About the reserve

At over 700 acres spread across 5 sites, this is the largest of the Trust’s reserves. 

The rugged granite of Helman Tor dominates the landscape, and from high on a clear day you can see both the Atlantic coast to the North and English Channel to the South.

Those looking for a day out exploring the rugged landscape of Cornwall will be right at home on the Wilderness Trail, an 8-mile (13 km) circuit around the heart of the reserve. The terrain can be challenging so suitable clothing and footwear is a must. Boardwalk is available in certain areas, but not the entire course of the trail.

Find out about the Rewilding Helman Tor Appeal

This vast wetland complex spreads from the slopes of the Tor into a landscape of hummocks and hollows, the product of centuries of tin streaming.

And it’s this transformation by Cornwall’s industrial past that has left it as such a rich and varied habitat for wildlife. In fact, Breney Common is designated as a Special Area of Conservation — a protected European wildlife site under the Habitats Directive.

Many rare and valuable plant communities thrive here, and wildlife lovers will spot all manner of butterflies, dragonflies, birds, mammals and reptiles.

During late May and early June, the marsh fritillary butterfly can be seen around both Breney Common and Red Moor, with its larval webs showing up in September around the leaves of devil’s-bit scabious — a key food source for the species.

The Red Moor reserve is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Here birdwatchers may spot the willow tit, yellowhammer, sparrowhawk and grasshopper warbler among others.

The mixture of scrub, woodland and hedgerows across this 700-acre nature reserve supports the rare dormice. In winter they hibernate in the leaf litter on the woodland and can even be found tucked into the occasional grassland tussock. But during summer they live almost exclusively in trees.

The areas around open water are ideal for ferns, such as the distinctive royal fern, and a haven for insects, including nationally rare aquatic beetles and the scarce blue-tailed dragonfly.

Crift is a landscape of medieval fields and Cornish hedges. Be careful where you tread, as adders, slow worms and common lizards often come out into the short grass to bask in the sun. 

In the 1970s a farmer’s plough revealed the Crift Longhouse, which dates back to sometime between the 12^th and 14^th centuries.

As one the gems of Cornish nature, Helman Tor Reserve is a beautiful example of both Cornwall’s rich history and its wild present.