Fernworthy is home to Devon’s largest conifer forest, first planted in 1921 by the Duchy of Cornwall, and surrounds a reservoir which provides drinking water to the areas of Torbay, Totnes and Brixham. It has an abundance of archaeology and is a haven for wildlife, including some rare species. Sitka spruce is the dominant species here, however closer to the reservoir there are pockets of old growth deciduous woodland, including many curious examples of ancient sessile oak; their gnarled branches, festooned with moss and draped with beard lichens, give them a mystical, otherworldly appearance.

As well as rare wildlife, Fernworthy also boasts a rich abundance of archaeology such as burial cairns, hut circles and old farm buildings.