Belhus Woods Country Park
Enjoy the pretty lakes and peaceful woodland trails in this country park near Ockendon and Dagenham.
There's also wildflower meadows, open space grassland, bluebells in the spring and lots of wildlife to see. The park is perfect for a nice waterside cycle or walk while there are also good facilities with a visitor centre selling refreshments and gifts.
Just to the west you'll find Hornchurch Country Park where there's nice trails along the River Ingrebourne and the largest freshwater reed bed in London. The Ingrebourne Valley can also be picked up in the park.
Postcode
RM15 4XJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBelhus Woods Country Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Belhus Woods Country Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Belhus Woods Country Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Belhus Woods Country Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
There's a nice on site cafe where you can pick up a good range of refreshments.
Dog Walking
As you'd imagine the woodland trails are ideal for dog walking so you're bound to see other owners on your visit.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Eastbrookend Country Park is located very close by and well worth a visit. It includes the Chase Nature reserve where there's an abundance of wildlife to see.
The Upminster Walk and the epic London Loop can be picked up just to the west in Dagenham. You could follow it to the nearby Rainham Marshes for example.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Essex Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Whitehall Woods Lake. Old gravel workings but now an attractive location for various wildfowl
A fallen tree and bluebells in Belhus Wood, South Ockendon, Thurrock. Modern forestry practice now allows fallen timber to rot as a home for invertebrates. A tidy wood is less wildlife friendly.
Car park
Late Autumn. The Country Park is jointly owned by Thurrock Council and Essex County Council and has a visitor centre. It is situated within the Thames Chase Community Forest and contains woodland and part of a parkland landscape designed by "Capability" Brown as a setting for Belhus House.
Thames Chase at Belhus. Newly planted mixed woodland in the park in 2005. Part of Thames Chase the new community forest to the East of London.
The Visitor Centre
White Post Wood. A bluebell lined path in the wood.
Gurnett's Fields