Wildlife reserves · South West England
Rackenford and Knowstone Moors
In or near Rackenford.
Rackenford and Knowstone Moors — nature reserve in Devon, England.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. Managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. Wikidata describes it as: "nature reserve in Devon, England". Coordinates: 50.9778°, -3.6381°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is a nature reserve featuring one of the rarest habitats in the world, known for its extensive culm grassland. Visitors can explore diverse landscapes including wet pastures, heaths, and bogs, while observing a variety of wildlife including deer and unique plant species.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Hare's Down, Knowstone & Rackenford Moors SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is a nature reserve of the Devon Wildlife Trust, situated about 8 miles (13 km) north-west of Tiverton, in Devon, England. The habitat is culm grassland.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
The reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. Its area is 122 ha. Culm grassland is found in poorly drained lowland areas of acidic soil where there is high rainfall. The vegetation includes abundant purple moor grass and sharp-flowered rush. Over the last century, over 90% of culm grassland has been lost. The remaining parts are mostly in fragmented areas in north Devon; the most extensive fragment is this reserve. The Trust endeavours to protect, re-establish and link together isolated sites of culm grassland. In the reserve there is light grazing by cattle and deer; the low-intensity land management, little changed from prehistoric times, allows…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.9778, -3.6381
- County
- Devon
- District
- North Devon
- Parish
- Knowstone
- Postcode
- EX36 4SA
- Parliamentary constituency
- North Devon
- Phone
- 01392 279244
- Opening
- Open at all times
- Official site
- www.devonwildlifetrust.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q109583773 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Rackenford and Knowstone Moors (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Knowstone, Knowstone Moor - geograph.org.uk - 240751.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Rackenford Manor
Manor houses · 1.7 km
Beaples Standing Stone
Stone circles · 2.7 km
Rackenford
Towns & cities · 2.9 km
Zeacombe House Car.Park
Campsites · 3.1 km
Knowstone
Villages · 3.1 km
Stoodleigh Beacon
Mountains & hills · 4.1 km
Aldridge Mill Wild Camping
Campsites · 5.0 km
East Anstey
Villages · 5.3 km
The Red Lion Public House
Historic pubs · 5.9 km
Oakford
Towns & cities · 5.9 km
Oakford War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 6.0 km
Knackershole Garden Theatre
Theatres · 6.1 km
Nearby
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Rackenford Manor
Rackenford Manor — Grade II listed building-listed manor in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Stone circles · South West England
Beaples Standing Stone
Beaples Standing Stone — a stone circle in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 5Towns & cities · South West England
Rackenford
Rackenford — village in Devon, England, UK.
📷 5Campsites · South West England
Zeacombe House Car.Park
Zeacombe House Car.Park — a campsite in england south west.
📷 5📷 5Mountains & hills · South West England
Stoodleigh Beacon
Stoodleigh Beacon — a hill or mountain in england south west.
Where to eat & stay near Rackenford and Knowstone Moors
Places to stay
📷 5Campsites · South West England
Zeacombe House Car.Park
Zeacombe House Car.Park — a campsite in england south west.
📷 5Campsites · South West England
Aldridge Mill Wild Camping
Aldridge Mill Wild Camping — a campsite in england south west.
📷 5Campsites · South West England
West Middlewick Farm Campsite
West Middlewick Farm Campsite — a campsite in england south west.
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Yeo Valley Holiday Park
Yeo Valley Holiday Park — a campsite in england south west.
📷 5
📷 5Caravan parks · South West England
Exebridge Lakeside Club Campsite
Exebridge Lakeside Club Campsite — a caravan park in england south west.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
The Red Lion Public House
The Red Lion Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 5
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
The London Inn
The London Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 5Restaurants · South West England
The Bridge House Hotel
The Bridge House Hotel — a restaurant in england south west.
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
The White Ball Public House
The White Ball Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
The Queens Head (Number 20)
The Queens Head (Number 20) in England South West, United Kingdom.
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Andrew's Wood
Andrew's Wood — Nature reserve in south Devon, England.
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Chudleigh Knighton Heath
Chudleigh Knighton Heath — Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve.
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Dunsdon National Nature Reserve
Dunsdon National Nature Reserve — nature reserve in Devon, England.
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South Efford Marsh
South Efford Marsh — nature reserve in Devon, UK.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is in Devon, South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode EX36 4SA), in the parish of Knowstone.
- What is Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Rackenford and Knowstone Moors — nature reserve in Devon, England.
- How do I get to Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Drivers can use postcode EX36 4SA.
- Who runs Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is operated by Devon Wildlife Trust.
- Is Rackenford and Knowstone Moors a protected site?
- Yes — Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is part of the Hare's Down, Knowstone & Rackenford Moors SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is Rackenford and Knowstone Moors free to visit?
- Yes, Rackenford and Knowstone Moors is free to enter.
- How do I get to Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode EX36 4SA. It sits within the North Devon parliamentary constituency.
- Are dogs allowed at Rackenford and Knowstone Moors?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.