Chapelton Wood is an excellent mix of broadleaved woodland habitat, partly mature, along with a more recent planted area.

Each side of the access track and down to the stream are broadleaved trees that were planted at the turn of the century. Here there is a mix of oak, alder, ash, hazel, cherry and willow, and they have generally established well forming a charming woodland habitat.

The older part of the broadleaved woodland, to the west of the stream, is dominated by large oak and ash trees with an understory of trees including hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn.

West of the stream is an older part of woodland - here you will find an amazing array of plants growing under the canopy of the knarled oaks. One example is the bright yellow flowers of the native daffodil which burst into colour in early spring upon the edges of the woodland rides.

The stream is an excellent habitat for small fish and therefore water dwelling fauna such as the otter. Otters are an elusive British mammal that enjoy swimming and playing in river and stream habitats. There are numerous signs showing that otters often frequent the stream, including 'shortcut paths' as well a recent sighting. Otters live in holes in river banks called holts, which have a few different entrances to give some protection from flooding. One of these entrances will be above the water.

Chapelton Wood benefits from a good sized shared parking area with plenty of space for parking, turning a trailer for collecting logs or campervan for occasional overnight stays.

A charming stream meanders though the woodland and a small footbridge gives access to the more mature habitat on the western side of the woodland.

Access to the woodland is from a quiet country lane onto a shared stoned forestry track that leads to a large shared parking area. A small footbridge gives access over the stream to the southern part of the woodland.

There are no public rights of way within the woodland.

The sporting rights are in hand.

Suited to numerous uses, Chapelton Wood is ideally suited for family enjoyment, wildlife and conservation.

The favourable topography in general is perfect for setting up camp for overnight stays.

Small scale forestry can be enjoyed with a variety of timber types which could be used for logs or green woodworking projects once a felling license was obtained.

The older section of woodland at the west is ideal for some bird, bat and dormouse boxes to be installed.

Surrounding Chapelton Wood are several small Devon hamlets such as Hiscott and Harracott along with a number of traditional farmsteads whose occupants have maintained the landscape for hundreds of years.

Nearby is one of the largest rivers in Devon, the river Taw, which was made famous in Henry Williamson's delightful novel 'Tarka the otter'. The Taw estuary is part of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere reserve.

Adjacent to the river at Chapelton is the Tarka railway line, a picturesque train route through the heart of north and mid Devon between the town of Barnstaple near the north coast and Devon's capital City Exeter.

Particulars and plans were prepared by our local manager, Stuart Brooking