Exmoor Wildlife Watching

Exmoor is blessed with soaring sea-sculpted coastal cliffs, moorlands covered in purple heather and lush deep valleys swathed in unique Atlantic rainforest full of oak, birch, rowan and willow trees. And its wildlife is just as diverse, ranging from wild red deer herds and endangered snakes on land to dolphins in the Bristol Channel. There are also many acres of farmed landscapes and grassy commons that are freely grazed by local breeds including Red Devon cattle, Exmoor Horn sheep and the ubiquitous Exmoor ponies.

Read on for Pitchup's expert guide to the best ways to watch wildlife in Exmoor, and also for information on how to do your bit for conservation.

Wildlife in Exmoor National Park

As with all the UK’s national parks, the diverse landscapes of Exmoor are carefully managed, providing a safe sanctuary for its wildlife, from rare fritillary butterflies to majestic birds of prey and the UK’s largest herd of red deer. There’ll be plenty to see all year around, but you can increase your chances of sightings by joining guided safaris or nature walks led by local experts such as Exmoor Wildlife Safaris or Red Stag Safari.

Birdlife

Thanks to its coastal, riverine, woodland, moorland and farmland habits, Exmoor is particularly rich in birdlife. Falcons patrol the steep sea cliffs at Porlock Bay where kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots make their nests, while curlews, ringed plovers and comical oystercatchers frequent the sandy salt flats around Minehead and Dunster. 

Moving inland, you can expect to see lapwings and skylarks, whinchats and cuckoos on the moors, with birds or prey like the hobby and merlin known to nest there. The hedgerows on grazing farmland are breeding grounds for blackcaps and Dartford warblers, while flocks of finches and larks feed in arable crop fields. 

The many rivers and three reservoirs in the park are the preserve of blue kingfishers as well as bobbing dippers and grey wagtails. Mallard, teal, goosanders and Canada geese are also regulars on the reservoirs, with sandpipers and sand martins also common sights, as well as occasional ravens, cuckoos and buzzards. 

Mammals

The park is a haven for a diverse range of animals, from grazing cows and sheep to wild herds of ponies and red deer. All in all, there are more than 40 native species of mammals around Exmoor, including up to about 4,000 statuesque red deer, roe and spotted fallow deer, foxes and grey squirrels, as well as nocturnal badgers. Rivers like the East Lyn are also important breeding grounds for otters. 

There are around 20 herds of semi-feral bay or dun Exmoor ponies with their distinctive ‘mealy’ noses grazing freely on commons throughout the park; being critically endangered, they are carefully monitored and protected. Learn more about this diminutive and hardy breed at the Exmoor Pony Centre. 

Marine life 

Marine mammals like harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic grey seals are increasingly seen off the coast of north Somerset and Exmoor between Portishead and Combe Martin. If you’d like to help record these sightings, there’s plenty of information on the Somerset & Exmoor Marine Mammal Sightings Facebook page.

Reptiles

Venomous adders are distinctive for their diamond-patterned scales and you can often spot them basking in the sun between April and October. Exercise caution around them; although adder bites are very rare, you should seek urgent medical advice if you do get bitten.

Two other – thankfully non-poisonous – snakes to watch out for are the common grey-greenish-coloured grass snake (they like to sunbathe in wetlands on warm days too), and the much rarer smooth snake, which inhabits Exmoor’s heathlands. You’ll recognise a smooth snake by its grey or dark brown colour and the subdued patterning on its back. 

There are two species of lizard thriving on Exmoor too; the slow worm – often thought to be a snake, but in fact a shiny, pale brown legless lizard – and common lizards. 

Six of the best wildlife-watching spots

Read on for our six favourite places to go wildlife watching on Exmoor. Sightings vary according to season and weather conditions – if you’d like some more guidance on what to look out for, the national park’s six visitor centres have plenty of helpful information as well as maps and guidebooks.

Combe Martin Bay

The bay is a reliable place for spotting dolphins and porpoises frisking in the waves. You can join sea cruises from Combe Martin harbour, or hire a kayak to pedal out on to the calm bay. June and July are the months when sightings are most likely. Recently a dolphin nicknamed ‘Dave’ became a local celebrity, appearing to perform in front of massed kayakers and cruise boats in the bay.

Good to know: If you’re visiting the Exmoor coastline with family, you can book guided rockpool rambles led by national park rangers and teaching kids where to look for crabs, starfish, and anemones at Lynmouth.

Dunkery Beacon 

The highest point in Exmoor at 519m (1,702 ft) and with spectacular views across the surrounding moorland from the cairn in its summit (an easy walk for families), Dunkery Beacon is in pole position for anyone keen to witness the annual red deer rut in October. At this time, the moors resound to the roars of mature stags keen to attract a mate or two.

A word of common sense: take binoculars to observe the rut, and always stay well away from the participants. At this time of year the stags are full of testosterone and don’t take kindly to being approached – beware those antlers!

Horner Wood National Nature Reserve

Found near Porlock, Horner Wood is owned by the National Trust and is one of the UK’s best-preserved oak woodlands. Tucked into the lower slopes of moorland and valleys, it’s a magnet for red deer wandering between ancient trees swathed in lichens – some of these trees are more than 500 years old. There are myriad woodland trails to follow; look out for dippers bobbing on the banks of Horner Water as you hike, and in summer you may spot regular visitors like wood warblers and pied flycatchers.

Hurlstone Point 

Expect to see curlews and oystercatchers at Hurlstone, as well as water birds like red- and black-throated divers, Manx shearwaters, guillemots, cute black-and-white razorbills and common shelducks. Be careful of tide times when walking on the beach.  

Wimbleball Lake

As well as being a walking and stargazing hub, Wimbleball Lake is also known for its rare butterflies including the small pearl-bordered fritillary and – for birders – a proliferation of geese, ducks, sandpipers and wigeon, as well as the occasional wild swan and osprey. Visit between November and February and you may get to witness a starling murmuration over the water. 

Winsford Hill 

Semi-feral Exmoor ponies graze the heath and grass on Winsford Hill, just off the A39, forming the largest herd in the national park. These squat and strong native ponies have been present on the moor for thousands of years, and they are today under the protection of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. If you’d like to know more about riding on Exmoor, read our informative guide to all things horse in the national park.

Good to know: If you walk up Winsford Hill, you’ll be rewarded with the three Bronze Age barrows and views to the Blackdown Hills and Dartmoor National Park.

15 tips for responsible wildlife watching

Visitors to Exmoor National Park have a responsibility to preserve and protect its fragile habitats. To keep you and the animals safe, always follow the Countryside Code when you’re visiting the area, and bear the following specifics in mind:

• Keep a safe distance, using binoculars and long-range cameras to get your close-ups.

• Don’t feed or touch the wildlife – not even those beguiling wild ponies.


• Never approach or come between a young animal and its mother, or you may be on the receiving end of some short, sharp retribution from hooves or teeth. 


• Watch out for ground-nesting birds. If you disturb them between March and July, they may abandon their nest and any young will die. 


• Take all your litter home with you. 


• Don’t pick wildflowers, take stones or break branches – in short, leave no trace of your presence.  


• Don’t start a fire unless you are specifically allowed to do so. 


• Keep dogs away from wildlife completely or ensure that they are on leads.


• Always, always pick up after your dog, and dispose of any bags in designated bins. 

• Be tick aware – Exmoor has a known problem with ticks so always check your pets (and yourselves) when you’ve been out on the moor. 

• Stick to designated viewing areas like hides or platforms.


• Do not wander off marked trails/pathways. If you are not sure of where you can or can’t roam, learn to understand the signage used within the park.

• Much of the moorland and woodland in the park has been designated as open access land; check before you set out to ensure you are crossing open access land.

• Drive carefully on the roads; you share them with the red deer, ponies and other wildlife.


• Report issues with paths and other rights of way to help park rangers stay on top of maintenance by calling 01398 323665. 

Conservation efforts and visitor impact

Exmoor’s diverse habitats cover moorland, woodlands, farmland and its dramatic coastline. The park authority has several conservation projects in place to ensure this fragile environment remains healthy, and works alongside the Somerset Wildlife Trust and The Exmoor Society to protect this precious landscape and its equally precious wildlife.

You can also support Exmoor’s conservation experts by volunteering to help control invasive signal crayfish, surveying for non-native plants and clearing or maintaining rights of way.

Every year millions of people are lucky enough to visit Exmoor for free; you can help the authorities keep the park pristine for nature by making a donation at CareMoor for Exmoor.

Planning your Exmoor wildlife trip

Despite its extraordinary beauty and great diversity of wildlife, Exmoor National Park remains one of the lesser-frequented of the UK’s national parks. That should be even more incentive for wildlife lovers to visit the region, whether it’s to join a family-friendly guided walk, a sea cruise to spot elusive dolphins or a 4WD adventure heading off-piste over untamed moorland. 

You'll have the best chance to observe Exmoor’s wildlife up close if you stay outdoors. Wild camping is permitted in some areas of the park but you must get the permission of the landowner before you pitch up or park up – no matter how rural the area appears to be, it is always owned by someone. Park rangers tour the moor every evening to check the ponies, sheep and red deer, and anyone parked up or in a tent without permission will be (politely) moved on. Confused by the rules of wild camping? Check out all the latest information in our current wild camping guide. 

 

If you’d rather overnight somewhere ‘official’ with more facilities, Pitchup has a number of Exmoor campsites as well as options all around Somerset.