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conserve these plants by keeping invasive species such as blackthorn in check which would otherwise shade them out.


2. From the viewpoint turn right to take the path leading up the ramparts and into the Southern Fort. This fort along with the one


further along the headland was built between 1795 and 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. The North Fort contained a formidable battery of guns designed to protect the British Channel Fleet who used the sheltered waters of Torbay as an anchoring and re-supply point. This southern fort protected these


batteries from any landward attack. In comparison to the substantial walls and ditches of the forts, the soldiers lived in rudimentary timber barracks. Nothing remains of these save their foundations, but several more substantial buildings survive in part intact, including Guardhouse, Kitchen, the Artillery Store and Magazines.


3. Once you have explored the Southern Fort, retrace your steps back to the car park, and when you reach the main tarmac track, turn right and follow it out towards the headland.


In the field on your left, you may


see ‘Red Devon’ cattle, bought in by the Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust to provide a home and food for dung beetles, who in turn are a favourite food for Greater Horseshoe Bats. These bats are amongst the most threatened mammals in the UK with only about 5500 left, and there is a small, but hopefully expanding, colony living in caves at Berry Head. You will soon go through the nar-


row passageway between the North Fort walls, and you can imagine how difficult it would be for an enemy to get through here unscathed, with the defenders being able to attack them from above. On the ramparts


on the left-hand side are replica cannons.


Just inside the fort is the The


Guardhouse Café and a Visitor Centre, where you can discover more about the wildlife and history of the headland and their staff can advise on any recent wildlife sightings and upcoming events. They also have a CCTV system linked up to allow you to view close-ups of the nesting sea birds on the cliffs. Behind the café is a viewpoint and


there is a bird hide close by. This is one of the best spots for looking at what is the largest guillemot colony on the south coast of England, nesting (March to the end of July) on


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