ソウトンの天然記念物・トップ4

Dipped in her for lunch as its nice a sheltered

The pebblebed heath land is part of the East Devon AONB and a SSSI. The heathland and underlying Triassic pebblebed geology is an important habitat for the plants and animals that live here.

Gnarly track through the woods - there are a few stream crossings to negotiate too.

It's well worth diverting into the gravel car park here opposite Woodbury Castle to take in the view down over the Exe Estuary, with far-reaching views to the peaks of Dartmoor on a clear day. The shining white beacon of Belvedere Castle near Haldon is usually easy to see from here, too.

Fascinating bit of history to explore here, also keep an eye out for the Jackdaws nesting in the trees.

An Iron Age hillfort now cloaked in beech trees, Woodbury Castle sits high on beautiful heathland. It has exceptional earthworks and you can roam amongst its ramparts and down into its heart. You’ll find interpretation boards dotted around the castle, explaining the importance of the fort and plenty of archaeological details. Much stewardship work has gone on in recent years, with earthwork stabilisation and strategic tree management. The castle is free to access and is a fantastic place to see in every season. It also lies within the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Area and is home to a variety of bird, animal and plant life. Please don't ride your bike on this Scheduled Monument.

With Woodbury Castle just behind, it would be easy to pass this viewpoint by entirely. But as the Exe Valley drops away below and you can see across the River Exe and over to the western side, with Haldon Hill on the horizon, it’s a truly fantastic spot for views. Numerous paths, including the East Devon Way, pass by here or you can reach it by car, stopping at the car park immediately behind. Clear days bring out the best of this viewpoint but early mornings and late evenings can be fantastic for light.

Blackhill Quarry (or Black Hill Quarry), is now defunct and is slowly being restored to heathland habitat. This restoration includes open water habitats and the diversity of terrain encourages a similar diversity of wildlife and birds to the area. Semi-feral ponies also graze parts of the area and stay out year round, so you’ve got a great chance to see these native ponies. Lizards, dragonflies and butterflies are all now making a strong comeback.