Woodland for sale

Exact location, viewing instructions and further details can be found in the brochure below.

A magnificent, lofty woodland with Douglas fir, Norway spruce and some oak in peaceful North Devon with recreational potential, designated as Ancient Replanted Woodland.

Forming part of the wider Slew Wood, Greymuzzle Wood is found in serene North Devon countryside. The picturesque village of Umberleigh, set on the banks of River Taw is close by with a good range of facilities. Further afield, you could head to any one of the coastal Devon towns to enjoy a hearty fish and chips by the sea, after a good day's grafting in the woodland - the seaside town of Barnstaple is just 25 minutes away.

Access is through a locked wooden gate via a sequence of narrow roads and stone tracks. The broader wood underwent a scheme of felling and replanting some eight years ago, Greymuzzle was largely untouched, with only a light thinning operation to remove a couple of rows of trees (known as a rack thinning). This has subsequently left a more established, fairly private area, ideal for those looking for a little seclusion.

Situated over gently sloping loamy free-draining soils that rise a little further to the east, the lofty canopy mainly comprises mature Norway spruce, Douglas fir, and a dash of larch. Towards the north and southeast you will find a mixture of broadleaves that include birch, ash, willow oak and the occasional beech. Some magnificent oaks flank the northwestern boundary adjacent to the track, where there are also arresting views towards the River Taw. In the warmer months the ground offers a display of wildflowers including cowslip, foxglove, primrose and bluebell.

A small stream flows through the wood, offering sustenance for visiting wildlife. The wood is frequented by both red and roe deer, foxes, badgers, squirrels, and a number of acoustic songsters. Skylark, buzzard, owl and green woodpecker have all been spotted flitting throughout the canopy.

The thinning racks offer some areas that, if cleared, would provide nice spots to set up for bushcraft activities. There is a very useful track that spurs into the woodland from the gate heading in a southeasterly direction - this is partly stoned so would allow access for a hobby forester to tow a mobile sawmill into the wood.

Our Forester's Thoughts

Sam says...

"There is a very handy pull-in to the right of the gate that was likely to have been a timber-stacking area following the felling operation in the wider wood - this would now offer a similar opportunity to stack a little timber prior to extraction from a gentle further thinning one day. I would certainly create some footpaths throughout, perhaps spurring off from the internal track. One of these paths would undoubtedly lead up to a couple of the boundaries with a bench well placed to sit with a cold drink on a warm evening."

Please remember some management operations require approval and/or a licence.