading. The view of Exeter and Exe Estuary was particularly impressive (only a short stroll from the car park). Felt tranquil for most of the walk with a plenty of bird sound, dappled sunlight through woods, lots of fox gloves and rhododendrons in flower.

My only “complaint” is where were the butterflies? It was a warm and still late May mid-morning and I’d hope to see a lot, but only saw one. Maybe my ignorance about butterfly behaviour.

Apart from mild disappointment about absence of butterflies a good trip. I will return for other activities and in other seasons.