About
Ashclyst Forest is one of the largest woods in East Devon, planted just over a century ago by Sir Francis Acland to answer the timber shortage after the First World War, and still managed as working woodland today. Oak, hazel, beech and ash stand alongside conifer plantations, coppice and rare wet woodland, and butterflies are the main wildlife draw: white admiral, dark green fritillary and silver-washed fritillary are the rarities, with purple and brown hairstreaks too. Bluebells carpet the floor in spring, nightjars churr on summer evenings, and a wooden sofa made from estate timber waits at the top of the Clump. Reviewers like the well-marked trails and the peace of the mature oaks and sweet chestnuts, and warn that the red route gets very muddy in the wetter months and the lanes in are narrow. Dogs can run off the lead under close control once past the car park, on leads near livestock. Colour-coded waymarked trails start from Forest Gate car park.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- CountrysideDawn – Dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
Open countryside, dawn to dusk every day; the National Trust calendar shows the forest fully open on every date to 31 December 2026.
Uneven terrain throughout, with steep slopes in places; paths can be very muddy in the wetter months, the red route especially. Benches along the paths. The forest is shared with permissive bridleways used by horse riders.
Dogs are welcome and may run off the lead under close control in the forest; use a lead in the car parks and around livestock, and watch for seasonal signs. There are no dog bins, so take bagged waste home.
No toilets or refreshments on site: the nearest toilets and a dog-friendly coffee shop are at Killerton's main visitor car park, a short drive away.
Photo: A ride through beech woodland in Ashclyst Forest, East Devon. Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Devon_,_Ashclyst_Forest_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3947206.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed. Dogs are welcome throughout the forest, including dogs in strollers and backpacks; no dog bins, so take bagged waste home.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed. Acres of woodland where dogs can exercise off the lead under close control; leads in the car parks and around livestock, and watch for seasonal signs. Free, no ticket needed.
Leads: On a lead in the car parks and around livestock; off lead under close control (recall at first call, dog visible at all times) in the forest.
Seasonal dog restrictions: Seasonal signs show where livestock is present; otherwise none stated.
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Walking routes1 route
Ashclyst Forest waymarked trails(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkDog friendly3 km distance1hr30 to walk
