Just a 15-minute walk from your cottage at Spreacombe Gardens, RSPB Chapel Wood is one of North Devon’s best-kept secrets.
This ancient oak woodland is full of birdsong, dappled light, and quiet trails – a perfect place for slow walks, peaceful reflection, or wildlife spotting with a flask of tea in hand.
What Makes Chapel Wood Special?
Chapel Wood is part of a protected RSPB reserve and offers:
- Mature native trees (especially oak and hazel)
- Seasonal wildflowers and fungi
- Buzzards, owls, woodpeckers and songbirds
- A rich sense of history and tranquillity
- Footings of the ancient Spreacombe Chapel
The woodland is managed for biodiversity, and its peaceful atmosphere makes it popular with birdwatchers, photographers and those simply looking for space to unwind.
How to Get There from Spreacombe Gardens
You can reach Chapel Wood on foot via a quiet path directly from Spreacombe Gardens:
- No need to drive or navigate busy roads
- Well-trodden route suitable for most walkers
- Dogs welcome (on leads within the reserve)
- Good spot for a slow loop or a picnic walk
We provide simple walking maps in your cottage welcome pack.
When to Visit and What to Look Out For
Every season brings something new at Chapel Wood:
- Spring: Bluebells, early nesting birds, and fresh green canopy
- Summer: Dappled shade and buzzing insects
- Autumn: Mushrooms, turning leaves, and bird migrations
- Winter: Bare branches and excellent visibility for spotting treecreepers and woodpeckers
The stillness of the wood is its greatest draw; it’s never busy, even in high season.
“Chapel Wood was our favourite walk, peaceful, magical, and full of birds.”
