Berry Head is a National Nature Reserve. This stunning headland, with its iconic lighthouse and Napoleonic Fort, is surrounded by water on three sides and offers exceptional views across Torbay and beyond. It is Torbay’s most designated heritage site being a Special Area of Conservation, National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Scheduled Ancient Monument to name only four! The guillemot colony is protected by the only Area of Special Protection in the UK, which prohibits boats from entering the cove during their breeding season.
https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/explore/berry-head/
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You can enjoy superb coastal walks, spot a wide range of wildlife on land and at sea or simply relax in the award-winning Guardhouse Café. Our visitor centre has lots of stories about the reserve, its history, wildlife and the work of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.
The reserve is on the south side of Torbay and comprises two separate areas: the Berry Head promontory (as far south as Durl Head), and Sharkham Point, 11 kilometres south of Durl Head. The two areas are separated by St Mary’s Bay.
Main habitats: coastal, lowland grassland
Management: Berry Head is owned and managed by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.
Features of interest
Further information about the NNR, its wildlife and how to visit can be found on the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust website.
Contact
Noel Hughes, Berry Head Ranger
Telephone: 01803 882619 or email
Guillemot ledges south of Berry Head (Shelley Sherman 17th May 2016)
Devon Birds Search Devon Birds for the latest sightings at Berry Head
Guardhouse Cafe Berry Head is one of the richest and most rewarding locations in South Devon for bird watching. The headland overlooks a wide sweep of deep ocean and contains a mixture of varied habitats, all of which combines to attract a wide variety of sea and land birds.
https://www.guardhousecafe.com/wildlife-watching-on-berry-head/
Bird Guides Information and latest sightings at Berry Head
https://www.birdguides.com/sites/europe/britain-ireland/britain/england/devon/berry-head/
Wikipedia Berry Head is a coastal headland that forms the southern boundary of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Lying to the east of the town of Brixham, it is a national nature reserve and a local nature reserve. Berry Head To Sharkham Point is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Berry Head to Sharkham Point is a haven for several nationally rare and threatened species which are dependent upon the thin limestone soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland.
The coastal cliffs here are home to a seabird colony, including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Several rare vagrant birds have occurred here, including the first British record of yelkouan shearwater in July 2008. More recently, a Hume's warbler was discovered in November 2014.
The guillemot colony on the cliffs below the Southern Fort is one of the largest on England's south coast and can be closely watched live on CCTV in the Visitor Centre. Berry Head also acts as an important staging post for migrant birds; and is home to a significant number of cirl buntings.
The site is one of only two locations in Great Britain at which the white rock-rose, small hare’s ear and small restharrow occurs. Spring gentian, honewort, and goldilocks aster are also dependent upon the thin soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland.
Caves at Berry Head are home to the endangered greater horseshoe bat. A small herd of North Devon cattle has been introduced to the headland to produce the cow pats that attract dung beetles on which young bats are particularly dependent for food.
