Blue Trail

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A short walk along the blue trail is a great way to introduce the family to woodland plants and wildlife. Follow it from the top car park in a loop, or reach it from the bottom car park via the red trail. Click on the link to the right to download a map.

Part of this route has been specifically opened up to provide a suitable habitat for the wide variety of butterflies which inhabit the woods. Tree species include oak, beech, ash, wild cherry, and the uncommon wild service tree. A host of wildflowers also indicate that Stoke Woods is the site of an ancient woodland, and include wood avens, dogs mercury, common cow-wheat, wood anemone, primrose, bluebell, and yellow archangel.

Download a trail map.

Click here to find out what else you can do in this forest.

How to get there:

Blue Trail can be started from Bottom Car Park in Stoke Woods. Exeter is the nearest town or village.

Follow the A396 Tiverton road from Exeter. One mile after Cowley Bridge turn right in to the signposted car park.

OS Grid Reference: SX 919 959
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Wildlife

Mammals: Stoke Woods is home to a breeding population of the nationally rare common dormouse, which is a protected species, and here inhabits the hazel understorey. Dormice are nocturnal, so you are unlikely to see one during the day, but you can look out for the tell-tale signs. Dormice nibble a neat round hole into hazel nuts with a distinctive smooth inner edge. Those nibbled by other small rodents show tooth marks on the inner edge, and those nibbled by squirrels are split open and and have jagged edges.

Birds: Over 40 species of woodland birds have been known to breed in the wood including the wood warbler and pied flycatcher. The wood warbler still returns in the spring every year to breed, and through a nest box scheme and sensitive management it is hoped the elusive pied flycatcher will also be tempted to breed in the wood after an absence of a few years.