Things to do on the estate at Bradley

Wooden bench in the meadow on a summers day at Bradley, Devon — Space to stretch your legs at Bradley | © National Trust / Chris Pope

A Site of Special Scientific Interest, the estate surrounding Bradley is home to ancient woodland and meadows teeming with life. Discover the things to see and do by the river and in the woods and meadows, including walking, exploring with your dog and looking out for wildlife.

Explore ancient woodland

Bradley Manor lies in the River Lemon Valley. The Bradley estate covers 100 acres of hay meadows, old orchards and woodlands.

The ancient and semi-natural woodlands of Berry’s Woods and Lang’s Copse are hugely important as they are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The woodlands are one of the few habitats in Devon growing on limestone, and the small-leaved lime trees here are only found in ancient woodlands. In fact, the specimens found here in Berry’s Wood are the most southerly in Britain.

See the River Lemon

From its source on Dartmoor, the River Lemon meanders through the estate and on towards the local market town of Newton Abbot. The clean and unpolluted waters support spawning salmon, brown trout and kingfishers. This great water supply probably decided the choice of site for settlement in the Middle Ages.

In medieval times, a stream was taken from the River Lemon to supply the mills in the town, along with the cider press at Bradley Manor. Named Bradley Leat, the cool and crystal-clear water still flows along past the manor and is an ideal spot for dogs to cool off.

Autumn highlights at Bradley

Discover natural meadows

The meadows are a reminder of the lowlands that were one common across England and Wales, now lost to the growth of farming over the centuries. In the autumn months around dusk you may be lucky enough to see a barn owl flying low over the grass in search of supper.

Brisk woodland walks

As autumn arirves and the temperature drops, a walk through Bradley Woods is great for mind, body and soul. Trees glow with reds and golds, and fallen leaves create a damp earth carpet on the woodland paths. With the River Lemon running alongside the paths, you may spot signs of wildlife. As the trees become bare, you might be able to see further into the woodland and spot lichen, moss and fungi appearing.

'50 things to do before you're 11¾'

Pull on your wellies and zip up your coat, autumn is the perfect time to get out exploring nature. Here's some of our favourite things to do in the woods at Bradley.

No. 1 Get to know a tree

As the trees lose their leaves, take a closer look at the branches. See how they grow and reach out. What else can you spot? Or can you try catching a leaf as it falls?

No. 6 Go welly wandering

Whatever the weather, welly wandering can be tons of fun. Crunching through a carpet of leaves or splashing in the puddles.

No. 48 Keep a nature diary

Keep a record of what you've seen, from the smallest insects to the tallest trees. See if you can keep it all year round, and compare what changes each season.

Close-up of the feet of a child wearing green wellies and red waterproof trousers, amid leaves, at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire — Step into autumn | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Stone structure known as a salmon's leap in the river underneath woodland trees. — River Lemon flows through Bradley Woods | © National Trust / Chris Pope

Accessible walks

A stroll through Bradley estate is perfect all year round. The meadows and woodlands are open to the public and there are level paths leading through them.

Visiting Bradley with your dog

Dogs are very welcome in the Bradley estate. Here are some top tips for how to enjoy your visit while helping us to look after these special places:

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is:

Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.