Things to do at Baggy Point

A child explores the rocky paths with adults in the background around Baggy Point, Devon — Exploring the headland at Baggy Point | © National Trust Images / John Millar

Baggy Point offers views of Lundy Island, and the beaches at Woolacombe and Croyde. Over 70,000 people walk out to the point each year to enjoy the sights and see what wildlife can be spotted along the way. With walks to suit all ages, it’s a place to blow away the cobwebs and enjoy all that nature has to offer along the North Devon coast.

Family walks to Baggy Point

Going on a family walk to Baggy Point is an adventure for all ages. With far reaching views throughout the year, it’s also pushchair accessible right up to the pond.

A shag flies over the sea with seaweed in its beak — Shag in flight | © National Trust Images / Nick Upton

Wildlife to spot

Seabirds

The rugged coastline is a haven for many types of seabirds. As well as herring gulls and the fulmar, there’s also a chance to see globally threatened red status birds like the shag, a dark, large bird that breeds locally on Lundy Island.

Common guillemots and razorbills prefer the high cliffs when choosing a place to build their nests, and Dartford warblers and stonechats perch and sing on top of the gorse. Keep an eye out for cormorants.

Grey seals

Grey seals swim and play in the waters around Baggy Point, although more will be seen during the summer months. A good way to spot these curious creatures is to follow the easy access walk.

Cattle conservation grazing

Thanks to some clever invisible fencing, four Ruby Red cattle have joined the wildlife and are playing their part in keeping this habitat diverse. The cattle help to keep the area from becoming overgrown.

'Without grazing or human intervention this coastal area would become overgrown with brambles, gorse and bracken. This lack of plant diversity is not good for wildlife. The cattle break up the scrub and allow other plants to grow up, creating a mosaic of rich habitats which in turn will support an array of invertebrates, birds, reptiles and mammals.'

- Jonathan Fairhurst, National Trust Lead Ranger

Black coloured Hebridean ewe with her young lamb on conservation grazing land on Orford Ness — A Hebridean ewe with her lamb at Orford Ness, Suffolk | © National Trust Images/Richard Scott

Sheep grazing

Throughout the year, Hebridean sheep graze on the rough ground around the footpaths. Native to Scotland, these little black ewes thrive in all conditions and are excellent mothers. By the summer, the fields are filled with young lambs.

Wildflower meadow

Middleborough Hill, adjacent to the Baggy Point car park, has undergone a transformation in recent years. It was sown with wildflower seeds and has turned into a colourful meadow and orchard. It’s now a place where wildlife can thrive and everyone can sit and admire the view.

Baggy Point's rare bees

The rare brown banded carder bee was spotted at Baggy Point recently, after 20 years of being absent. It’s a nationally important species which was once found widely across Devon, but is now confined to just a few small sites along the North Devon coast.

This bee tends to fly later in the summer so there is often little forage for it to feed, as modern farming pressures tend to require fields to be cut much earlier in the year.

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

The survey work was carried out in conjunction with Bumblebee Conservation Trust as part of their Westcountry Buzz project. The project focusses on improving bumblebee habitat across North Devon. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust also contributed towards sowing the wildflower seed.