Decoy Park in Newton Abbot: A Local Ramble Through Nature.

14th of Jan 2026.

Decoy Park is a large public green space in Newton Abbot, Devon, known for its lake, woodland paths, and mix of natural and urban surroundings. It’s a popular local spot for walking, wildlife watching, and quiet time outdoors. This post shares a wet winter walk through the park and what it felt like to explore it on a grey January day.

A Winter Walk Through Decoy Park

Decoy Park is quite a vast green space in Newton Abbot, Devon. It has a mix of nature and urban surroundings in and around the park, as well as a large lake. As seen in the photos, it looked a bit eerie and creepy, especially in the woodland area during the wet weather on that day.

When Jon Howell and I walked through Decoy Park in the rain, the atmosphere felt quiet and slightly eerie, particularly under the trees. The damp paths and grey sky gave the place a very different feel compared to a sunny day.

Wildlife and Features of the Park

We saw a number of birds on the lake during our walk. There is also a solar-powered bird food dispensing machine in the park, where people can buy food to feed the birds in the lake and surrounding areas. The machine only accepts card payments, not cash.

There is also a boat club located within the park, which likely uses the lake for their boats and activities.