Wildlife at The Falcon Inn
Harwood Dale Forest
North Yorkshire
England
Cloughton and Scarborough are the nearest towns or villages.
OS Grid Reference: SE 970981
A gateway into the forest area. There are no formal car parks or facilities at Harwood Dale Forest. The best map of this woodland area is the Ordnance Survey's Outdoor Leisure sheet 27 for the east side of the North York Moors National Park. This shows all the woodland area with most of the roads, rides and other tracks as well as the public rights of way.
Mammals: Roe deer are commonly seen here. A quiet walk along the forest roads especially at dawn or dusk is usually the best way of seeing these animals but don't expect to see them if you take your dog with you. We have information about Roe deer
Birds: Although the forest is predominantly coniferous with lots of pines spruces and larches it is very varied and lots of birds frequent it. During spring and autumn migrations flocks of warblers and thrushes pass through. An evening stroll along the forest road from this point at dusk in May and June is likely to produce good views of nightjar and woodcock but take a torch and always tell people where you are going.
Insects and reptiles: Adders, common lizard and slow worm can all be seen here by the careful observer. The most likely time to see them is in early summer before around 10.00 a.m when they will be basking in the sun to warm up before going off on a search for food.
Habitats: Mostly pine, spruce and larch woods with elements of moorland along rides and on felled areas. Native trees self-sow themselves and rowans and holly are frequent. There are a number of small streams and ponds that add extra diversity.
How to get there:
The Falcon is an inn on the A171 Whitby to Scarborough road. The inn is on the east side of the road and access to the forest is via a lay-by about 100 yards north of here on the west side of the road.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)
Facilities:
Contact:
Brian Walker
Environment Officer
01751 472771
e-mail: nym@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
What's of interest
The local natural history society for the area is Scarborough Field Naturalist's Society. Click on the link to contact them.
What else is here
Useful sites
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