Key sites to see species in Devon

Devon has around 39 resident butterfly species, but this is a quick guide to some of our main species and the best sites around the county to see them.

Why not join in one of our Events. During the summer we organise field events to show you some of our resident butterfly species and in the winter we organise conservation work days to improve the habitat for butterflies in Devon.

Brown Argus

Best time to see: From the 2nd week of May - end of June and all of August.

• Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
• Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
• Orley Common - Map SX827665 / Nearest Post Code TQ12 5UT
   

 

Brown Hairstreak

Best time to see: Aug week 2 to Sep week 3

• Orley Common - Map SX827665 / Nearest Post Code TQ12 5UT
• Preston Down - Map SX890624 / Nearest Post Code TQ3 1JA
  
   

 

Dark Green Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 2 to Aug week 2

• Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
• Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
• Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
• Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
• Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
   

Dingy Skipper

Best time to see: April week 3 to Jun week 2/all Aug

• Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
  Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
• Meeth Quarry - Map SS540085 / Nearest Post Code EX20 3QD

 

Grayling

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Sep week 1

• Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
  Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
  Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU

 

Green Hairstreak

Best time to see: May week 1 to Jun week 3

• Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
• Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
• Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR
• Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code: EX12 3DP
• Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
• Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL 
   

Grizzled Skipper

Best time to see: April week 3 to Jun week 2

• Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
   

 

 

Heath Fritillary

• Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL

 

 

 

High Brown Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 2 to Aug week 2

• Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
• Heddon Valley  - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD

 

Marsh Fritillary

Best time to see: May week 3 to Jun week 4

• Dunsdon Reserve - Map SS301083 / Nearest Post Code EX22 7JW
   

 

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Best time to see: Apr week 3 to May week 4

• Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
• Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
• Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
• Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
• Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
• Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
   

Purple Hairstreak

Best time to see: Jul week 2 to Aug week 4

• Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
• Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code
• Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
• Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL 
  
   

Silver-studded Blue

Best time to see: Jul week 2 to Aug week 3

• Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
• Bolt Head - Map SX712375 / Nearest Post Code TQ7 3DR

 

Silver-washed Fritillary

Best time to see: Jun week 4 to Aug week 4

• Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
• Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
• Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
• Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
• Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
• Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
• Lydford Old Railway  - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
   

Small Blue

Best time to see: May week 3 to Jun week 3/ all Aug

• Braunton Burrows - Map SS463351 / Nearest Post Code EX33 2NU
• Berry Head (north side) - Map SX941566 / Nearerst Post Code TQ5 9AP 

 

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Best time to see: May week 1 to Jun week 4/all Aug

• Aish Tor - Map SX707714 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 7NT
• Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
• Bicton Common - Map SY036851 / Nearest Post Code EX9 7BR
• Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
• Dunsford Meadow - Map SX785892 / Nearest Post Code EX6 7DH
• Great Torrington Commons - Map SS485193 / Nearest Post Code EX38 8DL
• Haldon - Map EX6 7QY / Nearest Post Code EX6 7QY
• Heddon Valley - Map SS642478 / Nearest Post Code EX31 4QD
• Lydford Old Railway - Map SX500832 / Nearest Post Code EX20 4BL
   

White Admiral

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Aug week 3

• Ashclyst Forest - Map SY000998 / Nearest Post Code EX5 3DT
• Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9S
  
  
  
   

White-letter Hairstreak

Best time to see: Jul week 1 to Aug week 2

• Bovey Valley Woodlands - Map SX789801 / Nearest Post Code TQ13 9SR
• Central Park, Plymouth - Map SX474560 / Nearest Post Code PL2 3DF
  
  
  
   

Wood White

Best time to see: May week 2 to Jun week 4/all Aug

• Branscombe - Map SY207882 / Nearest Post Code EX12 3DP
• Meeth Quarry - Map SS540085 / Nearest Post Code EX20 3QD