Visitor information
Opening hours
The forest is open 7:00am to 9:00pm every day except Christmas Day.
The Info Pod is staffed daily 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Mobility hire is available daily 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Weekdays
| Monday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
| Tuesday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
| Wednesday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
| Thursday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
| Friday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
Weekends
| Saturday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
| Sunday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 7am - 9pm |
How to find us
Sat Nav Postcode:
EX6 7XRBy Car
Travelling by car on the A38, turn off at the exit for Exeter Racecourse (there are no slip roads for this turning). Follow the signs for Haldon Forest Park. The nearest postcode for sat nav is EX6 7XR but look out for the roadside banners directing you to the car park. The most accurate way to find our car park is using What3Words chuck.kicks.ruffling.
By Public Transport
The forest park is not served directly by local buses. Some services stop within walking distance but the walk is mostly on the highway as there are no footpaths.
Country Bus 360 stops close to Haldon Belvedere. The stop is approx. 0.25 mile from our walking trail network. The forest park facilities are a 1 mile walk along the Raptor and Discovery trails.
Stagecoach Bus 39 and X38 stop at Exeter Racecourse (1 mile away). The return stop is at Winning Post Service Station.
Stagecoach Bus 7 stops at the Haldon Grill on the A380 (2.5 miles away).
OS Grid Ref
50.65248799528, -3.5803129616241
Parking and prices
The money you pay to park helps us care for the forest and its facilities.
You can pay by card or contactless at the machines in the car park or using the RingGo app. We recommend downloading the app to your phone before you visit. We are not able to accept cash payment for parking.
Haldon Forest Park members park for free. Buy your Membership now for £45 to simply park and go while supporting your favourite forest.
Please do not block gateways. Operational and emergency access is required at all times.
Parking Charges
| Charges apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £5.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £6.50 |
| All day | £9.00 |
Coaches/Minibuses charges
Coach £18.00
Minibus £13.00
Additional information
Facilities and access
For more information about Haldon Forest Park to help you plan your visit, take a look at our accessibility guide. If you have any questions, please contact our ranger team on 0300 067 5826 or haldon.rangers@forestryengland.uk. Haldon Forest Park is a sunflower-friendly venue.
Walking trails
Our walking trails cover varied terrain. Please contact us for any help choosing a trail or planning your own route.
- The Discovery trail is wide, surfaced, and mostly level. The Discovery trail is suitable for manual wheelchairs.
- The Raptor trail is mostly surfaced with some steep slopes. The Raptor trail is suitable for most mobility scooters.
- The Butterfly trail includes some uneven, unsurfaced sections and steep slopes. The Butterfly trail is suitable for off-road mobility scooters.
Our network of surfaced forest roads includes some steep slopes and is suitable for most mobility scooters.
We have three all-terrain mobility scooters available to hire through the Countryside Mobility Scheme. Our scooters are available to anyone aged 14+ with limited mobility. You do not have to be registered disabled to hire a scooter. Contact us for more information and booking.
Cycling trails
Our cycle hire partner, Forest Cycle Hire, offers a range of adaptive cycle options including recumbents, trikes, and e-bikes, Contact the team to arrange hire.
Cafe
The Ridge Cafe is open daily. There is level access into the cafe building and ramped access to the rear deck. Well behaved dogs are welcome in the cafe.
There are no toilets in the cafe itself. The visitor toilets are located opposite the cafe entrance.
Quiet times
The forest is usually less busy on weekdays. If visiting at the weekend or on a bank holiday, the forest is usually less busy before 10:00am and after 4:00pm. Please be aware that Haldon parkrun takes place at 9:00am every Saturday.
Payments
Our car parking machines and Info Pod accept payment by card and contactless only.
- Accessible benches
- Accessible toilet
- All-terrain mobility scooter hire
- Assistant dogs welcome
- Baby changing facilities
- Bike wash
- Bird hide
- Cafe
- Cycle hire
- Dogs allowed
- Easy access trail
- Information point
- Picnic area
- Play Area
- Ranger's Office
- Shower
- Toilets
- Wildlife hide
Contact details
Things to do
Activities at Haldon Forest Park
