Duryard, off Pennsylvania Road, and Belvidere, off Belvidere Road, Exeter EX4 4SQ
Duryard and Belvidere Valley Park
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
5.3
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Free
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.3Once a Royal Saxon deer park, Duryard and Belvidere now form a pair of small valley parks where meadow paths open onto long views across the Exe Valley beyond Exeter.
A compact urban-edge reserve with a genuine sense of escape: meadow walks, quiet picnic spots and far-reaching Exe Valley views, all within reach of Exeter. The steep or muddy sections mean it is not uniformly easy underfoot.
Peaceful · Secluded · Big-sky
Find your way
Open mapDuryard, off Pennsylvania Road, and Belvidere, off Belvidere Road, Exeter EX4 4SQ
Opening map…
The experience
Explore the two sites separately or combine them for a longer outing. At Duryard, take in the picnic site and valley outlook; at Belvidere, follow the grassland paths and look for wildflowers and butterflies. Paths can be steep or muddy.
Things to do
Take in the Exe Valley view at Duryard
Visit the picnic site and look out across the valley beyond the city; this is the reserve’s clearest documented signature feature.
30–60 minutes
Walk the grassland paths at Belvidere
Follow the well-walked paths through the grassland and pause to notice the flowers and open views. Some sections across the reserve are steep or muddy.
Allow about 1 hour; indicative
Look for common spotted-orchids
Devon Wildlife Trust lists the common spotted-orchid among the reserve’s species. Look carefully through the grassland rather than assuming flowers will be present on every visit.
Watch for brown hairstreak butterflies
The brown hairstreak is among the species listed for the reserve. A Devon Wildlife Trust volunteer describes a local survey looking for its eggs, but no precise viewing location or reliable sighting time is supplied.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour; indicative, not an official route duration.
Quick valley-view escape
- 01
Choose either Duryard, off Pennsylvania Road, or Belvidere, off Belvidere Road.
- 02
At Duryard, visit the picnic area and take in the view over the valley; at Belvidere, spend your time on the grassland paths.
- 03
Return the way you came, allowing for steep or muddy sections.
Half day · About 2–3 hours; suggested time, not an official route duration.
Make a half day of the two valley parks
- 01
Explore one site at a relaxed pace, choosing Duryard for its picnic viewpoint or Belvidere for its grassland walks.
- 02
If conditions and your onward route suit, continue to the other site; they have separate access points on Pennsylvania Road and Belvidere Road.
- 03
Pause to look for wildflowers and butterflies, then finish with a picnic at Duryard. Bring your own food; no café is confirmed by the supplied sources.
- 04
Allow extra time for steep or muddy paths and check current diversions.
Verified history
Devon Wildlife Trust says Duryard was once a Royal Saxon deer park and explains the name as “dur” for deer and “yard” for hunting area. The supplied source does not provide dates or further details about the estate.
Hidden details
The reserve is two sites, not one continuous park visit — Duryard and Belvidere have separate approach roads: Pennsylvania Road for Duryard and Belvidere Road for Belvidere. Check your chosen starting point before setting out.
A Royal Saxon deer-park name — The reserve’s official account links Duryard’s name to deer and hunting, a small historical clue to the landscape’s earlier use.
When to go
April · May · June · July · No official time-of-day recommendation is supplied. Consider visiting when you have good light for the valley views, and check current conditions before setting out.
The reserve is listed as suitable to visit any time. Spring and summer are promising for flowers and butterflies, but the sources do not establish precise peak dates.
Paths can be steep and muddy. Devon Wildlife Trust advises visitors to observe temporary path diversions and closures associated with ash dieback work.
What to look for
- 01
The long view across the Exe Valley
- 02
common spotted-orchids and brown hairstreak butterflies, both listed by Devon Wildlife Trust
- 03
and the contrast between Duryard’s picnic viewpoint and Belvidere’s grassland walks.
The story
A former Royal Saxon deer park; the name is explained by Devon Wildlife Trust as deriving from “dur” (deer) and “yard” (hunting area).
Best time to go
Any time, according to Devon Wildlife Trust. Spring brings wildflowers and common spotted-orchids; warmer months offer opportunities to look for butterflies, including the brown hairstreak.
Devon Wildlife Trust lists any time as a good time to visit. For flowers and active wildlife, try spring or summer; an early visit may feel quieter, though weekday or early-morning conditions are not guaranteed.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families
Practical information
Opening & access
Devon Wildlife Trust says the two sites are free to enter and always open. A network of well-walked paths crosses the 11-hectare reserve; some sections are steep and muddy. Check for temporary diversions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting; the supplied sources do not verify parking arrangements.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting; toilet facilities are not confirmed by the supplied authoritative source.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No café or food provision is confirmed by the supplied sources; bring refreshments or check locally.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs should be kept under effective control, according to Devon Wildlife Trust.
Accessibility
Some paths are steep and muddy. A local-reserve volunteer quoted in the supplied Devon Wildlife Trust video describes a flat section along the top and benches with views, but this does not establish step-free access across the sites. Check current conditions and access needs before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Duryard and Belvidere Valley Park
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances