Woodland Walks
Please use the links below to view full route information including descriptions, elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Woodland Walk Map
| Route Name | Distance | Description |
| Abbeyford Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These woods in Okehampton have miles of nice cycling and walking trails to try. Abbeyford Woods is located just north of the town next to the River Okement. There's a good sized car park just off the country lane which runs through the centre of the woods. Alternatively you could walk to the woods along the Tarka Trail from Okehampton. It's about a one mile walk from the centre of the town. In the woods you will find wonderful Douglas Fir trees and beech trees. Look out for wildlife including roe or red deer, redstart, pied flycatcher, nightjar and buzzard. It's a lovely place for a shady afternoon stroll or for mountain bikers looking for some trails in Devon. The Tarka Trail runs through the woods so you can continue along this path to extend your exercise. You can also pick up the Granite Way in Okehampton which is a great cycling and walking trail along a disused railway line. View Full Details>> |
| Abbot's Wood Sussex | 3 miles (5.5 km) | Explore miles of walking and cycling trails in these extensive woods in Arlington, Sussex. There's nice waymarked footpaths and bridleways which are great for mountain biking. You can reach the woods from Hailsham by heading south along the Cuckoo Trail and then heading west along National Cycle Route 2 from Polegate. There are two trails to try on the site. Abbots Amble will take you through bluebell woods to the lake. The Oak walk will take you through the collection of Oaks with bluebells and woodland birds to look out for. Both are easy paths ideal for a peaceful afternoon stroll. To extend your walking in the area you can head about a mile to the west and visit Arlington Reservoir. There's a nice walking trail around the water with lots of birdlife to look out for. View Full Details>> |
| Abermawr Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This short walk takes you along Abermawr Beach and through Abermawr Woods on the Pembrokeshire Coast. View Full Details>> |
| Abernethy Forest | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This splendid forest and nature reserve in the Cairngorms has miles of good walking trails to try. This circular walk starts from the RSPB forest lodge and takes you along the woodland trails along the River Nethy. You can extend your walk further into the expansive forest and visit a series of pretty lochs and streams. The reserve is a fantastic place for wildlife with Ospreys and red squirrels to look out for. The forest includes the beautiful Loch Garten with an Osprey Centre where you can observe the birds nesting in the Caledonian pineforest and view the birds on the live CCTV camera. It's a splendid area with the Cairngorms Mountains making a great backdrop. View Full Details>> |
| Abinger Common | 4 miles (7.2 km) | Enjoy a walk across Abinger and Wotton Commons before a climb to Leith Hill on this circular walk in the Mole Valley. There's miles of nice woodland trails, ponds, streams and great views from the many viewpoints on the expansive common. It's quite a challenging walk with several hill climbs so a good level of fitness is required. The walk starts at the Friday Street car park close to the pretty Mill Pond. From here you can pick up the trails heading south across Abinger Bottom to Wotton Common. You then climb to the highest point in the South East on Leith Hill where you will find an 18th century Gothic tower, with panoramic views northwards to London and south to the English Channel. After taking in the views the route descends to Duke's Warren and Whiteberry Hill, before crossing Broadmoor and returning to the car park. After your walk you can enjoy refreshments at the Stephan Langton Inn on Friday Street. The country pub is located just south of the mill pond and serves Modern British cuisine and craft ales. The Greensand Way long distance trail runs through the southern end of the common so you can pick this up to extend your walking in the area. Heading west will take you to Hurt Wood and Winterfold Forest in Peaslake. Here you'll find miles of great mountain bike trails and footpaths. Also nearby is the climb to Holmbury Hill where there are more wonderful views over the Surrey Hills to enjoy. View Full Details>> |
| Abinger Roughs | 2 miles (3 km) | This circular walk in Abinger Hammer takes you around an attractive, elevated woodland area. Start your walk from the car park at the eastern end of the site. From here you can pick up nature trails heading west towards Arbinger Hammer. There's a series of nice shady woodland paths and in the spring months you can see carpets of bluebells and lots of lovely Rhododendrons flowering. The Roughs also include magnificent oak trees, open glades and fine views over the North Downs from the high points. At the western side of the woods you will find the delightful village of Arbinger Hammer. In summer the village green is popular with people picnicing on the grass whilst watching a game of cricket in surroundings which are quintessentially English. The River Tillingbourne also flows through the village. Brown trout regurlarly swim in the stream and the occasional larger rainbow trout can also be sighted. You can enjoy refreshments in the delightful Abinger Hammer Village Shop & Tea Rooms which has a nice garden from which you can watch the cricket. View Full Details>> |
| Alice Holt Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | Explore the peaceful Alice Holt Forest on this pleasant circular route in Farnham. The trail makes use of National Cycle routes 224 and 22 which run through the forest. The route starts and finshes at Bentley rail station and follows the tracks through the forest, before returning along a lovely quiet country lane, giving splendid views of the surrounding Hampshire countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Allerthorpe Woods | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This area of common land near Pocklington has some nice tracks to follow through the attractive pine woodland. The woods are popular with dog walkers with miles of flat tracks to try. You can start your walk from the car park on Common Lane on the western side of the woods. Then pick up the nice wide trails heading east. Look out for wildlife including the elusive adder and various woodland birds. The common is located just to the west of the villages of Allerthorpe and Barmby Moor. Also nearby is Pocklington where you can extend your walking along the Pocklington Canal and the Wilberforce Way long distance trail. The trail runs from Hull to York and was created in memory of William Wilberforce the Slave abolitionist. The Yorkshire Wolds Way also runs just to the east of Pocklington and is another good option for extending your walk. View Full Details>> |
| Angmering Park Estate Woods | 5 miles (8 km) | The expansive area of woodland surrounding the Angmering Park Estate has miles of public bridleways and footpaths for walkers and cyclists to try. View Full Details>> |
| Anston Stones | 2 miles (4 km) | Anston Stones Wood is a biological site of Special Scientific Interest in Anston, South Yorkshire. It's a nice place for a peaceful stroll with interesting vegetation and the Anston Brook running through the woods. The site is a local nature reserve consisting of grassland, scrub and wetland. The woodland is the second best example of limestone woodland in South Yorkshire. The area is known for its limestone gorges and interesting geological features. As such it is very popular with rock climbers. There is also an Ice Age Cave known as 'Dead Man's cave'. In the 1960's ancient flint tools from the ice age and animal bones from animals such reindeer and hyena were uncovered. The walk can be extended by heading east to Woodsetts via Lindrick Common. Just to the north is Swinston Hill Wood and if you head south you can pick up the Cuckoo Way and enjoy a stroll along the Chesterfield Canal. View Full Details>> |
| Arden Way | 26 miles (42 km) | This circular walk takes you on a tour of the beautiful Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. The route starts and ends near Henley in Arden railway, first taking you to Ulenhall before heading towards Studley where you will pass the impressive 19th century Studley Castle which is now a luxury hotel. You then join the River Arrow leading you to Coughton. Here you will find the 16th century Tudor house Coughton Court which has a place in English history for its role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 as some of the conspirators rode directly back there after it failed. From Coughton you head to the attractive market town of Alcester, then through Oversley Wood to Exhall where you turn north. The walk then passes Spernall Park and Bannan's wood before returning to Henley-in-Arden. View Full Details>> |
| Ashclyst Forest | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy miles of woodland cycling and walking trails in this large forest near Killerton. There are a number of waymarked trails to try starting from the National Trust Car Park. The forest is excellent for wildlife spotting with various birds and deer to look out for. It is also well known for its butterflies with white admiral, small pearl-bordered fritillary, dark green fritillary, purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary amongst the species. You can extend your exercise by heading to the nearby Killerton Park where there are more cycling and walking tracks to try. View Full Details>> |
| Ashdown Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | Explore the 'home' of Winnie-the-Pooh in this large area of woodland and heathland near Crowborough. The expansive forest has miles of good footpaths to try. This route makes use of the Wealdway long distance footpath which runs through the woods from south to north. There are car parks near Duddleswell which give direct access to the forest paths. You then head north passing Camp Hill and Wren's Warren before finishing at Five Hundred Acre Wood. Hundred Acre Wood in the Pooh stories is based on this area. From here you can return the same way or continue north to the nearby village of Hartfield for refreshments. The forest consists of open heathland, woodland trails and a series of hills where you can enjoy splendid views over the Weald to the chalk escarpments of the North Downs and South Downs. The area is great for wildlife. Look out for several species of deer including roe, muntjac and sika deer. Keen eyed birdwatchers can spot Dartford warbler, yellowhammer and stonechat. There's also a wide variety of flora to look out for with Oak and Beech Woods, interesting vegetation around the streams and ponds and a variety of heathland plants and flowers. Ashdown Forest is well known as the setting for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A. A. Milne, who lived on the northern edge of Ashdown forest. The illustrations in the Pooh books are based on areas of the woods you will see on this walk. You can visit the A.A Milne memorial and some other sites from the stories on our Pooh Walk from Gills Lap. Near here at Chuck Hatch you can try the short stroll to Pooh Sticks Bridge. It's thought to be the location where authour A.A Milne and his son first played the game which appears in the book 'The House at Pooh Corner'. You can also visit the area from Hartfield village (home of A.A Milne) on our Hartfield Winnie the Pooh Walk. View Full Details>> |
| Ashridge Boundary Trail | 16 miles (26 km) | This walk takes you on a tour of the National Trust owned Ashridge Estate in the Chiltern Hills. The estate consists of 5,000 acres of woodlands, commons and chalk downland which supports a rich variety of wildlife. The walk starts at the Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre next to the Bridgewater Monument, erected in 1832 to the Duke of Bridgewater. You can climb the monument for fabulous panoramic views of the estate before starting the circular tour of the beautiful grounds. Highlights on the walk include the Golden Valley to the north-east of Little Gaddesden and Ashridge House which was created by famous landscape gardener Capability Brown in the 18th century. You will also visit Ivinghoe Beacon, with its splendid views of the Vale of Aylesbury, Berkhamsted Common and Dunstable Downs. Another highlight of the walk is the popular Dockey Wood. View Full Details>> |
| Aspley Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | These 800 acre woods near Milton Keynes have some good mountain bike trails and miles of footpaths. View Full Details>> |
| Bacton Woods | 3 miles (5.5 km) | Bacton Woods, near North Walsham, has several delightful walking and cycle paths running through the forest. This short circular route starts at Bacton car park and follows various paths through the wood, which has 30 species of tree, including Scots and Corsian Pine, Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Larch. The woods are also popular with mtb (mountain bikes) as there is an excellent single track ride to be found here. View Full Details>> |
| Badby Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These pretty woods near Daventry have miles of good woodland trails to try. The woods are located just to the south of the village of Badby and are famous for carpets of bluebells in the spring months. You could follow the waymarked Knightley Way to the western edge of the woods and then pick up the trails. View Full Details>> |
| Ballypatrick Forest | 2 miles (3 km) | This large forest in Northern Ireland has miles of footpaths to try. This 2 mile circular walk follows a waymarked trail from the Horseshoe car park at the north western edge of the woods. It's a lovely trail with broadleaved and conifer trees, a series of small ponds and nice views of the Glenmakeeran River. The forest is located just to the south of the coastal town of Ballycastle. You can extend your walk here by following the coastal path with great views towards Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre. The Ulster Way and the Moyle Way long distance paths pass the western side of the forest. You can pick these up to head toward the coast. To continue your woodland walking head south and visit the splendid Glenariff Forest Park. Here you will find a wonderful waterfall walk and miles of other walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Balmaha Forest | 1 miles (2 km) | This walk takes you along Loch Lomond, through woodland to Craigie Fort. The walk starts from the Balmaha car park/visitor centre where there's plenty of parking. It's a short climb along peaceful woodland trails to the fort where there are super views across the loch. If you would like to continue your walk in this area then you could climb Conic Hill for great views over the loch. You could also catch the ferry to Inchcailloch Island and enjoy nature trails and a little beach. View Full Details>> |
| Banagher Glen | 5 miles (8 km) | Follow the riverside trail through these ancient oak woodlands and look out for red squirrels on this walk through the beautiful Banagher Glen Nature Reserve. The walk takes you through a steep ravine along the Altnaheglish river leading to the Altnaheglish Reservoir at the end of the route. Along the way you'll pass oak, ash, hazel, hawthorn and holly trees with lots of wildlife to look out for. There's also pretty waterfalls, wonderful views of the Sperrin Mountains and the splendid Banagher Dam to enjoy. You can start the walk from the car park at Strone Hill, a few miles south of Dungiven. From here you pick up the riverside trail heading east towards the reservoir, passing Teeavan Hill and Streeve Mountain. View Full Details>> |
| Banstead Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These lovely woods in Surrey have miles of well marked walking paths and a nature trail to follow. There's over 230 acres to explore with lots of pretty bluebells in the spring months. The area also includes the Park Downs area of common land which is designated as a site of special scientific interest. You can start your walk from the Holly Lane car park at the north eastern corner of the woods. Chipstead and Kingswood train stations are also very nearby. The car park gives direct access to the nature trail where you can see lots of interesting flora and fauna. Look out for wild primroses, purple emperor butterflies and willow warblers as you make your way along the ancient woodland trail. You can extend your walking in the area by picking up the Banstead Countryside Walk. This 5 mile self guided trail explores Chiphouse Wood, Ruffett Wood and the attractive countryside surrounding the town. If you enjoy this walk then you could head a couple of miles north and visit Banstead Downs. The downs are located just to the north of the town and consist of open grass chalkland, wildflowers and nice views towards London from the high points. A couple of miles to the west is Epsom Common where you can explore the famous racecourse and enjoy attractive chalk downland, grassland and woodland. View Full Details>> |
| Beamish Woods | 2 miles (3.5 km) | These pretty woods in the village of Beamish have some nice woodland trails to try. There's also some waterside paths along the River Team and bluebells in springtime. This circular walk runs for about 2 miles taking you through Ousbrough Woods to Ousbrough Hill. About a mile north west of the site there's another nice woodland walk in the grounds of Beamish Hall. The 18th-century country house includes 24 acres of grounds with themed family trails at certain times of the year. Also nearby is the excellent Beamish Museum. The open-air museum is a fascinating place for a stroll with original and replica buildings, a large collection of artifacts, working vehicles and equipment, as well as livestock and costumed interpreters. The Consett and Sunderland Railway Path runs past the woods so you could pick this up to continue your walking in the area. View Full Details>> |
| Beddgelert Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | This large forest is located near the village of Beddgelert in the Snowdonia National Park. In it you will find miles of walking paths and great mountain bike trails. There are great views towards Snowdon and a nice path around the lovely Llyn Llewellyn. The Welsh Highland Railway also runs through the forest so look out for the fine steam trains as you go. View Full Details>> |
| Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve | 2 miles (3.5 km) | These splendid ancient woods near Peterborough have miles of woodland walking trails to try. You can start the walk from the car park off the A47, just east of Wansford (postcode PE8 6NN). The area is a hidden gem with 520 acres of ancient woodland to explore. The extensive flora includes beech, birch, field maple, bluebells, primroses, celandines, violets and wood anemones, wild strawberries and garlic. There's also lots of wildlife to look out for including deer, cuckoo, foxes, red kites and buzzards. The woods contains more plant and insect species than most other woods in this country. Bedford Purlieus is located just to the west of the lovely riverside village of Wansford. The Nene Way long distance footpath runs through the village so you could pick this up to extend your walk. View Full Details>> |
| Bedgebury Forest | 6 miles (10 km) | Bedgebury is a great place for cyclists with miles of family cycle tracks and a more challenging mountain bike trail. The gentle 10km trail is perfect for exploring the 2000 acre forest at a leisurely pace on generally flat surfaced paths. Adrenalin junkies can enjoy 13km of single-track mountain biking. It's generally graded as a red trail and has fast sweeping gradual descents and some challenging climbs. There's also cycle shop where you can hire a bike. The forest is also great for walkers with miles of peaceful woodland trails to follow. You can enjoy a stroll around the beautiful Bedgebury Pinetum. This recreational and conservational arboretum has 10,000 trees growing across 320 acres including the most complete collection of conifers on one site in the world. View Full Details>> |
| Bellever Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy a cycle or walk around this lovely forest in the Dartmoor National Park. The circular route starts in the pretty hamlet of Bellever and passes Laughter Hole Farm, Laughter Tor, Bellever Tor and a number of interesting stone cairn circles. It's a delightful and peaceful area with lots of different walking trails to choose from. Cyclists are welcome but please keep to the stone roads. The East Dart River also runs through the forest so you can enjoy a waterside stroll and a picnic. Look out for Dartmoor Ponies as they graze the forest. View Full Details>> |
| Belvoir Park Forest | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This large park in Belfast has some nice woodland trails and views of the River Lagan which runs right through the forest. It is unusual to find a working forest within a city so the area is well worth a visit. The woods have a number of waymarked trails to try with lots of woodland wildlife to look out for. There are also interesting historic sites including the 12th century Norman motte and Ice House. You can start your walk from the forest car park, off Belvoir Drive. From here you can directly pick up the trails through the woodland, meadows and along the river. To extend your walk simply follow the Ulster Way and the Lagan Towpath along the Lagan to the nearby Lagan Valley Regional Park. The Lagan Towpath will take you through the Lagan Valley to Lisburn. You're also very close to the splendid Lady Dixon Park which includes more nice footpaths taking you to the arboretum, the Azalea Walk, fountains, a walled garden and a delightful a Japanese-style garden with pretty water features. View Full Details>> |
| Ben Bhraggie | 5 miles (8.5 km) | This circular walk climbs Ben Bhraggie hill in Golspie. The hill stands at a height of 397 metres (1,302 ft) giving fabulous views over Sutherland. At the summit you will find the Sutherland monument. The 100ft statue represents George Leveson-Gower, the first Duke of Sutherland. He remains a controversial figure for the part he played in the Highland Clearances where thousands of Sutherland tenants were forced out of their homes in the early 19th century. The walk begins in the pretty village of Golspie on the North Sea coast. You then follow waymarked paths through forest and over heather moorland to the summit. You descend to Golspie on more woodland trails through Ben Bhraggie Wood. The area is also fantastic for mountain biking with a wildcat trail billed as the longest freeride descent in the UK. View Full Details>> |
| Bennachie Walks | 6 miles (9 km) | Explore the Bennachie Forest and the Bennachie Hills on a series of fine walking trails. This circular walk climbs to the two highest peaks in the range where you can enjoy some fabulous views over Aberdeenshire.
Starting at the car park and visitor centre follow trails north west to Mither Tap. It's a challenging climb to the summit which includes an interesting Iron Age Hillfort and stands at a height of 518m (1699ft). Just to the west you will find the high point of the range at Oxen Craig. The peak here is 528 metres (1,732 ft) and includes a Summit Indicator which shows all the hills you can see from the viewpoint. After taking in the views the route descends southwards to the Gordon Way trail. You then follow woodland trails back to the car park. The area is also great for wildlife spotting. Look out for red squirrels, siskins, crossbills, buzzards, red grouse and longtailed tit. View Full Details>> |
| Berkhamsted Common | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This large area of common land has some nice waymarked footpaths to try. The area is made up of attractive Silver birch woodland and gorsey heath with miles of ancient tracks to follow. You can start the walk from the car park off the New Road which leads north to the common from Berkhamsted. From here you can pick up the waymarked trails around the site. The circular trail takes you past Coldharbour Farm and Frithsden Beaches before returning to the car park. Look out for wildlife including wild deer and a variety of woodland birds. The common is part of the wider Ashridge Estate which includes 5,000 acres of woodlands, commons and chalk downland. You can further explore the area on the long distance Ashridge Boundary Trail or the Icknield Way Path. Heading north will take you through Thunderdell Wood and Aldbury Common to Moneybury Hill. View Full Details>> |
| Bernwood Jubilee Way | 61 miles (98 km) | Explore the Ancient Royal Forest of Bernwood on this circular walk devised to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Bernwood Forest includes a mixture of woodland, pasture, meadow, heathland and picturesque villages. The walk is often started at Brill and heads to Boarstall, Buckingham, Waddesdon, Nether Winchendon, Quainton and Thame. Highlights on the path include the National Trust owned Boarstall Tower. The attraction includes a 14th-century moated gatehouse and beautiful gardens. Near Oxford you will pass through Bernwood Forest itself. This peaceful area of woodland has a nice butterfly trail where you can look out for 40 different species of butterfly. Also of interest is Nether Winchendon House. This medieval Manor House is situated in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Chilterns and includes a 12th century Great Hall and a 16th century Dining Room. The walk also passes the beautiful Waddesdon Manor. View Full Details>> |
| Bisham Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods near Marlow have some nice walking trails to try. Bisham Woods actually consists of several woods including Quarry Wood, Fultness Wood and Inkydown Wood. The area covers nearly 400 acres and are considered 'the richest ancient woods in Berkshire'. There's lots to see with bluebells, beechwoods, ponds, woodland orchids and some climbs with great views over the Chilterns and Marlow. Other features in the wood include an ice house constructed in the 1760’s and Bisham Quarry which provided the stone for Windsor Castle. The circular walking route below takes you along various trails in the central and southern section of the woods but there are also bridleways running through Quarry Woods which are suitable for cyclists. Please stick to the marked bridleways if you are on your bike. Bisham Woods are thought to have been the original 'Wild Wood' in Kenneth Grahame's 'Wind in the Willows', which he wrote in the nearby village of Cookham Dean. The woods are located very close to the River Thames so it's easy to extend your walk. You could pick up the Thames Path and head east to Cliveden House. Here you'll find a fine Italianate mansion with lots of parkland and gardens to explore. View Full Details>> |
| Blackheath Common | 2 miles (4 km) | This large area of heathland and woodland near Albury is very popular with walkers and cyclists. There's 250 acres to explore on a myriad of footpaths and bridleways. The area consists of lowland heathland, woodland and acid grassland. You can park at the Blackheath car park on Blackheath Lane to start your circular walk across the common. Chilworth railway station is also just to the north of the common. This is another good start point if you are coming by public transport. The paths then take you across the common and through Blackheath Forest. There's some nice sandy paths and lots of pretty heather to look out for in the late summer. View Full Details>> |
| Blackwater Arboretum Trail | 2 miles (3 km) | Explore the New Forest's Blackwater Arboretum on two super waymarked walking trails. The Blackwater Tall Trees Trail runs along the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive to Brock Hill on good footpaths. The trail is lined with majestic Douglas fir trees which are among the tallest and oldest trees in Britain. There are also two enormous redwoods visible from the path. The shorter Blackwater Sensory Trail encourages you to discover the many different smells, textures and sounds of the trees. If you enjoy this trail you could head to the nearby Knightwood Oak where you will find the largest oak tree in the forest. Also nearby is the delightful Ober Water. The Arboretum is located just a few miles south west of Lyndhurst and not far from Burley where there are some nice trails through the Old and New Inclosures. The major village of Brockenhurst, with its main line train station is also just to the south east. View Full Details>> |
| Blake's Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy a series of nice woodland trails in this pretty wood in Chelmsford. There's a car park on Riffhams Chase in Little Baddow. From here you can pick up the paths taking you through the woods and along Blake's stream. In the woods you will find oak, hornbeam and sweet chestnut trees with bluebells in the spring. Look out for birds including hawfinches and nightingales. It's easy to extend your walk by heading south to Lingwood Common and Danbury Common. Here you'll find cycling and walking trails with woodland, common, heath, wild flowers, streams and bogs. Danbury Country Park is also very close by. View Full Details>> |
| Blean Woods National Nature Reserve | 6 miles (9 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking paths in the ancient woodland of Blean Woods near Canterbury. The site is one of the most extensive areas of broadleaf woodland in Britain and home to a wide variety of wildlife. There's miles of waymarked trails to try with birds such as Nightjar and Woodcock to look out for on the way.
To continue your walking in the area you can head south and try our Canterbury Rivers and Woods Walk which takes you through the orchards and woodland surrounding Canterbury. The Stour Valley Walk and North Downs Way long distance trails also pass just to the south of the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Blidworth Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | Explore the pine woodlands and open heath of Blidworth Woods, on this peaceful walk in Sherwood Forest. View Full Details>> |
| Blue Man Walk | 16 miles (26 km) | This woodland walk takes you through Broxa Forest, Dalby Forest and Langdale Forest in the North York Moors National Park. The walk starts at Reasty Bank Top Car Park and follows forest roads, earth tracks and paths through the coniferous forests to Allerston. There are some steeps climbs but also some splendid views of the North York Moors countryside to enjoy. View Full Details>> |
| Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary | 1 miles (2 km) | This is a short walk in the New Forest taking you around the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. Here you will find a large herd of fallow deer with a viewing platform overlooking the meadow where the deer congregate. The deer are fed daily by the Forestry Commission keeper so it's highly likely you will see a large number of deer in the early afternoon. There is a good sized car park right next to the sanctuary and a number of graded walks taking you through the surrounding woodland. There is also a large lawn area, picnic tables and an information cabin. The sanctuary is located about 4 miles west of Lyndhurst and about 6 miles east of Ringwood. To extend your walking in the area you could follow our Lyndhurst Circular Walk and visit the Knightwood Oak. The tree is over 500 years old and the largest oak tree in the New Forest. View Full Details>> |
| Boltby Forest | 8 miles (13 km) | This large area of coniferous woodland on the western edge of the North York Moors is very popular with mountain bikers and walkers. You can start off at the Sneck Yake car park a couple of miles east of Boltby village. There's miles of tracks, bridleways and footpaths to try with fantastic views over the moors from the forest's elevated position. See the video below for an example of the jumps and bumps you will find on the downhill track in the woods. The Cleveland Way national trail skirts the eastern edge of the forest so you could pick this up to further explore the Hambleton Hills area of the moors. Heading north will take you to the 1,308 feet (400 m) high Black Hambleton and then on to Silton Forest where there are more off roading oppportunites. View Full Details>> |
| Borthwood Copse | 1 miles (2 km) | Visit this delightful area of woodland near Sandown and look out for red squirrels on this short walk on the Isle of Wight. The shady woodland is owned by the National Trust so there are nice footpaths to follow and an on site car park. The woodland consists of hazel and sweet chestnut with carpets of bluebells in the spring. You can also climb to a viewpoint where you can enjoy views towards the coast and Culver Down. The woods are close to the villages of Queen's Bower and Alverston where you can buy refreshments. If you'd like to walk to the woods then you could follow the Yar River Trail from Sandown to Alverston and then head south. If you are coming by bike then you could follow National Cycle Route 67 from Sandown. View Full Details>> |
| Bostall Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | This walk explores Bostall Woods and Bostall Heath in Abbey Wood, Greenwich. The woods are well known as the former haunt of highwaymen such as the infamous Dick Turpin. You can follow a selection of nice footpaths through the 160 hectare site which includes woodland and open grassland. It's a lovely retreat from the urban surroundings with lots of wildlife to look out for and listen to. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of woodland birds and butterflies in the summer months. There is a car park on Longleigh Lane where you can pick up the trails. There's paths leading west into Bostall Woods and east into Bostall Heath. Part of this walk uses the Green Chain Walk which runs right through the site. You can pick this up to extend your walk. Heading west will take you to Shooter's Hill and Oxleas Wood where there is an elevated terrace garden with splendid views over the capital and the surrounding counties. Just to the east is Lesnes Abbey Woods where you will find the ruins of the 12th century abbey, an arboretum and more woodland walking trails. Cyclists can reach the woods by following a local cycle route which passes through Abbey Wood. View Full Details>> |
| Bourne Woods Farnham | 2 miles (3.5 km) | Enjoy a walk around these attractive woods in Farnham, Surrey. View Full Details>> |
| Bourne Woods Lincolnshire | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of woodland cycling and walking trails in this large forest in the market town of Bourne, Lincolnshire. A local cycle route runs through the eastern side of the woods to Hanthorpe while miles of footpaths take you through the ancient woodland with its mixture of conifers and broad-leaved trees. There's also some tranquil ponds which attract birds such as kingfishers and herons. Look out for sculptures by local artists as you make your way through the site. This circular route starts at the car park off West Road. The first section heads through the eastern part of the forest so is suitable for cyclists. The western section is better suited for walkers. To continue your walking in the area you could head to Willow Tree Fen Nature Reserve. Here you will find a beautiful fenland setting with meres, flooded pastures, hay meadows and reedbeds. The Macmillan Way also runs just to the south of Bourne. You can pick it up and enjoy a waterside walk along the River Glen. View Full Details>> |
| Bracknell Forest Ramblers Route | 26 miles (42 km) | This circular walk takes you on a tour of the woodland and countryside of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire. View Full Details>> |
| Bradfield Woods | 1 miles (1.5 km) | This National Nature Reserve near Bury St Edmunds is one of the best places in Suffolk for wildlife. There's nice walking trails taking you through the woods to a lovely lake with a bird hide. Birds in the woods include garden warbler, blackcap and willow warbler. Other wildlife to look out for includes a variety of butterflies and deer in the adjacent fields. There's also lots of interesting flora with over 370 plant species. Woodland flowers include bluebells, oxlip, herb paris and ramson (wild garlic). There's three trails to try in the reserve. These will take you around the reserve and into the adjacent Monkspark Woods. To continue your walking in the are you can head west towards Stanningfield and pick up the long distance St Edmund Way. Following it north will take you into Bury St Edmunds where you can visit the delightful Abbey Gardens. View Full Details>> |
| Brampton Wood | 2 miles (2.5 km) | These ancient woods near Huntingdon consist of 326 acres with lots of nice walking trails and interesting flora and fauna. Look out for 280 species of fern, conifer, flowering plant and trees. There are lots of pretty flowers in the spring and summer months such as bluebells, primrose and violets. It's great for wildlife too with several species of butterfly including Brown Argus, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak. Also look out for Hazel Dormouse and Muntjac deer. To extend your walk you could visit the nearby Grafham Water. There's a great walking and cycling trail running around the lake with lots of water loving birdlife to look out for on the way. You can reach Brampton Wood and Grafham Water by cycling along National Cycle Route 12 which runs past the southern edge of the woods. This runs all the way to Huntingdon, passing Hinchingbrooke Country Park on the way. There is also a car park at the southern edge of the woods just off the Brampton Road. View Full Details>> |
| Bramshill Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | This circular walk takes you around the pretty Bramshill Forest, near Eversley in Hampshire. The walk makes use of the Three Castles Path and various woodland trails, taking you through Warren Heath, Hazeley Heath and Heath Warren Wood. You'll pass a number of pretty streams and tranquil ponds on the way. Look out for wildlife including deer and various woodland birds as you make your way along the paths. If you'd like to continue your walking in the area then you could head to the nearby Bracknell Forest or Wellington Country Park where you'll find miles of walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Brandon Woods | 2 miles (3.5 km) | These woods near Coventry have a network of good footpaths to follow around the 178 acre site. Since 1981 the site has been maintained and improved by voluntary workers from the Friends of Brandon Wood and is now reverting to natural broad-leaved woodland. The site is great for flora and fauna with over 330 plant species and more than 50 species of tree. Look out for pretty wildflowers including lesser celandine, wood anemone, primrose, bluebell, ragged robin, bee and spotted orchids, germander speedwell and birdsfoot trefoil. Also keep your eyes peeled for wildlife including Muntjac deer, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel and great spotted woodpeckers. The woods are located in the subarban village of Binley Woods. You can access them from Craven Avenue or you could park at the nearby Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve. The reserve is located just to the south of the woods and a great place to extend your walk. About a mile to the north you will find Coombe Country Park where there's 500 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland and lakes, with splendid views of Coombe Abbey. The Coventry Way, Shakespeare's Avon Way and the Warwickshire Centenary Way long distance trails all pass to the south of the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Brede High Woods | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This large area of ancient woodland consists of hundreds of acres of walking trails, a variety of wildlife and the pretty Powdermill Reservoir. There's a circular waymarked trail and a number other permissive footpaths to follow through the 262 hectares (647 acres). It's a lovely place for a peaceful stroll with heathland, coppice, ghyll woodland, broadleaf woodland, ponds, springs and streams to enjoy. You can start your walk from the car park off Chitcombe Rd at the northern end of the woods. The site is great for wildlife enthusiasts with glow worms, great crested newts, lampreys, dormouse, badgers and fallow deer to look out for. Also keep your eyes peeled for birds including woodcock, nightingales and buzzards. The attractive woodland includes conifers, spruces, oak, Hornbeam and sweet chestnut coppice. Also look out for bluebells and wood anemones in the spring months. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could head south to Battle and pick up the 1066 Country Walk. The long distance trail will take you through the nearby Battle Great Wood where there are more nice trails to try. A few miles to the west you will find Vinehall Forest and beyond that the pretty Darwell Reservoir. Here you can enjoy footpaths through Darwell Wood with views across the water. View Full Details>> |
| Brockenhurst to Boldre via Roydon Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | This route follows bridleways between Brockenhurst and the village of Boldre in the New Forest. It's suitable for both cyclists and walkers, following country lanes and traffic free forest paths through a really pretty section of the forest. The route also passes the delightful Roydon Woods which consists of ancient woodland, pastures, ponds, heaths and the Lymington River. It's worth exploring this area and looking out for the wide variety of wildlife that dwells here. This includes Tawny owls, nightjars, various butterflies and deer. View Full Details>> |
| Brodsworth Community Woodland | 2 miles (3 km) | These lovely woods in Doncaster have lots of nice walks to try. The park consists of broadleaf woodland, expansive meadows and wetland areas. There's a really nice mixture of habitats with great views of the surrounding countryside from the park's high points. Also look out for a number of tranquil ponds and a series of interesting sculptures dotted around the site. The park is located in Adwick Le Street with a car park just off Long Lands Lane. National Cycle Route 62 runs just to the east of the woods, near Scawthorpe. To extend your walking in the area you could visit the nearby Brodsworth Hall. The Victorian country house has some beautiful gardens to explore. View Full Details>> |
| Broxa Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | Visit this large forest on the North York Moors and enjoy miles of good woodland trails. The woods are in an elevated position so there are great views across the moors and Harwood Dale from the escarpment edge. There's good trails for mountain bikers with the Moors to Sea cycle route passing through the woods. Broxa Forest is also popular with bird watchers looking for the elusive nightjar. This circular route starts at the Reasty Hill Top car park and takes you along bridleways in the northern and central section of the forest. Park at the car park at the north eastern part of the forest and then pick up the trail west towards Ward Hill. You can extend your outing by continuing west towards Langdale End and Langdale Forest as shown in the video below. If you keep heading west you can also visit Hingles Wood and the River Derwent which runs past the western end of the woods. Heading south from the car park will take you along Whisper Dales Beck to Broxa. If you head north you will come to the pretty village of Harwood Dale with its old church and the Harwood Dale Beck. Harwood Dale Forest lies just to the north of the village and has nearly 2000 acres of woodland trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Broxbourne Woods | 9 miles (14.5 km) | Follow the Broxbourne Woods Nature Trail on this splendid walk in Hertfordshire. The site is Hertfordshire's only National Nature Reserve and includes Wormley Woods, Cowheath Wood and Hoddesdonpark Wood. You'll pass attractive Hornbeam coppice, tranquil ponds, pretty meadows and field edges as you make your way along the figure of eight trail. The woods have car parks on White Stubbs Lane where you can pick up the waymarked trails. This 9 mile walk takes you around most of the site but there are shorter walks and mountain bike trails for cyclists too. In the heart of the forest there is a 1km sculpture trail with several beautifully carved wooden pieces. These include a life size Roman soldier and a magnificent stag. Each sculpture illustrates something interesting about the forest, highlighting the historical importance of the woods and taking a close up look at the nature and wildlife that lives there. The video below gives and example of what you can expect to see on the trail. For cyclists there are some fun single-track rides to enjoy too. If you'd like to extend your walking in the area then there are several good options. You could head west and visit Northaw Great Wood. This country park has 300 acres of woodland to explore. The Hertfordshire Chain Walk and the Hertfordshire Way also pass the site. The Hertfordshire Chain Walk actually passes through the western end of the woods. You could pick this up and head south towards Cuffley and Enfield where you will pass Whitewebbs Park. View Full Details>> |
| Bucklebury Common | 3 miles (5 km) | This large area of common land in Berkshire covers 350 hectares (860 acres). It consists of heathland and broadleaved woodland of oak, ash and beech. There are miles of public footpaths and bridleways suitable for cycling. Other features include 12 ponds, several greens and a variety of flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of woodland birds and the occasional deer as you make your way through the woods. You can start off from the car park which is located about half way between the villages of Upper Buckleberry and Chapel Row. The common is located just to the north of Thatcham so if you would like to continue your walking in the area you could head to the excellent Thatcham Discovery Centre. You could also head north to the village of Bucklebury and then continue to Stanford Dingley by picking up the riverside footpath along the River Pang. View Full Details>> |
| Bucknell Woods | 3 miles (4.4 km) | Enjoy peaceful woodland walks in this forested area near Silverstone and Abthorpe. There's a good sized car park on the eastern side of the woods, about half a mile north west of Silverstone village. From here you can pick up wide bridleways and other footpaths to take you around the site. There's hundreds of acres of ancient woodland and a variety of butterflies to look out for on the way. You can also see lots of pretty bluebells during the spring months. View Full Details>> |
| Bulkeley Hill | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Enjoy a walk through these peaceful woods to the Bulkeley Hill viewpoint on this walk in Cheshire. The woods are run by the National Trust and include 12 acres (5 hectares) of semi-natural ancient woodland. You can start the walk from the little village of Bulkeley, following public footpaths to Bulkeley Woods and the Sandstone Trail to the hill top viewpoint. From here there are splendid views over the Cheshire Plain. You can further explore the area by trying the Peckforton Castle and Peckforton Hills Walk which runs past the site. You could also head west along the Sandstone Trail and visit Bickerton Hill and Maiden Castle. View Full Details>> |
| Burley New Forest | 4 miles (6.5 km) | Enjoy a series of nice footpaths through the Old and New Burley Inclosures in the New Forest. The village of Burley is a popular spot with a number of good options for walkers. You could start from the village but this circular route begins from the car park off Lyndhurst Road, just to the north east of Burley. From here you can pick up the trails heading east through the New Inclosure to Dames Slough Inclosure and Blackwater Bridge. The route returns through the Old Inclosure, passing Cockroad Hill on the way. The route takes place on generally good quality paths with the chance of seeing deer and ponies on the way. Just to the east of this route you can pick up the splendid Blackwater Arboretum Trail. The trail is lined with majestic Douglas fir trees which are among the tallest and oldest trees in Britain. Also near Burley is the Knightwood Oak where you will find the largest oak tree in the forest. The lovely Ober Water is located just a mile or so south east of the Old Inclosure. You can follow some nice waterside footpaths here. View Full Details>> |
| Burnham Beeches | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This hugely popular National Nature Reserve and woods has miles of good walking trails to try. The area consists mostly of beech woodland with lots of peaceful footpaths to follow. There's also ponds, streams, grassland and heathland with over 500 acres to explore. View Full Details>> |
| Cadman's Pool | 4 miles (6 km) | This walk visits a particularly lovely and fairly quiet area of the New Forest. The attractive little pool is located near Fritham and Stoney Cross. It attracts a variety of birdlife and is a great place for a picnic. This walk starts from the Cadman's Pool car park and takes you around the pond to Splash Bridge through the Holly Hatch Inclosure. You then follow Dockens Water back to the car park. It's a nice stretch with riverside willows and pretty bridges over the water. The area is also great for wildlife spotting. Look out for deer, ponies and birds such as finches, firecrests, and woodlarks. If you would like to extend your walk then you could head to Latchmore Brook and the Hasley Hill Inclosure which is only about a mile west of the pool. Our Fritham Circular Walk visits the pool and the pretty Green Pond and Janesmoor Pond. View Full Details>> |
| Cadover Bridge to Dewerstone Rocks | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This varied walk in Dartmoor explores the attractive woodland, rivers and crags around Cadover Bridge and Dewerstone. The walk starts from the Cadover Bridge car park and takes you along a lovely section of the River Plym to North Wood with its mixed silver birch and oak. You continue through the woodland to Shaugh Bridge where you cross the Plym to begin the return leg on the northern side of the river. This section takes you through Dewerstone Wood and past the Dewerstone Rocks which are a popular spot for climbers. The route then passes Cadworthy Wood and Cadworthy Farm before returning to the car park. The walk can be extended by continuing along the Plym at Shaugh Bridge through the beautiful Bickleigh Vale. You could also try the Plymbridge Woods Cyle and Walking trail. This follows the trackbed of a disused railway line through oak woodland, with the River Plym by your side for part of the way. The Dewerstone woods are located close to the village of Shaugh Prior. View Full Details>> |
| Caldy Hill | 2 miles (4 km) | Explore 250 acres of woodland and heathland on this lovely walk on the Wirral Peninsula. You can also climb the 260ft high Caldy Hill for fabulous views over the River Dee, Hilbre Island and the Irish Sea. On a clear day you can even see as far as Snowdonia and the Lake District. It's a great place for flora and fauna with pretty heather, willdfowers, bracken, silver birch and oak trees. Less than an a mile to the east is Royden Park and Thurstaston Common and Coast. It's a great place to extend your walk with woodlands, meadows, heathland and two meres where you will find an abundance of birdlife. Just to the west you can pick up the Wirral Way and follow it to the nearby Wirral Country Park. View Full Details>> |
| Calverley Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | These woods in Leeds have walking trails and cycling trails suitable for mountain bikes. There's lots of good tracks with some decent jumps. The area also includes the adjacent Lodge Wood and West Wood with its walking trails taking you to bluebell woodland, an old walled garden and hidden grottoes. The woods are located next to the village of Calverley just south of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You can pick up the walking and cycling trail along the canal to extend your outing. Following it west will take you towards Bradford while heading east takes you into Leeds. The Leeds Country Way also passes through the woods so you could pick up this long distance trail to explore the countryside around the city. The River Aire runs just to the north of the woods so you could follow the Airedale Way path into Leeds or towards Baildon Moor and Shipley Glen. View Full Details>> |
| Canaston Woods | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy a walk or cycle around these pretty woodlands in Pembrokeshire. There's 420 acres to explore with a good mountain bike track running through the centre of the woods. It's a fairly easy path so it's suitable for families. There are also numerous footpaths to follow through the ancient mixed woodland. The route begins near Canaston Bridge next to Blackpool Mill. There is a lay-by immediately south of Canaston Bridge where you can park. You then pick up the Knight's Way into the forest and follow various waymarked paths around the heart of the woods. If you would like to continue your outing then you could head to the nearby Picton Castle Gardens and Slebech Park where you will find more excellent walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Cann Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | These woods on the outskirts of Plymouth have miles of good cycling and walking trails. For mountain bikers there's some good downhill trails and nice wide tracks for leisure riding. Features include twists, turns, jumps and some berms built up by local riders. See the video below for an idea of the sort of tracks you will find on the site. There's also a myriad of footpaths on which walkers can explore the 230 hectare (568 acre) site. Look out for pretty bluebells in the spring and a variety of wildlife including deer and various woodland birds. To extend your exercise head to the western end of the site and pick up the Plymbridge Woods Family Cycle Trail. The shared cycling and walking trail runs alongs the trackbed of a disused railway line with views of the River Plym. The West Devon Way long distance trail also runs past the woods. Pick up the trail and head north to visit the Bickleigh Vale and the village of Yelverton. Here you can enjoy a stroll around Yelverton Garden House or pick up the cycle trails around Burrator Reservoir. View Full Details>> |
| Cardinham Woods | 4 miles (7 km) | This large mixed woodland forest near Bodmin is very popular with walkers and cyclists. View Full Details>> |
| Castle Coch | 3 miles (5 km) | Visit this 19th-century Gothic Revival in Tongwynlais and enjoy a walk or cycle in the adjacent Fforest Fawr. The route starts in Tongwynlais taking you around the castle and then into the peaceful woodland of Fforest Fawr which lies just to the east. The castle is located next to the Taff Trail so you could extend your cycle/walk by heading along the River Taff. View Full Details>> |
| Chaddesley Wood | 2 miles (4 km) | This circular walk takes you to the Chaddesley Wood nature reserve from the village of Chaddesley Corbett in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire. The attractive coniferous woodland is covered in pretty bluebells in the spring. There's also streams, ponds and a variety of wildflowers in the summer. Look out for wildlife including woodcock, chiffchaff, crossbill and blackcap. You can park in the village of Chaddesley Corbett to start your walk. Then follow footpaths east through the countryside to the woods. It's about a one mile walk from the village. You can continue your walk in the adjacent Nutnells Wood at Woodcote Green along the waymarked Royal Hunters Forest Walks. The Monarch's Way long distance footpath runs right through Chaddesley Corbett so you could pick this up to continue your walk. If you follow it west you will pass the moated medieval and Elizabethan manor house of Harvington Hall. If you head a few miles north you can visit a number of excellent country parks with good walking trails. These include Lickey Hills Country Park, Clent Hills Country Park and Waseley Hills Country Park. They all have climbs to viewpoints with great views over the surrounding countryside and hills. View Full Details>> |
| Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley | 7 miles (11 km) | Enjoy a walk along the Thames and Severn Canal before exploring the woodland of the Toadsmoor Valley on this walk from Chalford. There's nice views of the River Frome and interesting old mills to see in the area. The walk starts at Chalford Bottom and heads through the Golden Valley, passing along the canal and the River Frome. Near Brimscombe you turn north, heading through the wooded Toadsmoor Valley before finishing at Toadsmoor Pond. View Full Details>> |
| Chalkney Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | This area of ancient woodland near Chappel is a lovely place for a peaceful stroll. There is a car park off Tey Road near White Colne where you can pick up the public footpaths through the forest. In the springtime there are lots of pretty bluebells to enjoy. Look out for wildlife including deer, blackcap and nightingale. As an alternative to driving to the woods you could walk from the nearby village of Chappel where there is a train station. It's a really pretty village with an impressive viaduct, pretty houses, a mill and views of the River Colne. The Essex Way long distance walk runs close to the forest so you could pick this up to extend your walk. View Full Details>> |
| Chambers Farm Wood | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy a series of peaceful walking trails in this forest and nature reserve in Wragby. The tranquil medieval woodland contains ancient limes and is well known for its large numbers of butterflies. There are three colour coded walking trails to try. Two are very easy walks on well surfaced paths which will suit all abilites. There is also a longer route which can be a bit muddy. It's a very tranquil place with a diversity of flora of fauna to look out for. Birdwatchers can look out for nuthatch, Woodlark, Buzzard, Hen harrier and green and great spotted woodpecker. There have also been 16 species of butterfly recorded. The reserve is located about 10 miles east of Lincoln, and not far from Horncastle. View Full Details>> |
| Chantry Wood | 2 miles (3.5 km) | Explore 200 acres of woodland and meadows on this circular walk to Chantry Wood and Chantries Hill in Guildford. There's miles of woodland trails to follow with the North Downs Way passing along the northern edge of the forest (you can see some of this section on the google street view link below). There's a fair amount of climbing on the trails with nice views over the surrounding area from the high points. Look out for carpets of pretty bluebells in the springtime and a variety of birdlife all year round. This walk starts at the car park at the eastern end of the woods and follows the North Downs Way across the northern edge before picking up other trails to return you to the start point. View Full Details>> |
| Chepstow Park Wood | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This large area of woodland is located a few miles north west of Chepstow. It contains miles of trails and footpaths with the option of extending your walk in the adjacent Fedw Wood and New Wood. Parking is available off Devauden Road about 1.5 miles north of St Arvans. The Wye Valley Walk passes nearby St Arvans so you could pick this up and head through Wyndcliffe Woods to Tintern Abbey to extend your walk. View Full Details>> |
| Chicksands Wood | 2 miles (4 km) | These woods in central Bedfordshire have some good walking trails to try. In the peaceful woods you will find lots of flora and fauna with pretty bluebells in the spring and a variety of woodland birds. You can start your walk from Appley Corner where there is some parking available. Then follow the Long Drive south west through the centre of the woods. This nice wide track includes a monument to Lord Halifax. At Pedley Wood you can pick up the Greensand Ridge Walk long distance trail to take you back to Appley Corner. It's easy to extend your walk if you have time. Just continue south west along the Greensand Ridge Walk to Clophill where you will find Maulden Woods. Here you will find more walking trails taking you through semi-natural broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland and conifer plantations. At the Appley Corner end of the woods you can pick up the John Bunyan Trail and follow it a short distance to Rowney Warren Wood near Shefford. View Full Details>> |
| Childwall Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | Follow the nature trails around this small area of woodland in the suburbs of Liverpool. It's a lovely place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city in peaceful surroundings. In the woods you'll find lots of pretty woodland flowers including Bluebell, marsh orchids and buttercups over the grasslands. There's also a variety of birds to look out for and nice views towards the Lancashire and Cheshire plain. At the north eastern tip of the woods you will find All Saints' Church. It's a designated Grade I listed building, and the only medieval church remaining in the Metropolitan borough of Liverpool. The chancel dates from the 14th century, and the south aisle and porch are probably from the 15th century. It's easy to extend your walk by following the Trans Pennine Trail to the nearby Calderstones Park and Sefton Park where you'll find lakes, gardens and more woodland trails. View Full Details>> |
| Chopwell Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large forest near Gateshead. There's 360-hectares of mixed woodland to explore on a variety of waymarked paths. Walkers can try four trails of varying lengths and difficulty. View Full Details>> |
| Clapham Wood | 2 miles (3.5 km) | These mysterious woods are located in the Arun District of West Sussex, next to the village of Clapham. The woods are most well known for paranormal activity including several UFO sightings. They also have some nice public footpaths to follow through the woods. The woods are surrounded by some lovely Sussex countryside and have bluebells growing in the spring. There's parking available at the south western corner of the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Clocaenog Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | This expansive forest in Denbighshire has miles of walking and cycling trails to try. It covers 100km2 and is located at the southern end of Hiraethog Moor, near Ruthin. There's miles of peaceful woodland trails, heather moorland, pretty streams, waterfalls and lots of wildlife to see. In particular look out for the red squirrels, crossbill, wild horses and the rare black grouse. This circular walk takes you up to Lord Bagot's monument where there are fine views over the forest and surrounding hills. It's located in the eastern end of the forest near to the village of Clocaenog. The walk starts from the Pincyn Llys car park just to the south of the viewpoint. The 19th century monument commemorates the planting of a conifer forest, later cut down during the First World War to provide wooden props for the trenches and coal mines. It's a great viewpoint with fine views over the the Vale of Clwyd. After passing the monument head south west to Cefn Du to turn it into a circular walk. Although this route is designed for walkers there's miles of great trails for mountain bikers too. See the maps below for details. At the eastern end of the forest you can pick up the Brenig Way long distance trail and visit the beautiful Llyn Brenig. View Full Details>> |
| Clowes Wood | 3 miles (5.5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this area of woodland near Whitstable. The site is also a nature reserve and includes attractive mixed woodland, heathland and wet meadow. Look out for wildlife which includes woodpeckers, Woodcock and if you're lucky an owl. Part of National Cycle Route 1, known as the Crab and Winkle Way, passes through the woods. You could follow this lovely traffic free path from nearby Whitstable to reach the woods. The walk can be extended by heading east through Thornden Wood and West Blean Wood to the splendid Wildwood Forest Park. Here you will find a wonderful collection of animals including badgers, foxes, otters, pine marten and red squirrels. Also in Thornden Wood you can climb Knockhimdown Hill for nice views over the area. To extend your walking in the area you can head to Whitstable harbour and try the Whitstable to Herne Bay Walk along the coast. View Full Details>> |
| Coatham Woods | 2 miles (3.6 km) | These woods near Stockton on Tees have 2 waymarked walking trails for you to try. There's attractive broadleaved and conifer woodland, meadows and ponds to see on the site. It's also a nice place for wildlife spotting with owls, deer and foxes to look out for. You can park at the car park just off Longnewton Lane to start your walk. You could also start from Longnewton village if you prefer. View Full Details>> |
| Cobham | 6 miles (9 km) | This village in Kent has some fine walking trails to try. This circular walk takes you to some of the highlights of the area including Cobham Park, Jeskyns Park and Shorne Woods Country Park. The walk starts in the village and heads east into Cobham Park. The area is run by the National Trust and includes woodland pasture and an 18th century Darnley Mausoleum. It was designed by James Wyatt for the 4th Earl of Darnley of Cobham Hall according to detailed instructions in the will of the 3rd Earl of Darnley. The site includes a tree trail with a collection of ancient and veteran trees which were formerly part of the Darnley Estate and deer park. The route then bends round to the north to visit Shorne Woods Country Park. Here you will find hundreds of acres of rolling woodlands, wetlands and meadows which can be explored on a variety of waymarked trails. After exploring the park, the route heads south past Ashenbank Wood before branching off to the west to visit Jeskyns Park. Here you'll find woodlands, ponds, orchards and wildflower meadows to explore. After leaving the park it is a short stroll back to Cobham village where the route finishes. The route passes close to Ranscombe Farm Country Park at the eastern fringes. View Full Details>> |
| Cogra Moss | 5 miles (7.7 km) | This reservoir in the western lakes has some lovely woodland trails to follow through the three forestry plantations surrounding the water. View Full Details>> |
| Consall Nature Park | 2 miles (4 km) | This lovely nature park near Stoke-on-Trent has four waymarked walking trails to try. All the walks start from the visitor centre which has displays, exhibitions and a shop. In the park you will find two large ponds, streams, easy woodland trails and a more challenging climb to Kingsley Banks where there are wonderful views over the Churnet Valley. The area is also great for wildlife with birds including Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Woodcock and Tree Pipit. Also look out for grass snakes, butterflies and dragonflies around the peaceful pools. There are also lots of pretty plants and flowers to enjoy such as marsh-marigold, Butterbur and bluebells in the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Coxley Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These woods near Netherton have miles of trails to follow through attractive woodland. There's pretty streams, becks and a series of ponds to enjoy. Also look out for lots of bluebells in the spring and a variety of woodland birds. Most of the route is on fairly flat paths but towards the southern end of the site it does get quite hilly. As such a reasonable level of fitness is required if you are going to walk the length of the woods. You can access Coxley Woods just to the north west of Netherton in Wakefield. Then pick up the trails heading south along the Coxley Beck and the ponds. You then pass through Perkin Wood and Stony Cliffe Wood before turning around and returning to the northern end of the site. The Kirklees Way long distance trail, passes to the west of the woods. You can pick this up to continue your walking in the Wakefield area. You could follow the trail south and visit the splendid Bretton Country Park and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Here you will find 500 acres of lakes and parkland, with a myriad of footpaths to follow. View Full Details>> |
| Cranham Woods | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This circular woodland walk in the Cotswolds visits Cranham Woods, Buckholt Woods and Coopers Hill. These large peaceful woods have miles of walking trails through attractive Beech woodland. Cyclists can try a series of downhill mountain bike trails. The walk starts from the parking area at the southern end of the woods near Cranham. You then head through Buckholt Wood towards Cooper's Hill, site of the Cheese Rolling event held on the Spring Bank Holiday which involves locals chasing a large round cheese down a near-vertical grass slope. The route then heads through Cooper's Hill Woods before returning to the car park. If you would like to extend your walk then you could visit the nearby Prinknash Abbey Park or climb Painswick Beacon for wonderful views over the Cotswolds. Much of this walk makes use of the Cotswold Way National Trail so you could also continue east along the trail through Witcombe Wood to Birdlip Hill and the lovely Crickley Hill Country Park. View Full Details>> |
| Credenhill Woods | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Follow the trails around Credenhill Park Wood on this easy walk in Herefordshire. The woods are located just to the north of the village and include an Iron Age hill fort. You can start the walk from the car park at the south eastern corner of the woods. Then pick up the waymarked trails heading north into the woods. There's lots of interesting flora to see with early purple orchid, wild garlic, herb-paris and bluebells in the spring. The variety of trees include oak, ash, beech, field maple, small-leaved lime and wych elm. Also look out for wildlife including buzzards, various woodland birds and the three types of deer which inhabit the site. You can also climb to the large hill fort whose defences follow the 600 ft contour and enclose nearly 50 acres. They comprise an embankment and ditch with a slight counter-scarp bank. Archaeological digs exposed storage pits and other remains of occupation including pottery with stamped and incised patterns typical of the West Midlands Iron Age. You can see some of the finds in the Hereford Museum. The Wye Valley Walk long distance trail passes Credenhill to the south. You could pick up the trail to continue your walking in the area. View Full Details>> |
| Croham Hurst | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Explore these geologically significant ancient woods on this short walk in Croydon. There's a number of footpaths to follow around the 83 acre site including a climb to Breackneck Hill. At the high points you will find seats where you can relax and enjoy the views of the surrounding area. The woods consist of hazel, beech, oak, wood anemones, wavy hair-grass, heather and bilberry. The Vanguard Way and London Loop long distance paths both run close to the woods so you can pick these up to extend your walk. If you head north east you will soon come to Addington Hills where there is a great viewpoint and London's largest area of heathland. Head south east and you come to Littleheath Woods and Selsdon Wood. Here you'll find 200 acres of ponds, open meadows and ancient woodland. View Full Details>> |
| Cropton Forest | 6 miles (9 km) | This large area of coniferous woodland on the North York Moors has miles of footpaths and bridleways for walkers and mountain bikers. This route starts from Levisham train station where you can pick up the tracks into the forest. The trails are on nice wide paths with some climbs and fast descents to enjoy. Keep your eyes peeled for deer as you make your way through the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Daffodil Way | 9 miles (14 km) | Explore the pretty countryside, orchards and woodland surrounding the village of Dymock on this circular walk in the Forest of Dean. The trail runs for about 9 miles through Dymock Woods and Kempley Green with lots of wild Daffodils to see in early spring. Also look out for bluebells and butterflies in the section through Dymock Woods. View Full Details>> |
| Dalby Forest | 5 miles (8.5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large forest in the North York Moors. The forest has lots of different cycling trails to try. These range from easy family routes to challenging trails for experienced mountain bikers. You can hire a bike and then pick one of the colour coded trails. The easy green route is a great one for families while the 21 mile red route is a more challenging single track trail. The trails start from the Dalby Visitor Centre on Dalby Forest Drive. There's also miles of country lanes to follow through the forest and its surrounding area. For walkers there are also several good trails to choose from. The trails are of varying lengths and difficulty. You can try easy waterside walks around the pretty Staindale Lake or along Ellerburn Beck. There are also longer walks to the sandstone sculptures of the Bridestones or to Adderstone Rigg. View Full Details>> |
| Dane's Dyke | 1 miles (2 km) | These delightful little woods near Flamborough are perfect for a peaceful afternoon's stroll. The woods are located right next to the coast, just east of Sewerby Hall. In February you will find snowdrops covering the area, while in spring carpets of bluebells appear. The area is also a nature reserve so look out for wildlife including deer, squirrels and a variety of woodland birds. You can start your walk from the car park just off the Flamborough Road. From here you can pick up the nice woodland footpaths which will take you around the site, including a visit to the lovely beach. There's nice coastal views towards Bridlington from the cliff tops. The woods are located very close to Flamborough Head which is a great place for extending your walk. The splendid area includes towering white chalk cliffs, coves, caves, pretty bays and the oldest surviving lighthouse in Britain. Just up from Flamborough Head is the splendid Bempton Cliffs. The area is a RSPB Nature Reserve and considered the best place in England to watch seabirds. View Full Details>> |
| Delamere Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of walking and cycling trails in this 2,400 acre forest on the Cheshire Plain, near Frodsham. For walkers there's several easy waymarked trails to try. Cyclists can enjoy challenging mountain bike trails or easy family trails. The trails are well marked and cycle hire is available from TRACS (UK) situated just the left-handside of the forest centre car park. You can see details of all the trails on the open street map link below. This circular walk starts from the Linmere car park and takes you around Blakemere Moss Lake. Look out for wildlife including greater spotted woodpecker, black headed gulls, dragonfly and various butterflies. View Full Details>> |
| Denge Wood | 6 miles (9 km) | These attractive woods are located a few miles west of Canterbury, near the delightful village of Chilham, and on the dip slope of the North Downs and the Kent Downs AONB. There are miles of footpaths to follow around the site with a wide variety of flora and fauna to look out for on the way. This circular walk starts from Chilham where there is a train station just to the east of the village. From here you can follow footpaths south over the River Great Stour to the expansive woods. The site includes a number of different type of orchid and are an important habitat for nesting and migratory birds including the nightingale, chiffchaff, and spotted flycatcher. You may also see fallow deer and roe deer if you are fortunate. View Full Details>> |
| Dering Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods near Pluckley are also known as "Screaming" wood due to reports of paranormal activity in the area. If you can pluck up the courage there are some nice waymarked walking trails to try in the woods. Start the walk from the car park off Smarden Bell Road. From here you can pick up the trails heading south into the woods. Here you'll find ancient trees with wood anemones and pretty bluebells to see in the spring months. Look out for lots of different types of butterfly fluttering around the flours and nightingales flying through the trees above. As you make your way along the two waymarked trails look out for the King George Star. This footpath junction is the meeting of six paths within the wood and named after King George IV who was a visitor to the wood. View Full Details>> |
| Dibden Inclosure | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This area of the New Forest is a popular spot for walkers. You can start your walk from the car park just off the Beaulieu Road near the village of Dibden Purlieu. From here you can pick up some really nice trails around the enclosure. The area has some pretty streams and ponds with great views across the forest from the high points. Also look out for lovely heather in the late summer and new forest ponies which like to roam around Dibden Bottom. The area is a popular spot with dog walkers with free parking and an off lead area. If you'd like to reach the area by bike then National Cycle Network Route 2 passes through Dibden Purlieu from Hythe. View Full Details>> |
| Dimmingsdale | 3 miles (5 km) | Explore the Dimmingsdale Valley and Furnace Forest on this lovely wooded walk. Waymarked footpaths will take you along a series of pools and streams with interesting sandstone outcrops and lots of wildlife to look out for on the way. Start the walk from the car park next to the Ramblers Retreat. The award winning country tearoom is a great place for refreshments before or after your walk. From the car park pick up the footpaths heading west through Threap Wood in the beautiful valley. You'll pass a number of photogenic pools where you can look out for birds such as black swan, heron, kingfisher, moorhen and Canada Goose. Buzzards and Muntjac deer have also been spotted in the area. Heather and wildflowers attract a number of different types of butterfly in the summer months too. After passing the pools there's some moderate climbing up to Oldfurnace and Stoney Dale where you can pick up the Staffordshire Way long distance trail. This will take you back to the car park. View Full Details>> |
| Dockey Wood | 2 miles (3 km) | This delightful little bluebell wood is part of the wider Ashridge Estate in the Chilterns. The wood is very popular in the spring months as it is covered in carpets of bluebells. Please stick to the paths marked by the National Trust when you visit the site. You can park at the car park on Beacon Road which gives access to the wood. Then extend your walk by following the public footpaths running to Ward's Hurst Farm, the Ringshall Coppice and Ivinghoe Common. You can further extend your walk by picking up the long distance Ashridge Boundary Trail and exploring 5,000 acres of woodlands, commons and chalk downland. View Full Details>> |
| Dodd Wood | 4 miles (6 km) | This splendid wood next to Bassenthwaite Lake has several waymarked walking trails to try. This includes a hike to the summit of Dodd Fell where there are excellent views to enjoy. The woods have very good facilities with a car park, cafe, picnic areas, toilets and viewpoints. The area is very popular with bird watchers who come to see the Bassenthwaite Ospreys from the viewpoints on the slopes of Dodd. You can watch the birds fishing over the lake with the high powered telescopes and binoculars provided at the viewpoints. There's four waymarked walking trails to try with the Dodd Summit trail the most challenging. You'll climb through woodland and open hill to the 502 m (1,647 ft) summit where you can enjoy far reaching views towards Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite Lake, the Solway Coast and the mountains of Scotland. There's also three easier trails to try. These visit the magnificent Douglas Firs, the pretty Skill Beck and Sandbed Gill. After your walk you can refresh yourself at the excellent Old Sawmill Tearoom. Also nearby is the 17th century Mirehouse with its beatiful gardens and woodland. The woods are located a few miles north west of Keswick. You could reach them on foot by following the Allerdale Ramble from the town. The path goes via Applethwaite and Millbeck, before reaching the eastern side of the woods. Cyclists can follow regional cycle route 38 from Keswick which also passes through Applethwaite and Millbeck. Much of this walk follows the Allerdale Ramble footpath which runs right through the woods. You can continue along this path to extend your walking in the area. If you follow it north east you will climb to Carl Side and then on to the wonderful peak of Skiddaw. Skiddaw is the 4th highest mountain in England and commands majestic views over the Cheviots, North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Forest of Bowland and the Isle of Arran. The path can be followed in the other direction along Bassenthwaite Lake. It will take you past Mirehouse & Gardens and several bays and woods. It eventually reaches the end of the lake and continues along the River Derwent to Cockermouth. View Full Details>> |
| Dulwich Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Explore Dulwich Woods and Sydenham Woods on this easy stroll in south east London. The ancient woods include several footpaths and over 200 species of trees and flowering plants. These include wild garlic, bluebell, dog violet, wood anemone, bugle, Chilean pine, oak and hornbeam. Also look out for remnants of Victorian gardens including an old Victorian folly. The walk starts from Sydenham Hill railway station, just to the west of the woods. Cross College Road and then you can pick up the footpath leading into the southern section of Dulwich Woods. The paths then lead north east, taking you past the golf club into Sydenham Hill Wood. The area is also a nature reserve so look out for a variety of wildlife as you make your way along the trails. Birds include nuthatch, treecreeper, tawny owl, kestrel and sparrowhawk. Also keep your eyes peeled for butterflies such as purple hairstreak, white-letter hairstreak and speckled wood. In the northern section of the woods is a small pond. You may see frogs, newts, dragonflies and damselflies here. The Green Chain Walk long distance trail passes through the woods. To extend your walk you could follow the trail north west to Dulwich Park. It's a pretty park with nice surfaced footpaths, a cafe, a boating lake and recumbent bicycle hire. If you were to follow the Green Chain Walk south it would take you into Crystal Palace Park. Here you can enjoy tree lined paths, a maze, lakes and views towards London from the high points. You can also pick up the Capital Ring trail and further explore the area on foot. Brockwell Park is only about 1.5 miles to the north west. There's some nice cycling and walking trails surrounding the 19th century Brockwell Hall here. View Full Details>> |
| Duncliffe Wood | 2 miles (3 km) | Explore miles of cycling and walking trails in this large area of ancient woodland near Shaftesbury. The woods cover 93 hectares (230 acres) with waymarked trails and lots of pretty bluebells in the spring months. There's also a nice climb to Duncliffe Hill with great views of Blackmore Vale to enjoy. Look out for a variety of woodland birds and butterflies including silver-washed fritillary, white admiral and purple hairstreak. To continue your walking in the area you could head a few miles south east to the Cranborne Chase AONB and visit the lovely Fontmell and Melbury Downs at Compton Abbas. The area is a nature reserve with a variety of interesting flora and fauna. There's also a climb to Melbury Hill where there are great views over the Vale of Wardour and Shaftesbury. The Hardy Way long distance trail also passes through the woods. You could follow the trail from Shaftesbury to the woods or head south west to Marnhull. Here you can pick up the Stour Valley Way and further explore this lovely area. View Full Details>> |
| Dunnottar Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These attractive woods in Stonehaven have miles of waymarked walking trails to try. There's a parking area at the southern end of the woods by Glaslaw Bridge. From here you can pick up a nice path running along the Burn of Glaslaw. On the route you will pass follies and other structures of the Kennedy family, who once owned the woods. Look out for the old Shell House and Lady Kennedy's bath as you make your way through the site. Dunnottar Wood is located just to the south of Stonehaven. To extend your walk you could follow Carron Water east to the coast and enjoy a walk along Stonehaven Bay. About a mile to the south east you will find the splendid Dunnotar Castle. The 15th century ruined fortress sits on a rocky headland surrounded by steep cliffs. Dunnottar is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century. It's an impressive sight and a great place to extend your outing. View Full Details>> |
| Dunwich Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | This large forest is located in the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the village of Dunwich. There are miles of peaceful woodland walking trails and lovely conservation areas of marshland and wetland adjacent to the woodland. This 5 mile circular walk starts at Dunwich village car park and takes you into the forest on the Suffolk Coast Path. You then follow a series of well defined trails through the coniferous and broadleaved woodland before returning to the village. At the northern end of the forest you will find the delightful Westwood Marshes and Walberswick Nature Reserve where there are excellent birdwatching opportunities. Also look out for the Dunwich ponies in the woodland area. If you follow the Suffolk Coast Path south you will soon come to the wonderful Minsmere Nature Reserve. This coastal nature reserve is considered one of the best sites in the country for birdwatching. Just to the south you'll find the lovely National Trust owned Dunwich Heath. There's miles of footpaths through beautiful purple heathland and coastal views along the pretty Dunwich beach. Also nearby is the pretty town of Southwold where you can try our circular walk around the town and along the River Blyth to Walberswick. The forest is also part of the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve. It includes waymarked trails taking you to heathland, reed beds, grassland, woodlands, shingle, lagoons, mudflats and the salt marshes of the Blyth estuary. View Full Details>> |
| Duxbury Woods | 2 miles (2.6 km) | Enjoy a walk along the River Yarrow and through Duxbury Woods on this easy route in Chorley. The pretty woods are located just over a mile south of Chorley town centre. The woods were the location for the 17th century Duxbury Hall, the seat of the Standish family. The estate and grounds still exist with the gardens, stables, coachhouse, 16th century barn and Lodges remaining. There's a car park on the eastern side of the woods, on Duxbury Road. From here you can pick up the waterside trails heading south along the river. Footpaths also branch off to the west to Yarrow Valley Country Park. In the 700 acre park you'll find more riverside trails, a lake and a visitor centre. It's a great place to extend your walk if you have time. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs just to the east of the site. You could pick up the towpath and enjoy a stroll towards Chorley or Adlington. Just to the north you will find the pretty Astley Park which includes the River Chor, woodland, gardens and a beautiful lake. You can visit the canal and the two parks on the Chorley Circular Walk. View Full Details>> |
| Dymock Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | These pretty woods in the Forest of Dean have miles of peaceful woodland trails to follow. You can park at the medium sized Queens Wood car park to start your walk. It's located just to the south of Kempley. From here you can pick up several different trails, heading west into Queen's Wood in the Dymock Forest. Heading east takes you into Dymcock Wood. The woods consist of Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Oak and Beech. In the spring months you will see lots of wildflowers including bluebells, heather, wood anemone and the Wild Daffodils which are a feature of the area. You should see lots of butterflies fluttering around the flowers too. Look out for pearl-bordered fritillary, wood white and the uncommon white admiral as you make your way around the site. This walk takes you along a pretty stream to a large pond in Queen's Wood. Leave the car park and head west before turning south along the stream. You then return on other paths through Brandhill Wood. The long distance Daffodil Way passes through the eastern section of the woods. You can pick it up to extend your walking through the Forest of Dean. It will take you on a tour of the countryside, orchards and woodland surrounding the village of Dymock. View Full Details>> |
| Eartham Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | This large area of beech woodland near Slindon has some nice footpaths to follow. The woods are a great place to see bluebells in the spring months. You may also see deer, woodland birds and various butterflies as you make your way through the forest. You can start your walk from the car park located at the south eastern end of the woods, just to the north of the village of Eartham. The woods are part of the wider National Trust owned Slindon Estate. The 1400 hectare estate has miles of excellent trails with wonderful views over the South Downs to enjoy. The Monarch's Way also runs through the woods. You could pick up the long distance trail and head east to the nearby Houghton Forest. The expansive Goodwood Country Park is just to the west while the Grade II listed Halnaker Windmill and viewpoint is also very close by. View Full Details>> |
| Eastridge Woods | 5 miles (8 km) | These expansive woods have miles of excellent mountain bike trails to try. The woods are located next to the village of Snailbeach, about 9 miles from Shrewsbury. There's a black trail (severe) and a red trail (difficult) so there's much to enjoy for the experienced rider. Features include tough climbs, natural drops, rocks and very steep descents. This cycle route starts from Snailbeach but you could also start from the car park on the eastern side of the woods. This route is designed for cyclists but walkers can also enjoy a number of footpath in the woods. The site sits in an elevated position some 1100ft above sea level. As such there are splendid views of the surrounding Shropshire countryside from the high points. View Full Details>> |
| Eaves Wood | 2 miles (3 km) | Explore Eaves Wood and enjoy a climb to the Pepperpot on this walk in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB. There's nice footpaths taking you through shady ancient woodland with limestone pavement supporting rare plants and wildlife. The walk starts from the parking area on Park Road, just south of the woods. Follow the trail north to enter the woods where you can pick up the woodland trails heading west. The trails take you up to King William's Hill where you will find the Pepperpot monument. The unusual structure was built in 1887 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. From the viewpoint there are splendid views over the coast to Grange over Sands. The woods are located just to the south of Arnside Knott. To extend your walk you could follow footpaths north across Middlebarrow Plain to the nearby viewpoint. Just to the south east you will find Leighton Moss Nature Reserve. There's nice paths taking you around several lakes and lagoons, with a large variety of birdlife to look out for. Our Silverdale Circular Walk passes through the woods. You could pick this up and visit the beach and village. View Full Details>> |
| Ecclesall Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | This large area of woodland in south west Sheffield has miles of good walking trails to try. There's over 300 acres to explore with a network of signed footpaths to follow through the deciduous woodland and along the pretty streams. It's particularly lovely in the spring when there are lots of pretty bluebells to see. There's also good facilities with a car park off Abbeydale Road and a nice cafe where you can enjoy refreshments after your walk. The long distance Sheffield Round Walk passes through the woods so you could pick this up to extend your walk. Heading west will take you to Whirlowbrook Park, Limb Valley woods and Ringinglow where you can visit Lady Canning's Plantation. Here you will find a Blue graded mountain bike trail which twists and turns through berms and rollers from top to bottom. Also nearby is the fascinating Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Millhouses Park where there are lovely trails along the River Sheaf. Other highlights on the Sheffield Round include Endcliffe Park and the lovely Sheffield Botanical Gardens. View Full Details>> |
| Eggesford Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | These woods near Lapford are a popular place for dog walkers. The walk starts off at the car park, just off the A377. You could also start from nearby Eggesford train station on the Exeter to Barnstaple railway line. In the woods you'll find miles of nice trails, some fine Douglas Fir trees, pretty streams and lots of interesting flora and fauna. There's also a motte and bailey castle, which is the remains of a once-imposing Norman fort. The Ridge and Valley Walk passes through the forest so you can follow this waymarked trail for part of the route. You could extend the walk by following the trail north east to the village of Chawleigh or north toward Chumleigh. The popular Tarka Trail passes to the west of the forest and is another good option for exploring the area surrounding the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Elmstead Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Enjoy a short stroll through Elmstead and Marvel Woods on this easy walk in the London Borough of Bromley. The woods consist of oak, beech and sweet chestnut trees with various footpaths to take you around the site. The Green Chain Walk long distance footpath passes right through the site so there is scope for extending your walk. Heading west will take you to the pretty Beckenham Place Park. In the park you'll find 96 hectares (237 acres) of parkland including ancient woodland, a sensory garden and a Grade II listed mansion. Heading east from the woods will take you to Chislehurst Common. Near here you can also pick up the London Loop and enjoy another woodland stroll in Petts Wood and Foots Cray Meadows. View Full Details>> |
| Ennerdale Forest | 12 miles (20 km) | Enjoy miles of traffic free cycling and walking trails in this super forest in the Lake District National Park. The route starts at the Bowness Knott car park next to the beautiful Ennerdale Water. You then head east into the forest along the lakeside path. After leaving the lake behind the track follows the River Liza into the forest to Ash Crag before returning along the south side of the river. The forest tracks are quite uneven in places so a mountain bike is required for cyclists. The views of Ennerdale valley are fabulous with some of the highest and best-known fells in Cumbria forming a spectacular backdrop - Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth, High Crag, Steeple and Pillar are all visible on the route. Just to the south of the forest is Pillar, the eighth highest mountain in the eighth highest mountain in the Lake District. View Full Details>> |
| Epping Forest Centenary Walk | 15 miles (24 km) | Follow the Epping Forest Centenary Walk fom Manor Park to Epping on this pleasant 15 mile walk. It's an accessible route with train stations at either end. You start near Manor Park train station, just east of Ilford. The route then heads north west through the lovely Wanstead Flats and then on through Leyton Flats to Higham's Park. You then pass Connaught Water and Great Monk Wood in Epping Forest before finishing at Epping. View Full Details>> |
| Esholt Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | Enjoy walks and mountain bike trails in these woods in the village of Esholt near Shipley. There's a car park at the western end of the woods, just north of the village. From here you can pick up the trails heading east through Jerrison Wood and Spring Wood. For mtb riders there's some nice short trails with jumps, berms and one or two technical features to try. Other highlights include pretty bluebells in the spring and a path along the Guiseley Beck in the eastern end of the woods. The River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal run just to south of the woods so you could pick up the walking and cycling trails along these waterways to extend your exercise. A few miles west of the woods you will find Baildon Moor which has miles of cycling and walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Everdon Stubbs | 1 miles (2 km) | These pretty woods near Daventry Country Park are a great place to see bluebells in the springtime. There's a good circular walking trail with ancient woodland including birch, sweet chestnut and sycamore. There's also nice views of the surrounding Northamptonshire countryside. You can park in the parking area off Stubbs Road where you can pick up the trails across the site. The Nene Way long distance trail passes just to the north of the woods. You could pick up the trail and follow it to Upper Weedon where it joins with the Grand Union Canal Walk. Just to the south of the woods in Farthingstone you can pick up the Macmillan Way and further explore the countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Farningham Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This 168 acre nature reserve has some nice woodland trails including a waymarked 1.6 mile walk. Interesting flora includes the rare Small-Leaved Lime and the pretty Deptford Pink wildflower. It's a lovely peaceful place for a stroll with the addition of some moderate hill climbs with great views over the area. Interestingly, the reserve was opened by Sir David Attenborough in 1986. The woods are located just to the north of Farningham and Eynsford. You can park at the car park at the end of Calfstock Lane, just off the A225. Please note cycling is not permitted in the woods. The Darent Valley Path runs close to the woods and through Farningham. You could follow it south and visit Eynsford Castle and Lullington Castle. Here you will find more nice footpaths in Lullingstone Country Park. If you follow it north then it will take you into Dartford, passing Darenth Country Park on the way. The park has nice wide lawns, picnic areas, meadows and pockets of woodland. View Full Details>> |
| Fermyn Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This country park and forest has a number of walking trails and two bridleways for cyclists. Formerly known as Brigstock Country Park, it is located a few miles north east of Kettering. For walkers there are three waymarked trails to enjoy: The Skylark Nature trail is an all abilities trail on good surfaced paths. It takes you around the ponds and woods located next to the car park. The Woodland walk is about a mile long and takes you a little further into the woods on good footpaths. The Fermyn Forest Walk is just over two miles taking you deep into the woodland on a mixture of hard and soft tracks. In the park you will find semi-natural oak and ash woodland, ponds, a visitor centre and cafe. It's a splendid area for wildlife watching - look out for Red kites, bullfinch, hawfinch, nightingales, skylark and green woodpeckers. You may also see badgers, fallow deer and Purple emperor butterflies. View Full Details>> |
| Ferndown Stour and Forest Trail | 10 miles (16 km) | This nice easy circular walk starts and finishes in Ferndown, first taking you through Ferndown Forest to Longham where you will pass the pretty Longham Lakes. You then join the River Stour for a pleasant waterside stretch taking you to Dudsbury before heading around Holmwood Park and finishing in Ferndown. View Full Details>> |
| Fforest Fawr | 2 miles (4 km) | This large area of woodland has some lovely waymarked footpaths including the delightful Fforest Fawr sculpture trail. It's a lovely, peaceful area with well laid out paths, pretty streams, old mining caves and lots of woodland wildlife to look out for. In the spring months you can also see carpets of bluebells, wood anemone and wild garlic flowers. You can pick up the trails from the Castle Coch car park in Tongwynlais. There are several waymarked trails including the sculpture trail with a number of beautifully carved wooden pieces including a dragon, a wizard and other mythical creatures. After your walk you can enjoy refreshments at the tea room. The Taff Trail cycling and walking trail also passes through the forest so mountain bikers can pick up the trails too. To extend your walking in the area you can head a mile to the west and climb Garth Hill. From the summit you can enjoy fantastic views of Cardiff, the Bristol Channel and the Taff Valley. Also round here you can pick up the long distance Taff Ely Ridgeway Walk and visit the beautiful Ely Valley and Taff Vale. View Full Details>> |
| Fineshade Woods | 5 miles (8 km) | Top Lodge in Fineshade Woods has several waymarked cycling and walking trails. For cyclists there is a green graded easy route running through the main woodland block. It is a gentle ride perfect for families on largely flat paths. Running alongside the green route are 7 alternative blue grade sections. These are great for mountain bikers looking for more of a challenge. Walkers can enjoy three colour coded, waymarked trails of varying difficulty. The Smelters' Walk is an easy trail for abilities. It runs for 2 miles on flat well surfaced paths. The moderate Dales Wood Trail visits the Wildlife Hide where can you look out for birds on the feeders and deer in the woodland. There is also a short climb to a viewpoint with great views over Rockingham Forest. For a more challenging walk you can try the Mill Wood Trail which involves a few harder climbs. Along the way you can look out for lots of wildlife including red kite, nightingale, nightjar, woodcock, grasshopper warbler, tree pipit, marsh and willow tits. View Full Details>> |
| Fingle Bridge and Woods | 4 miles (6 km) | Explore the delightful woods around Fingle Bridge and visit the Iron Age Hill Fort of Wooston Castle on this woodland walk in Dartmoor. The area is actually made up of a series of woods including Charles Wood, Hore Wood, Butterdon Ball Wood and Houndsmoor Wood. It covers over 400 acres with waymarked trails and lots of wildlife to look out for. From the high points there are wonderful views over Dartmoor and the option of continuing your walk through the Teign Gorge towards Castle Drogo. This circular walk starts at the Fingle Bridge car park and takes you along the River Teign which runs through the northern part of the woods. It's a lovely riverside path with the peaceful river surrounded by pretty bluebells and attractive woodland. The path then climbs to Wooston Castle which overlooks the Teign Valley. You then descend the hill fort and return to the car park on other trails in the southern section of the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Forest of Bere | 3 miles (5.2 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this lovely forest near Portsmouth. The site is a delightful mixture of woodland, open space, heathland, farmland, downland, streams and ponds. View Full Details>> |
| Forest of Bere West Walk | 3 miles (4.8 km) | Explore the West Walk section of the Forest of Bere on this woodland route near Portsmouth. There's waymarked walking trails and other paths suitable for cycling. For example you can try the Forest of Bere Trail which follows waymarked woodland paths to the ponds where you can look out for lots of wildlife. In the spring months you can also see the pretty bluebells. View Full Details>> |
| Forest of Dean Family Cycle Trail | 9 miles (14.22 km) | A fine Family Cycle ride around the beautiful Forest of Dean - submitted by David Curtis. This circular route takes you along National Cycle route 42 and the Wye Valley path through the delightful Forest of Dean. The easy route takes place on off road paths making it ideal for families. This route is also suitable for walkers. The trail passes close to the fascinating Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail. The trail takes you to a unique collection of high-quality, contemporary sculptures in a beautiful setting. You'll also pass the RSPB's wildlife rich Nagshead Nature Reserve and the delightful Cannop Ponds which is a lovely place to stop for a picnic. You could also try the Coleford Milkwall and Parkend railway path. The trail follows the disused Coleford Milkwall and Parkend railway from Coleford to Parkend. It is suitable for both cyclists and walkers. View Full Details>> |
| Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This delightful walking trail takes you to a unique collection of high-quality, contemporary sculptures, within the Forest of Dean. Highlights include include Kevin Atherton's 15 foot by 10 foot stained glassed window 'Cathedral' which hangs high in the canopy over the heads of walkers and Neville Gabie's 'Raw', a giant cube assembled from the entire mass of an oak tree. You can park at the visitor centre car park off Speech House Road to start your walk. From here you can pick up the marked trails to the artwork. The trail is free to access and the visitor centre also includes a picnic site and a nice childrens' playground. Just to the east of the site you will find the interesting Woorgreens Lake and Marsh Nature Reserve. Here you'll find a pretty lake with lots of wildlife to look out for. This includes several species of dragonfly and birds such as spotted redshank, greenshank, green sandpiper and curlew. It's well worth a small detour from the main trail. Also nearby is the Speech House Oaks. The site is a linear band of open woodland of oak on either side of the Speech House Road near the trail. There is a variety of interesting flora here and a wonderful mosaic of different types of tree. Look out for the redstart bird in this area. View Full Details>> |
| Forge Valley Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | Follow the waterside trail through this delightful nature reserve in the North York Moors National Park. The easy walk follows a wooden boardwalk through the wooded valley along the River Derwent (not suitable for bikes). There's a wide variety of flora and fauna to look out for as you make your way through the reserve. This includes wild garlic, wood anemone and broadleaved woodland. Also keep your eyes peeled for deer and woodland birds. It's easy to extend your walking in the area with Raincliffe Woods located just to the north west. The woods have some good mountain bike trails and more walking trails. You can also pick up the circular Scarborough Sea Cut and Scalby Beck Walk in this area. Also nearby is Wykeham Forest which has some great viewpoints from its elevated position. The circular Hackness Walk visits the forest from the nearby village. You can follow a pleasant riverside path along the River Derwent from the settlement to the forest. The expansive Dalby Forest is also close at hand. View Full Details>> |
| Foxley Wood | 2 miles (3.4 km) | Visit the largest ancient woodland in Norfolk on this peaceful walk near Dereham. View Full Details>> |
| Friston Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large forest on the South Downs near Eastbourne. There are trails for mountain bikers ranging from gentle off road trails to an exhilarating single track ride. There are two fairly easy waymarked trails for walkers. Look out for wildlife including rare butterflies and deer. This circular route starts at the car park and takes you along some of the bridleways in the forest. It also visits the pretty village of West Dean. It's easy to extend your outing by visiting the nearby Cuckmere River and Cuckmere Haven and Seven Sisters Country Park. You could also pick up the The South Downs Way which runs past the forest. Our South Downs Circular Walk also passes through the forest. It will take you on a tour of the surrounding area, visiting Seven Sisters Country Park and Birling Gap. View Full Details>> |
| Gelt Woods | 6 miles (9 km) | Follow the River Gelt through Gelt Woods Nature Reserve, on this delightful walk near Brampton, Cumbria. There's pretty bluebells in the spring, the running waters of the river and lots of wildlife to look out for in the shady woods. You can start your walk from the car park at Low Gelt Bridge and then head south along the river to Middle Gelt Bridge and High Gelt Bridge. It's just under 3 miles to High Gelt so about 6 miles there and back. As you make your way through the first section of the woods, look out for the rock with an inscription carved by a Roman soldier in the early part of the 3rd Century. The woods are located just a mile to the west of Talkin Tarn Country Park. This is a great place to extend your walk with nice footpaths to follow around the large glacial tarn. View Full Details>> |
| Gisburn Forest | 4 miles (6.5 km) | Enjoy miles of wonderful woodland walking and cycling trails in this large forest in the Forest of Bowland. Mountain bikers can enjoy a moderate 9.5km blue grade trail and a more challenging red grade trail. Walkers can enjoy 5 waymarked walks of varying lengths and difficulty. In the forest you will find wide, well surfaced trails taking you through mixed woodland and conifer plantation with a wide variety of wildlife to look out for in one of the hides. There are also becks, streams and waterfalls. View Full Details>> |
| Gledhow Valley Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy a pleasant stroll through these woods in Leeds. There is a nice footpath running along Gledhow Beck and around Gledhow Lake for about a mile. The area is quite small at 57 acres but very peaceful and pretty. There's a wide variety of flora and fauna with birds such as Chaffinch, Chiff Chaff, Dipper and Dunnock to look out for. Plants and flowers include Bluebell, Common Knapweed and Cornflower. It also includes a 19th century open air bath house in the south eastern corner. You can extend your walk by heading to the nearby Roundhay Park. View Full Details>> |
| Glen Orchy | 14 miles (23 km) | This large area of woodland in Argyll and Bute has miles of cycling and walking trails to follow. There's also a series of impressive waterfalls, streams and rivers to enjoy. You can start your outing from the car park next to the Eas Urchaidh waterfall on the River Orchy. Cross the bridge over the river to enter the woodland and pick up the trails. They run through the woods to the village of Bridge of Orchy where you can cross the river and follow country lanes along the river and back to the car park. Here you can get great views of the surrounding hills. To extend your walk you can pick up the West Highland Way at Bridge of Orchy and follow it to the nearby Loch Tulla on the Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse Walk. View Full Details>> |
| Glenariff Forest Park | 1 miles (2 km) | This 1185 hectare (2928 acre) forest has miles of walking trails including the waterfall walk and scenic trail. The waterfall walk is particularly lovely with footpaths leading you through steep wooded gorges with a series of beautiful falls to enjoy. There are some steep sections but it is a fairly easy climb and the footpaths are well maintained. There are some wonderful views of the surrounding area to enjoy from the high points. The park is located in Glenariff County Antrim. There are good facilities with a car park, tea room and gift shop. The Ulster Way long distance trail passes through the forest so you could pick this up to extend your walking. Heading north will take you to Breen Forest and the lovely Ballypatrick Forest where there are some nice waymarked trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Glenmore Forest Park | 6 miles (9 km) | This forest in the Cairngorms National Park has miles of fantastic cycling and walking trails to enjoy. This circular route starts at the excellent visitor centre and follows cycle and walking trails into the forest and alongside the lovely Loch Morlich. The loch has a pretty beach perfect for relaxing on after your ride/walk, while the visitor centre has a great cafe with refreshments. There's also a wide variety of wildlife to look out for including Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit, Capercaillie and Red Deer. The magnificent Cairngorms mountains make a wonderful backdrop for the route. From the nearby town of Aviemore you could pick up the excellent Speyside Way for more cycling and walking in the area. View Full Details>> |
| Goblin Combe | 4 miles (6 km) | Explore this peaceful wooded valley on this lovely circular walk in North Somerset. The woods are located a few miles north east of Congresbury, near the small village of Cleeve. The site includes hundreds of acres of woodland, large areas of open grassland and some moderate climbs with great views towards the Mendip Hills. There's also limestone cliffs and limestone meadows with lots of wildflowers to look out for. You can start your walk from the car park on Cleeve Hill Road at the eastern end of the combe. Here you will find the Goblin Combe Environmental Centre, which provides educational training and residential facilities for visiting groups. From here you can pick up the footpaths heading east through the woods. Look out for a variety of woodland birds and butterflies including grizzled and dingy skippers, brown argus and green hairstreak. You can extend the walk by heading north through Wrington Warren to Brockley Wood. If you enjoy this walk then you could head west towards Yatton, and climb to Cadbury Hill Fort. In Congresbury you can pick up the Two Rivers Way and enjoy a walk along the River Yeo. At Yatton you can pick up the wonderful Strawberry Line cycling and walking trail. View Full Details>> |
| Gosford Forest Park | 4 miles (6 km) | Follow the waymarked trails through this large park near the village of Markethill in County Armagh. It's a great place for walking with miles of woodland trails, streams, waterfalls, ponds, grassland and a lovely arboretum to visit. Features of the park include an area of open parkland with deer and rare breeds. There is also a lovely Arboretum with attractive conifer and broadleaf trees with a pretty walled garden. There are several colour coded walking trails to try and also a cycling trail. These are of varying lengths and difficulty and take you to the impressive 19th century Gosford Castle, the Drumlack River and Draper's Hill. See the maps below for details of the trails. View Full Details>> |
| Great Wood Quantocks | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large area of woodland in the Quantocks. There is a red waymarked walking trail starting from the main car park which takes you to Ramscombe on good footpaths. The area has fine trees including ancient oaks, Majestic Douglas firs and Sitka spruce. There are also lovely streams and grassy glades to enjoy a picnic in. Look out for a variety of wildlife including red and roe deer, nightjar and sparrowhawk. The wood has miles of wide paths which are excellent for mountain biking. You can easily extend your ride by continuing along the many bridleways in Seven Wells Wood or Quantock Combe. To extend your walking in the area you could head east to Hawkridge Reservoir and enjoy circular walk around the water. On the south western fringe of the wood you will find Wills Neck, the highest point in the Quantock Hills. View Full Details>> |
| Greyfield Woods | 1 miles (1 km) | These pretty woods near the village of High Littleton have some nice woodland trails to try. There's free car parking and in the spring there's lots of bluebells within the ancient, mixed woodland. There's also a lovely waterfall and the option of picking up the Limestone Link which skirts the southern edge of the woods. You could pick up this long distance trail and head towards Clutton, Temple Cloud or Timsbury. In nearby Clutton you can join with the Three Peaks Walk and further explore the beautiful Chew Valley. Heading west will take you to the splendid Chew Valley Lake. View Full Details>> |
| Greystoke Forest | 6 miles (10 km) | This large area of woodland near Penrith has miles of cycling and walking trails to try. The expansive area is popular with mountain bikers with several good climbs and descents to enjoy. The route starts from the north western end of the forest at Millfield Lodge near Hutton Roof. You can pick up the trails and head towards Tippy Hills and the high point near Bernard's Wood. The forest includes the pretty Gilcambon Beck and lots of wildlife to look out for too. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and owls as you make your way through the forest. The woods are located on the edge of the Lake District National Park. Heading west will take you into the park where you can pick up the Cumbria Way long distance trail and explore the Caldbeck Fells. Just to the south east you will find the town of Penrith where you can explore the medieval castle and enjoy a climb to Penrith Beacon. View Full Details>> |
| Grinshill | 2 miles (3.4 km) | This circular walk visits Corbet Wood and the viewpoint at Grinshill, near Shrewsbury. It's a pretty area with peaceful woodland trails and great views over South Shropshire and the Welsh Borders from the dramatic cliff tops at Grinshill Hill. The site includes some rugged trails and an easier, family friendly route. Grinshill is a geologically interesting area with stone quarried in the area since at least the 12th century. It's great for wildlife too with many species of butterfly and birds including coal tits, goldcrests, warblers and woodpeckers. The route also visits the little village of Clive, birthplace of the English Restoration dramatist William Wycherley, author of 'The Country Wife'. It's nice to stroll around the village with its pretty cottages and Victorian church. You can start the walk from the car park at Corbet Wood, next to Grimshill Quarry. Then follow the woodland trails west toward Clive. Just before Clive you can turn left and follow paths up to the Grinshill viewpoint which stands at a height of 192 metres (630 ft). After taking in the views descend back to the path and head to the village of Clive. Here you'll find a lovely church made from the two different coloured sandstones quarried from Grinshill. The walk then returns to the car park along a section of the Marches Way. View Full Details>> |
| Grizedale Forest | 4 miles (7 km) | This huge forest in the Lake District has several way-marked cycling and walking trails to enjoy. There are six way-marked mountain bike trails of varying lengths and difficulty. These include a moderate (blue) 2 mile trail which visits the Goosey Foot and Juniper Tarns. The Hawkshead Moor Trail is graded red and visits the western side of the valley, overlooking Coniston Water. For an exciting rollercoaster ride try The North Face Mountain Bike Trail. The singletrack trail offers an adrenelising descent through oak woodlands and conifer forest. Walkers can enjoy 8 super, way-marked trails. These include the moderate Bogle Crag Trail which runs for 2.5 miles and features numerous sculptures along the way. The Silurian Way is a longer, more challenging walk which visits the summit of Carron Crag, the highest point in the forest. The walks offer great views of the Lake District mountains and lakes such as Coniston Water, Windermere and Esthwaite Water. There's a great visitor centre at the start of this circular route where you can hire bikes and find out more information on all the cycling and walking trails in the forest. View Full Details>> |
| Grovely Wood | 6 miles (9 km) | Enjoy cycling and walking trails in this large area of woodland near the Wiltshire village of Great Wishford. View Full Details>> |
| Gwydyr Forest | 7 miles (11.2 km) | This large area of woodland encircles the popular village of Betws-y-Coed in the Snowdonia National Park. There's miles of footpaths and mountain bike trails with lots of pretty streams, rivers, waterfalls, hills and lakes to see. This long circular route takes you around the area immediately surrounding Betws-y-Coed, following a series of trails to Llyn Elsi, Rhiwddolion, Pentre Du, the Miners Bridge over the River Llugwy and the Clogwyn Cyrau Nature Reserve to the north of the village. The forest stretches for miles so there's huge scope for extending your exercise. Just off this route there is the option of visiting Swallow Falls and Fairy Glen. There's lovely waterside walking here with lots of pretty waterfalls to see. If you head to the northern end of the forest there's several beautiful reservoirs to visit including Llyn Cowlyd, Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionydd. These reservoirs have some lovely circular walking trails with wonderful views of the Carneddau mountains. Near Llyn Geirionydd there's also the delightful Fairy Falls in the village of Trefriw. View Full Details>> |
| Hackfall Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | These peaceful woods near Grewelthorpe have miles of nice walking trails to try. It's a special place with grottos, old temples, follies, waterfalls and riverside paths along the River Ure. There's also a nice pond with a fountain, carpets of bluebells in the spring and a variety of woodland birds to look out for. The woods include the famous viewpoint at Limehouse Hill. The climb is well worth the effort as there are splendid views of Masham Church, The Ruin and Mowbray Castle which was famously painted by Turner. The Ripon Rowel long distance walking route passes through the woods so you have the option of extending your walk along the River Ure in either direction. This walk starts from the car park near the woods but you could also start from the nearby town of Masham and follow the Ripon Rowel along the river to the woods. It's about a 2 mile walk from the town. For a longer circular walk see our Grewelthorpe Walk which starts from the nearby village. View Full Details>> |
| Hafren Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | This large woodland area near Llanidloes has miles of walking paths and mountain bike trails to try. In the forest you will find the source of the River Severn, pretty waterfalls and a wide variety of wildlife. Look out for ospreys, buzzards, goshawks and red kites on your way through the woods. You can start your exercise from the Hafren Forest car park. Here you'll find an information point, toilets and a picnic area. It's located near the centre of the forest and gives direct access to the trails. The long distance Severn Way passes through the forest so you can pick this up to extend your walk. If you head north west along the path through the woods you will come to the start of the trail at the Source of the River Severn on the slopes of Plynlimon. If you follow the trail south east it will take you into Llanidloes. You could also head east and visit the nearby Llyn Clywedog. The large lake has nice cycling and walking trails including the long distance Glyndwr's Way which runs along the western side of the water. The lake can be found on the eastern fringe of the forest. View Full Details>> |
| Hagg Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | Visit these bluebell woods in Dunnington and enjoy a series of peaceful woodland walking trails through the attractive coniferous woodland. There's lots of interesting flora and fauna with primroses, yellow pimpernel, wood anemone and dog violets. Look out for foxes, deer, badgers and various woodland birds too. To extend your walking in the area you could head east through the countryside and pick up the Minster Way. It runs along the River Derwent into Stamford Bridge. The woods are located a few miles east of York. You can reach the woods by bike using National Cycle Route 66. View Full Details>> |
| Haldon Forest Park | 2 miles (3.5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this 3500 acre forest near Exeter. The cycling trails are well laid out and colour coded according to difficulty. There is a nice easy trail named the 'Discovery Trail' which is well surfaced and great for families looking for a safe ride or for walkers looking for a pleasant stroll. It has fun features for children and takes in some stunning views over Exeter and Dartmoor. The blue Challenge trail is a moderate mountain bike trail with a combination of surfaces, some narrow sections and gentle gradients for intermediate cyclists. More experienced riders can try the red graded 'Ridge Ride Trail' which is a technical, fast and flowing trail with tight corners and lively descents to test your reflexes. Bike hire is available from Forest Cycle Hire. Walkers can enjoy a number of waymarked trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The Butterfly Trail is a three mile circular walk with views across the forest and over the Teign valley. There's also the Mamhead Sensory Trail, an easy 1.5 miles trail with breathtaking views over the Exe estuary to the Jurassic Coast. View Full Details>> |
| Hamsterley Forest | 9 miles (15 km) | Hamsterley Forest is a great place for exciting mountain bike trails, leisurely family cycle rides or peaceful woodland walking. There are three colour coded, way-marked mountain bike trails in the forest. The blue trail follows purpose built cycle tracks and the Bedburn Beck through the southern part of the forest at a leisurely pace. It's suitable for families and people looking for a gentle introduction to off road cycling. The red trail goes further into the forest and climbs to a point with fabulous views of the surrounding area before descending on an exciting single track running along Euden Beck. The black trail is the most severe trail and suitable for experienced mountain bikers. Cycle hire is available from the start of route below. Walkers will find five way-marked trails of varying lengths and difficulty to follow. These include an easy, riverside stroll along Bedburn Beck and longer trails with climbs and a visit to Blackling Hole waterfall. The route mapped out below is suitable for both leisure walkers and cyclists looking for a fairly easy ride. View Full Details>> |
| Hanchurch Woods | 10 miles (16.5 km) | These woods near Trentham have three nice waymarked trails to try. The walks are colour coded and include the Green Walk, Red Walk and Blue Walk. The route below takes you around all three routes in a 10 mile, figure of eight walk. There's some moderate climbs and great views over the area from the high points. You can pick up all the trails from the car park off Drayton Road, about a mile west of the village of Hanchurch. The woods are also great for mountain biking with some decent off road trails. The red section of the route climbs through Harley Thorns woods with fantastic views over Cannock Chase AONB to The Wrekin hill in Shropshire. The green section heads towards the village of Hanchurch, passing the pretty Hanchurch Pools on the way. The series of ponds lead to the village where you will find a Model Farm, Hanchurch Manor and a 17th century farmhouse and medieval schoolhouse. You'll also pass through the edge of Swynnerton Old Park and Hanchurch Heath. The long Blue Walk takes you south towards the village of Swynnerton, passing local caves and climbing to a high point of over 700ft. From here there are splendid views all the way to the Welsh Hills. Swynnerton is a very pretty village and nice place to stop for refreshments before continuing your walk. From the village you head north through farmland towards Beech, before returning to the car park. To extend your walking in the area then look no further than the lovely Trentham Gardens. Here you will find 300 acres of landscaped parkland, gardens and woodland with a fabulous lake. The long distance Two Saints Way also passes the woods. You could pick up the trail and follow it to the Trent and Mersey Canal. This route is designed for walkers but the woods are also popular with mountain bikers. There's 6 miles of mountain bike singletrack and other shorter tracks to try. View Full Details>> |
| Hanley Forest Park | 1 miles (2 km) | This large park in Stoke-on-Trent has some nice walking and cycling paths to try. In the park you'll find woodland trails and a large lake. There's also a small hill with nice views over the city and surrounding countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Harcourt Arboretum | 1 miles (2 km) | This beautiful arboretum near Oxford has a series of well laid out footpaths to try. There's 130 acres to explore with wildflower meadows, rhododendrons and bluebell woods. In the arboretum you will find giant redwoods, azaleas and monkey-puzzle trees. Many of the trees have been introduced from the Pacific North West region of North America. The lovely paths take you to the Serpentine Ride and peaceful glades. It really is a spectacular sight in autumn while in spring there are beautiful carpets of bluebells. In addition to the woodland there is a 67 acre wildflower meadow with views of the surrounding countryside. Look out for a variety of birdlife and the resident peacocks as you make your way through the grounds. Harcourt is located near to the Thames Path so this is a good option if you would like to extend your walk. Both Abingdon and Oxford are nearby. View Full Details>> |
| Hardwick Wood | 5 miles (7.5 km) | This walk takes you from the Cambridgeshire village of Hardwick to the nearby Hardwick Wood Nature Reserve. The route uses part of the Harcamlow Way long distance footpath to visit the site before continuing to the village of Toft. View Full Details>> |
| Harewood Forest | 4 miles (7 km) | This large forest near Andover has miles of woodland walking trails to try. You can reach the forest by following the Test Way from nearby Chilbolton or Wherwell. It's about a one mile walk through the countryside to the woods from Wherwell. The Test Way passes through the woods but there are also other public footpaths to pick up once you are there. The forest has an intersting history with the 19th century Dead Man's Plack to see. The Grade-II listed monument is dedicated to Ethelwald, Ealdorman of East Anglia, who (as legend goes) was killed in 963 by his rival in love, King Edgar I. To extend your walking in the area you could head south west along the Test Way towards Stockbridge and visit Danebury Hill Fort. The fascinating Iron Age fort commands wonderful views over the Test Valley. Cyclists can reach the forest area by cycling along National Cycle Route 246 which runs through nearby Goodworth Clatford and Upper Clatford from Andover. View Full Details>> |
| Harlestone Firs Forest Walk | 2 miles (3.3 km) | This circular walk visits the popular Harlestone Firs in Northamptonshire. The woods are located just a few miles north west of Northampton, near Dallington. View Full Details>> |
| Hartburn Glebe | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Explore these pretty little woods in the village of Hartburn on this short walk in Northumberland. A river runs through the area with a deep pool reputed to have been used to hide silver and valuables during Viking Raids. Look out for wildlife including red squirrels, badgers and otters and various interesting plants and flowers. There's also a splendid Grade ll listed grotto near the river. It was created in the 18th century as a changing area for ladies wishing to bathe in the Hart Burn. Hartburn Glebe is situated about 6 miles (10 km) to the west of Morpeth. View Full Details>> |
| Harwood Dale Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy a walk through this large forest and around the pretty village of Harwood Dale on this circular route in the North York Moors. You can start your walk from the village and then head north to reach the forest. There's lots of footpaths and bridleways to explore the coniferous woodland with its pine and spruce trees, streams and ponds. Look out for wildlife including roe deer, badgers, squirrels, foxes and various woodland birds. After visiting the forest it's well worth exploring the area around the village. If you head west you can visit the old church and enjoy a stroll along Harwood Dale Beck and Hagg Wood. Just to the south you'll find Broxa Forest, while continuing west will take you past the River Derwent into Langdale Forest. Here you'll find more good walking paths, mountain bike trails and great views over the North York Moors. View Full Details>> |
| Haugh Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These expansive woods near Hereford include mountain bike trails and a Butterfly Trail for walkers. The area covers about 850 acres so there's plenty of different trails to try. It's great for wildlife with over 600 recorded species of butterfly and moth. Families can enjoy nice easy walking trails with picnic benches to rest and refresh yourselves. The Haugh Wood Butterfly Trails are particularly popular. You can follow the waymarked trails and look out for the information boards which show you the different types of butterfly you may see on your walk. You can pick up all the trails from Haugh Wood car park in the centre of the woods. There's lots of footpaths to choose from including the Three Choirs Way long distance trail which runs right through the wood. The Wye Valley Walk also skirts the western edge of the woods. You could actually follow the waymarked path from Hereford all the way to the woods as an alternative route. The woods also link with the Mordiford Loop. The circular trail takes you through the orchards, woodland and countryside surrounding the village. View Full Details>> |
| Haughmond Hill | 3 miles (5.6 km) | Enjoy a series of waymarked walking trails in this woodland area near Shrewsbury. There are four colour coded trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The Bardon Geo Trail is waymarked with orange markers. It will take you to a viewpoint with wonderful views over the Shropshire countryside and the River Severn. The red waymakers will take you on Henry's Hike where you can enjoy excellent views of The Wrekin. Wilfred's Walk follows blue markers on a four km circular tour of the area. It is named after Wilfred Owen the famous World War One poet who had links with the area. There is also an easy access trail suitable for wheelchairs and buggies which is waymarked with yellow markers. You will pass through mixed deciduous/coniferous woodland and visit an Iron Age enclosure and Haughmond quarry on the way. Look out for deer as you make your way through the woodland areas. View Full Details>> |
| Havant Thicket | 2 miles (3.4 km) | Enjoy miles of woodland and moorland paths at Havant Thicket, part of the Forest of Bere. You can park at the south eastern corner of the woods, near Rowlands Castle. Then follow the trails through the woods where you can visit the ponds and look out for wildlife including various woodland birds and deer. View Full Details>> |
| Hawthorn Dene | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This delightful nature reserve near Easington has nice footpaths to follow. The paths will take you through attractive woodland and along the pretty Hawthorn Burn. The reserve is located just to the south of Seaham. You could follow the Durham Coastal Footpath to reach the site. Alternatively there is a car park just to the north of the reserve. From here you can pick up the footpaths east through the reserve to the coast. You'll pass the railway viaduct before coming to Hawthorn Hive, with cliffs and rocky shore. Look out for a variety of flora and fauna including snowdrops, wild garlic and bluebells in the spring. Notable wildlife includes jay, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker and roe deer. If you would like to extend your walk you could follow the coast path south and visit the lovely Castle Eden Dene. Here you will find miles of woodland trails, pretty streams, rushing waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife in this splendid nature reserve in Peterlee. View Full Details>> |
| Hazelborough Wood | 3 miles (4.4 km) | These ancient woods near the village of Silverstone have some nice footpaths to try. The site includes oak and conifer plantations with plenty of birds and butterflies to look out for as you make your way through the woods. You can access the woods from the car park just off the A43, south west of Silverstone. View Full Details>> |
| Heartwood Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | This large forest near St Albans has some fine cycling and walking trails to try. The forest includes over half a million trees, ancient woodland, wildflower meadows and miles of waymarked walks. There's also bridleways suitable for mountain biking. It's great in the spring with carpets of bluebells and lots of wildlife to look out for. This includes barn owls, tawny owls, kestrels and 27 species of butterfly. There is also a community orchard with apple and pears trees plus an arboretum which, once fully grown, will be the only one known in the UK to contain all 57 of our native tree species. There's three waymarked walks to try all of which are fairly easy and of similar lengths. These take place on a mixture of surfaced tracks and grassy paths. You can park at the car park near the village of Sandridge to start your walk. The bridleways can also be picked up from the High Street in the village. The area includes Langley Wood and Pudler's Wood with Nomansland Common just to the north. If you are on a bike please keep to the marked bridleways. The forest is located near to a number of excellent cycling and walking trails. If you head north towards Wheathampstead you can pick up the Ayot Greenway. This rail trail will take you to Welwyn Garden City on a marked National Cycle Route. You can also pick up the Lea Valley Walk and enjoy a riverside stroll. View Full Details>> |
| Hembury Woods | 2 miles (2.6 km) | This circular walk explores Hembury Castle Hill Fort and Hembury Woods in Buckfastleigh, Devon. There's miles of shady trails with waterside paths along the Holy Brook and the River Dart, which runs through the eastern side of the wood. There's parking areas along the country lane which runs through the woods, including one just to the west of Hembury Castle. From here you can pick up paths leading up to the Iron Age Hillfort before descending into the surrounding woodland. Head east and you can pick up a nice trail running along the River Dart, before heading along the Holy Brook to return to the car park. The site is located on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park with the Dartmoor Way passing along the southern edge of the woods. If you prefer you could start the walk from Buckfasltleigh and follow the trail to the site. To extend your exercise follow the waymarked path north west to go deeper into the National Park. Just to the north of the woods you will find River Dart Country Park where there's 90 acres, of lakes, parkland, woodland trails and another nice waterside footpath along the River Dart. Just to the south east is the delightful Buckfast Abbey where there's a series of well laid paths through lovely gardens surrounding the abbey. Venford Reservoir is also nearby. It has a nice easy trail to follow around the water. View Full Details>> |
| Hemsted Forest | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This forest in Kent has mile of good walking and cycling trails taking you through attractive conifer, pine and douglas fir plantations. It's great for wildlife watching with lots of woodland birds to look out for on the way. View Full Details>> |
| Hetchell Woods | 3 miles (5.6 km) | This lovely circular walk visits the Hetchell Woods Nature Reserve near Leeds in West Yorkshire. It's a delightful spot with peaceful woodland trails, pretty streams and lots of wildlife to look out for. The site also includes the imposing rocky outcrop of Hetchell Crags and the fascinating Roman earthworks at Pompocali. You can start the walk from the little village of Bardsey just to the north west of the woods. Then follow the Bardsey Beck a short distance to the woods. On the southern side of the woods you will find Pompocali where there are extensive earthworks on the course of an old Roman Road. It's an interesting spot, surrounded by some lovely countryside. The site is great for flora and fauna with lots of wildflowers to see in the attractive open grassland areas. There's also Hebridean sheep and a variety of woodland birds to look out for all year round. The Leeds Country Way long distance trail passes through the woods so there is great scope for extending your walking in this lovely area. If you pick up the trail and head west you can visit the splendid Harewood House with its lakes, woodland and attractive parkland. Also to the west is Eccup Reservoir which has a nice walking trail to follow around the water. View Full Details>> |
| Hicks Lodge | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy cycling and walking trails in this converted coal mining site in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. View Full Details>> |
| Highnam Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | Follow the 2km nature trail through this pretty RSPB reserve near Gloucester and Maidenhall. There are nice woodland paths where you can look out for a variety of bird species including the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Nightingale, Song Thrush, and Spotted Flycatchers. Also look out for woodland butterflies such as white admirals and white-letter hairstreaks. The Wysis Way and the Gloucestershire Way both pass close to the reserve so there is scope for extending your walk along one of these long distance paths. If you head a mile to the east you will come to the lovely Highnam Court with its beautiful gardens, lake and 17th century grade I listed country house. View Full Details>> |
| Hockley Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Follow the peaceful walking trails through this large area of mixed woodland near Rayleigh in Essex. There's a car park at the northern tip of the woods just off Main Road. From here you can pick up the waymarked trails. In the wood you'll find Oak and sweet chestnut trees, streams and wildflowers including three species of orchid. In the springtime there are lovely carpets of bluebells to enjoy. Look out for wildlife including various woodland birds and the protected heath fritillary butterfly. The Saffron Trail long distance footpath runs past the woods so you can pick this up to extend your walk. To visit Hockley from nearby Rochford you could follow the Roach Valley Way west through the countryside to the woods. This will take you past the pretty Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park with its lake, woodland and grassland covering 200 acres. View Full Details>> |
| Hodgemoor Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods near the town of Amersham have some good footpaths and mountain bike trails to try. You can start off at the car park on Bottrells Lane at the northern edge of the site. From here you can pick up miles of footpaths and bridleways across the 250-acre woods. It's a delightful area with lots of pretty bluebells in the spring and a healthy population of Muntjac Deer to look out for. Also keep your eyes peeled for tawny owls, buzzards, kites and numerous other woodland birds. This basic circular route is designed for walkers but cyclists can also enjoy a series of permissive trails and a bike park with bumps and jumps. See the video below for an idea of what you can expect from the ride. Click here for a map showing the trails and visit the website below to get a permit for cycling in the woods. Our Amersham Circular Walk skirts the northern edge of the woods. You can pick it up to extend your walk and explore the countryside surrounding Amersham and the nearby village of Chalfont St Giles. The long distance South Bucks Way also passes just to the north of the woods. It's a great way to explore the Misbourne valley area of the Chilterns and extend your exercise. View Full Details>> |
| Hopwas Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy walking and cycling trails in these woods near Tamworth. There's 385 acres of ancient woodland to explore with the Coventry Canal running through the eastern edge of the forest. For mountain bikers there are opportunites for some fun off road cycling with natural single track, dirt tracks and some short steep descents. You can gain access to the woods from the village of Hopwas by following the canal into the woods and then picking up the bridleways. View Full Details>> |
| Houghton Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | These woods near Arundel have good mountain bike trails and some nice footpaths to try. You can park at the Whiteways Countryside car park, just off the A29 at the south eastern end of the forest. From here you can pick up the trails heading north west through the woods. You could also follow either the Monarch's Way or South Downs Way from the village of Houghton. You can also extend your walking in the area by continuing along either of these long distance trails or the Midhurst Way which also passes through the forest. View Full Details>> |
| How Stean Gorge | 3 miles (5 km) | Visit this spectacular limestone gorge and enjoy a walk through the beautiful Nidderdale countryside. You can park in the village of Middlesmoor and then follow footpaths to the gorge about half a mile south. It's great for walkers with lots of public footpaths along the rushing river and through the surrounding woodland. The area also has an activity centre where you can try caving, rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing. After exploring the gorge you could extend your walk by picking up the Nidderdale Way and following it to the nearby Gouthwaite Reservoir or Scar House Reservoir. View Full Details>> |
| Howe Park Wood | 2 miles (3.2 km) | These pretty bluebell woods in Milton Keynes have some nice shady trails, ponds and lots of wildlife to look out for. The walk also includes a visit to the small 16th century church of St Giles which is located next to the woods in Tattenhoe. You can start off from the car park and visitor centre off Chaffron Way. There's a wide variety of trees and shrubs, and almost three hundred species of moths have been recorded. You may spot deers, badgers, foxes and birds including Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Creeper, Willow Tit, Willow Warbler and the Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl. Also look out for butterflies including White Admiral, the Wood White, Purple Hairstreak and the rare Black Hairstreak. After exploring the woods head west to visit St Giles Church which dates from 1538. It was constructed using the stones from nearby Snelshall Priory and also includes 800 year old yew trees in the churchyard. View Full Details>> |
| Hucking Estate | 2 miles (4 km) | Enjoy a peaceful stroll through the ancient woodland and open grassland of the Hucking Estate in the Kent Downs AONB. Waymarked walking trails will take you along well surfaced paths with scupltures and fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. Spring is a great time for this walk as you will find a carpet of pretty bluebells in the delightful woodland glades. Free parking is available on Church Road, where this circular walk starts and finishes. If you'd like to extend your walk then you could follow the North Downs Way to the nearby White Horse Wood Country Park for more walking trails with great views. It is located about 2.5 miles to the west. View Full Details>> |
| Humford Woods | 4 miles (6 km) | These woods in Bedlington have nice trails to follow along the River Blyth. It's a peaceful place for a stroll with the stepping stones and the woodland wildlife the main highlights. You can park at the car park at Humford Mill and follow trails south along both sides of the river. The trails will eventually lead you to Plessey Woods Country Park just north of Cramlington. Here you'll find 100 acres of woodland and meadow with miles of cycling and walking trails. The woods are also next to Bedlington Country Park where you can extend your walk in the other direction. View Full Details>> |
| Hurn Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy a cycle or walk through this pleasant area of woodland near Bournemouth. There are miles of good tracks to explore the area which includes woodland, heathland and ponds. The Moors River also runs past the western edge of the wood where you will also be able to see Bournemouth Airport. There is a parking area on Matchams Lane from which this route starts. You can see this on the street view link below. To extend your outing head to the nearby Avon Heath Country Park near Ringwood. View Full Details>> |
| Idless Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | Enjoy miles of woodland walking and cycling trails in this beautiful area of mixed woodland near Truro. This circular route starts at the car park at the western end of the forest and takes you around the area on good paths. Features in the forest include an Iron Age hill fort, lots of pretty bluebells in spring and the River Allen which runs past the western end of the forest. The woods are made up of beeches, larches and eucalyptus. It's a great for wildlife too with roe deer, otters and badgers to look out for. The woods are are very popular with mountain bikers with numerous off road trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Jeskyns Park | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Explore the woodlands, ponds, orchards and wildflower meadows in this country park near Gravesend. Walkers can enjoy a number of waymarked surfaced paths and an 8km grass trail. There are also easy surfaced paths for cyclists. These are good for families looking for a safe ride. There's lots to see with 100 acres of meadowland with over 40 species of wildflower. You can also explore the orchards with apple, plum, cherry and pear trees. At Henhurst Lake you can look out for water loving wildlife while the woodland area and glades are a lovely tranquil place for a stroll too. If you'd like to extend your outing then you could head to the nearby Shorne Woods Country Park where you'll find 288 acres of rolling woodlands, wetlands and meadows. Our Circular Walk around Cobham visits Shorne Woods, Jeskyns Park and also takes you to Cobham Woods which is run by the National Trust. View Full Details>> |
| Joydens Wood | 4 miles (6.5 km) | Explore these ancient woods near Bexleyheath on this easy walk on the border of London and Kent. The area is historically and archeologically significant with remains found from Roman times. This is represented with a series of impressive wooden sculptures. Look out for the Saxon Warrior and Roman Soldier pieces in particular. There's lots of wildlife to see also. Look out for bats, woodpecker, owl and dormouse all of which are represented by a sculpture. The wood has lots of good waymarked footpaths and nice wide bridleways for cyclists to follow. It's a peaceful place for walkers to visit on the outskirts of the city. With over 136 hectares (325 acres) to explore on miles of paths there's plenty to keep walkers and mountain bikers busy. You can start your walk from Bexley train station just to the north of the woods. Then follows paths south to the site. As well as the extensive woodland there's an area of open heathland with ponds and picnic tables. Look out for pretty plants and flowers including bluebells, lily-of-the-valley, honeysuckle and wood sage. The London Loop passes close to the woods so it's to extend your walking in the area. You can follow it to a number of parks and nature reserves close to the wood. At Foots Cray Meadows nature reserve you can enjoy a waterside walk along the River Cray while at Scadbury Park you can explore the ruins of Scadbury Manor. The popular trails at Petts Wood Circular and Jubilee Country Park are also close by. View Full Details>> |
| Kielder Forest Lakeside Way | 22 miles (35 km) | This fantastic circular cycling and walking route takes you around the beautiful Kielder Water in Kielder Forest Park, Northumberland. The route is known as the Lakeside Way and follows the shoreline of the reservoir on a lovely multi-user track. Along the way you can see twenty pieces of outdoor public art including the futuristic Belvedere shelter and the three large rotating Janus Chairs. There's excellent wildlife spotting opportunities with Ospreys regularly seen around the reservoir. The route also passes Kielder Dam and Kielder Castle where you will find an excellent visitor centre with exhibitions, information and a cafe. The castle is also the centre for cycling within the park - you can hire a bike here or get your own repaired. It is located at the northern tip of the reservoir at Kielder village. If you're looking for a more challenging cycle ride you will also find several colour coded mountain bike trails within the park. They range from the easy Borderline trail to the thrilling Deadwater black trail. For great views over the Lake District and the Scottish Hills you could climb Deadwater Fell from Kielder Castle. A few miles to the north there's a nice climb to Girdle Fell with great views over the lovely Catcleugh Reservoir. View Full Details>> |
| Kilbroney Forest Park | 5 miles (8 km) | This fantastic forest park in Rostrevor has miles of good walking trails to try. This walk takes you along the pretty Glen Stream before climbing to Slieve Martin for great views over the area. Carlingford Lough, the Norman Narrowwater Castle and the surrounding Mourne Mountains are clearly visible from the summit. You can also enjoy easier footpaths along the Kilbroney River and through the Fairy Glen in Kilbroney Park at the start of the route. In Rostrevor Forest there are also a series of great mountain bike trails. This route is designed for walkers but the cycling trail are also highlighted on the map in blue. They take you north from near Slieve Martin to Slieve Meel and around Crenville. With a 27km red trail and a hair raising 19km black trail Rostrevor is believed by many to be the top spot for mountain biking in Ireland. For more great sites with mountain biking and walking on the east coast head to Tollymore Forest Park, Castle Ward and Castlewellan Forest Park. View Full Details>> |
| King's Forest | 9 miles (15 km) | This large area of woodland near has miles of cycling and walking trails to enjoy. You can park at West Stow Country Park and pick up the Icknield Way Path which runs through the woods along the Westtow Road track. The woods are great for wildlife with Fallow, Red, Roe and Muntjac deer to look out for. You may also see foxes and badgers. Birdwatchers may see Owl, Warblers, Finches, Goldcrests, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Buzzards. To extend your walking in the are you can further explore West Stow Country Park. It's right next to the woods and includes waterside trails through the Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve and along the River Lark. Also nearby is the pretty Cavenham Heath Nature Reserve. The reserve has nice trails through heathland with more wildlife to look out for. The long distance Lark Valley Path also runs through the area so you could pick this up and enjoy a riverside walk through Suffolk. View Full Details>> |
| King's Wood Kent | 2 miles (4 km) | This large area of woodland near Challock has miles of good walking trails to try. There's a good sized sculpture trail with a series of interesting wooden sculptures and pretty bluebells in the springtime. The ancient woodland is comprised of Sweet Chestnut, Beech, Corsican Pine and Douglas Fir. It's a great place for wildlife with species including fallow deer, adders, nightjars and green woodpeckers. The forest is located just to the east of Challock with a parking area on White Hill Road. It is not too far from Canterbury and Ashford. This route is designed for walkers to explore the sculptures but there are also lots of good cycling trails on the hard forest roads and mountain bike trails in the woods. The North Downs Way also passes through the eastern end of the woods so you can pick up this bridleway section too. View Full Details>> |
| Kirkhill Forest | 7 miles (11.2 km) | This forest near Aberdeen has some good walking paths and mountain bike trails to try. There's also a series of hills to climb with great views over the surrounding area. You can start your exercise from the car park at the south eastern corner of the forest, just off the A96. Head west and then north and you can climb to Tyrebagger Hill at a height of 306m. On the top of the hill you will find a viewing tower with a spiral stairway. Climb to the top for fine, far reaching views over Aberdeenshire. From Tyrebagger Hill you continue to the Hill of Marcus before descending to easier woodland trails. Use the open street map link below to see the mtb trails mapped out. View Full Details>> |
| Knapdale Forest | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this expansive forest in Argyll and Bute. It's a great place for outdoor exercise with a series of pretty lochs, waterfalls, woodland trails and lots of wildlife to look out for. This walking route starts at the Barnluasgan car park and takes you around Loch Coille-Bharr. The car park also gives access to a number of other good cycling and walking trails. You can visit Barnluasgan and Dubh Loch where you can look out for beavers, ospreys, eagles and red squirrels. The whole of this route is designed for walkers but if you follow the western edge of the loch you can pick up a great cycling trail which will take you to Caol Scotnish and the wonderful Loch Sween. To extend your outing head north and pick up the towpath of the Crinan Canal. View Full Details>> |
| Knighton Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | Explore Knighton Wood and Lord Bushes on this short walk in the Buckhurst Hill area of Epping Forest. It's a lovely area for a peaceful stroll with nice footpaths taking you to rhododendron, oak and ash woodland. There's also tranquil ponds and the pretty Knighton Lake. You can park at the car park off Knighton Lane to start your walk. Then pick up the waymarked circular path called the Rowan Trail. The flat path runs for about 1.5 miles around the lake and the woods. Look out for pretty bluebells, violets and the Speckledwood Butterfly as you make your way around the site. If you would like to extend your walk then you could head west and pick up the Epping Forest Centenary Walk. Follow it north and you will soon come to the delightful Connaught Water with its surfaced waterside path. Knighton Wood is located very close to Roding Valley station where you can pick up the River Roding Walk which will take you through the pretty Roding Valley. View Full Details>> |
| Knightwood Oak | 1 miles (1 km) | Visit the largest oak tree in the New Forest on this short, accessible walk. You start off at the Knightwood Oak car park and follow a nice gravel path to the impressive tree. It's over 500 years old, has a girth of 7.38 metres (24.2 ft) and is still growing!
The Knightwood Oak trail is located just a few miles west of Lyndhurst. You could extend your walk by trying the New Forest Reptile Centre Trail which is less than a mile away. You could follow our Lyndhurst Circular Walk to visit the centre and the lovely Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. View Full Details>> |
| Lady Canning's Plantation | 1 miles (2 km) | This area of woodland in south west Sheffield has some good mountain bike trails and footpaths for walkers. The Blue graded Blue Steel trail twists and turns through berms and rollers from top to bottom. The woods are also criss crossed with miles of footpaths which are popular with dog walkers. The site is located at Ringinglow, just to the west of Ecclesall Woods which is a good place to extend your exercise. The Sheffield Round Walk also skirts the edge of the woods and is another good way to explore the countryside, villages and woods surrounding the city. View Full Details>> |
| Lady Clough Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These attractive woodlands are located just off the Snake Pass in the Peak District. There are miles of nice nice walking trails to try. It's a very pretty area with the rushing water of the River Ashop, tranquil ponds and attractive coniferous woodland. The walk starts from the car park at Birchen Clough Bridge just off Snake Road. From here you gain direct access to the woodland trails which take you to Lady Clough Moor and Urchin Moor. There are two colour coded waymarked trails on challenging paths with stream crossings and great views of the surrounding moorland. After the walk you can refresh yourself at the Snake Pass Inn just south of the woods. The walk can be extended by heading west across Ashop Moor to Ashop Clough. Just to the east you will find the Alport Castles Walk. You could also try our Snake Pass circular walk which explores the area around the pass. It starts from the woods and heads along Black Ashop Moor. View Full Details>> |
| Langdale Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | This large forest in the North Yorks Moors has mountain bike trails and walking routes to try. The coniferous forest has a number of pretty streams and lots of wildlife to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for nightjar, bullfinch, adders, lizards and the pearl bordered fritillary butterflies. The Blue Man Walk passes through the forest so you can pick this up to extend your walk. You can follow the trail through the North York Moors to Dalby Forest and Broxa Forest. Also nearby is the expansive Wykeham Forest and the fascinating sandstone sculptures at Bridestones Nature Reserve. Harwood Dale Forest lies just to the east of the forest and has nearly 2000 acres of woodland trails to try. The pretty village and beck are also well worth exploring. View Full Details>> |
| Latchmore Brook and Hasley Hill Inclosure | 3 miles (4.5 km) | Enjoy a waterside walk along the delighful Latchmore Brook, near Fordingbridge in the New Forest. The brook and surrounding countryside are an idyllic area, often surrounded by horses, ponies and deer. The walk continues into the Hasley Hill Inclosure where you will find a series of pretty woodland paths. The walk begins from the Ogdens car park near Fordingbridge on the eastern side of the New Forest. If you'd like to extend your walk then the pretty Cadman's Pool is only about a mile to the east. You could also try our Fordingbridge River Walk which takes you along the River Avon to Ibsley. View Full Details>> |
| Laughton Woods | 8 miles (12.5 km) | Follow the long woodland trail through Laughton Woods on this easy walk in Lincolnshire. You can park at the car park at Tuetoes Wood and then follow a footpath through Laughton Forest to the nearby village of Scotten. The path passes Scotton Common Nature Reserve and Green Howe Pond. Look out for wildlife such as herons and nightjars in the woods. Laughton Woods is located about 7 miles south of Scunthorpe. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could head to the nearby Messingham Sand Quarry where there are nice footpaths running around a series of lagoons. Also nearby is the lovely Twigmoor Woods with its large ponds and lovely colourful rhododendrons. View Full Details>> |
| Leechpool Woods | 2 miles (3.2 km) | A woodland walk through Leechpool Woods and Owlbeech Woods in Horsham. The woodland is mixed and includes many mature broadleaved deciduous trees in the Leechpool area. Facilities include a car park, information board, metalled path circuit and a permanent orienteering course. It's also a very popular area for dog walkers. The walk starts from the Leechpool Woods car park off Harwood Road on the eastern fringe of the town. From here you can pick up trails heading north east toward Owlbeech Woods. Leechpool is characterised by mixed woodland while Owlbeech by heathland where you can see hebridean sheep, cattle and llamas grazing at certain times of the year. It's a nice area for walkers with several waymarked paths to try, including a sculpture trail representing the wildlife you can see in the woods. Look out for various butterflies and birds such as siskins and woodlarks as you make your way along the trails. You can also see lots of pretty bluebells in the spring months. View Full Details>> |
| Leigh Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy cycling and walking trails in this forest and nature reserve in Bristol. The reserve is located in the beautiful Avon Gorge and is a popular retreat from the city. You can enjoy oak, small leaf lime and ash forest with carpets of bluebells in the springtime. Along the way you can enjoy sculpture trails, views of the River Avon and the Clifton Suspension Bridge and a variety of wildlife. Look out for bullfinch, marsh tit, song thrush and Peregrine falcon as you make your way through the woods. The area is managed by the National Trust so the trails are well maintained. Walkers can enjoy various waymarked walking trails including the popular one-mile woodland wander which will suit all abilities. The whole of the circular route below is designed for walkers. If you are on a bike please stick to the marked cycle trails which start from the same point as this route. For cyclists there is a blue grade trail which makes for a nice traffic free ride for beginners or families. The video below shows this trail known as the Yer Tiz trail. There is also a red grade trail for more experienced mountain bikers to try. A National Cycle Network trail also runs through the forest. Parking is available at the woods but you could follow the River Avon Trail from the centre of Bristol to extend your exercise. It's about a 2-3 mile walk/cycle along the river from the city centre and train station. To extend your walk you can cross the river and visit the lovely Durdham and Clifton Downs. View Full Details>> |
| Lesnes Abbey Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | Visit the fascinating ruins of Lesney Abbey and enjoy a stroll through the adjacent ancient woodland, on this lovely walk in south east London. To start your walk you can park at the Lesnes Abbey car park just of Abbey Road. Abbey wood train station is also very close to the entrance to the ruins at the northern end of the park. Just stroll along Abbey Road for a few minutes and the abbey ruins are just on your right. The abbey dates from the late 12th century and is dedicated to St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr. After exploring the ruins you can also visit the arboretum and the ornamental garden. The walk extends into Lesney Abbey Woods just to the south of the ruins. There's a nice selection of footpaths surrounded by pretty flowers such as daffodils, bluebell and wood anemone. Look out for wildlife including butterflies and a variety of woodland birds. The park has good facilities with a nice cafe and an exhibition giving details of the history of the abbey. The Green Chain Walk passes right through the grounds so there is plenty of scope for extending your walk. If you follow the trail east it will take you into Bostall Woods. Continue south east and you will soon come to Shooter's Hill and Oxleas Wood where there is an elevated terrace garden with fine views over the city of London and the countryside of the surrounding counties. View Full Details>> |
| Llandegla Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | This large forest near Wrexham is a fantastic place for walking and cycling. There are 50km of graded, waymarked mountain bike trails. The trails range from nice easy family trails to more exhilarating downhill tracks. The Green Route is a leisurely ride around the pretty Pendinas Reservoir with views of the Clwydian Range. At the other end of the scale is the challenging Black Route with steep descents, large steps, gaps and drop-offs. The Blue route is a good one to try for people new to mountain bikers while the Red Route is for Intermediate riders. Walkers are also well catered for with a series of waymarked walks. Easy trail include one around the reservoir with views of Moel Famau. There's also a nice trail across the Ruabon moors where you can look out for the Black Grouse from the bird hides. The forest has an excellent visitor centre with bike hire and a cafe. The Offa's Dyke Path runs through the forest so you could pick this up to extend your exercise. If you follow the trail south for a couple of miles you will come to the lovely wooded gorge at World's End. View Full Details>> |
| Lud's Church | 3 miles (5 km) | This walk visits the fascinating deep chasm of Lud's Church on the edge of the Staffordshire Peak District. It's a lovely place for a walk with nice views of the Dane Valley and woodland trails through Forest Wood and Gradbach Wood near the chasm. You can start the walk from the car park off Gradbach Mill Lane, about a mile to the east of the cave. From here you can pick up the Dane Valley Way and follow the River Dane to the chasm. The Millstone Grit geological formation is covered in moss and has an unusual atmospheric feel to it. It's 100 metres (328ft) long and 18 metres (59 ft) deep so you can walk along for quite a way between the tall mossy rocks. After exploring Lud's church you can explore the surrounding woodland before crossing Black Brook and returning to the car park along the riverside path. This area of the White Peak is great for walkers so there's lots of options for extending your walk. You could continue west along the Dane Valley Way and visit nearby Danebridge. From the same car park you can visit Three Shires Head. The beautiful area is where the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet. There's lots of pretty waterfalls and a wonderful grade II listed packhorse bridge over the River Dane. Just to the south of Lud's Church you will find The Roaches. The elevated rocky ridge, includes fascinating rock formations and wonderful views of the surrounding countrsyide. View Full Details>> |
| Lustleigh Cleave | 5 miles (8.2 km) | The village of Lustleigh is in a nice position for exploring a lovely part of the Dartmoor National Park. This circular walk takes you to Lustleigh Cleave, a 'cliff' or 'cleft', to the east of the village. It's a great place for walkers with many footpaths leading to fields, meadows, woods and riverside trails along the River Bovey. The Cleave is also teeming with interesting flora and fauna. Look out for widlife including deer, butterflies and the dipper bird by the river. In the spring you can also see lots of bluebells and foxgloves. The walk starts in the centre of the village and follows country lanes south west to Pethybridge. Around here you can pick up woodland trails heading north west to Lustleigh Cleave, passing Sharpitor on the way. The walk bends round past Horsham Cleave and picks up woodland trails in Pullabrook Woods. Here you follow a nice waterside path along the River Bovey into Houndtor Wood. You then head through Hisley Wood before returning to the Lustleigh. The village is also a great place for a stroll with delightful thatched cottages, the lovely Primrose Tea Rooms, a cricket field, a communal apple orchard and a splendid village pub for refreshments after your walk. Also take time to visit the 13th century church where you can see the ancient Datuidoc's Stone which dates from the 6th century. View Full Details>> |
| Macclesfield Forest and Trentabank Reservoir | 3 miles (4.5 km) | This circular walk explores Macclesfield Forest and also pays a visit to the pretty Trentabank Reservoir on the western edge of the Peak District. The walk starts at the Standing Stone car park on the eastern edge of the forest. You then head west on good woodland footpaths through the conifer forest, passing along the Bollin Brook before arriving at Trentabank Reservoir. The area is great for wildlife spotting with a large heronry and other water loving birds such as common sandpiper, green sandpiper and little ringed plover. You may also see red deer in the woodland area. The area also include grassland with a variety of pretty plants and flowers including bluebell, tormentil, pignut, birdsfoot trefoil, foxglove and lesser knapweed. From the reservoir the route heads south back into the woodland towards Nessit Hill before returning to the car park. It's easy to extend your walking in this lovely area. You could head west past Ridegate Reservoir and pick up the Gritstone Trail and follow it to the excellent Tegg's Nose Country Park. View Full Details>> |
| Maulden Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of nice woodland walking trails in this popular wood in Maulden, Bedfordshire. The site consist of semi-natural broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland and some conifer plantations. You can access the woods by following the Greensand Ridge Walk from the village. The path takes you through some nice countryside to the woods where you can pick from several trails. The southern section takes you into Pennyfather's Woods with a path through more open countryside and grassland to enjoy. Look out for wildlife including deer, badgers and foxes. In the spring and summer months there are lots of wildflowers and bluebells. These attract a wide variety of butterflies including white admiral and purple hairstreak. This walk starts from the village of Maudlen but there is also a car park in the north eastern corner of the site, just off the A6. There's also a picnic area in the southern section. To extend your walk you could visit the nearby Ampthill Park where you can enjoy fabulous views from the Greensand Ridge. If you follow the Greensand Ridge Walk east it will take you through Clophill to Chicksands Wood and Rowney Warren Wood near Shefford. View Full Details>> |
| Mereworth Woods | 5 miles (8 km) | These large woods near Sevenoaks have miles of mountain bike trails and woodland walks to enjoy. The ancient woods consist of mixed broadleaf woodland, acid heath and some conifer plantations. The woods include wide bridleways with some steep descents and nice jumps to try. There's also good footpaths for walkers with lots of wildlife to look out for. The Wealdway long distance trail runs through the western edge of the forest so you can pick this up to extend your walk into the surrounding Kent countryside. Heading north takes you to Platt and Wrotham Heath, while heading south takes you to West Peckham and the Grade II listed Oxon Hoath manor house. Around here you can pick up the Greensand Way which runs to the south of the woods. Also nearby is Oldbury Hill where there are some good bridleways for mountain bikers and the pretty Ightham Mote which has good walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Millington Woods | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Visit these delightful woods in the Yorkshire Wolds on this short walk near Pocklington. The site consists of the best ancient ash woods in the Yorkshire Wolds. You can also enjoy carpets of bluebells, giant bellflowers and the scent of wild garlic. There's a nice surfaced walking trail running from the car park to a view point where you can admire a fine panoramic view across the treetops. The Minster Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way both run past the woods so you could pick up these long distance footpaths to extend your walk. You could then explore the lovely Sylvan Dale and Millington Dale which are right next to the woods. You could actually reach the woods by following the Wolds Way from Pocklington. National Cycle Network Route 164 also runs to the woods from Pocklington so it's easy to cycle there too. There's also a car park just off Wood Gate Road at the southern end of the site. View Full Details>> |
| Moncrieffe Hill | 4 miles (6 km) | This large area of woodland near Perth has miles of nice walking trails and some moderate hill climbs to try. There's lots to see including a nice family sculpture trail. Here you'll find pieces including dragonflies, swinging bees, a wooden bench shaped like a slug and a deer made of metal. There's also lots of wildlife to see on the site. Look out for birds such as great-spotted woodpecker and buzzard, as you make your way through the woods. You can start the walk from the parking area at Wallacetown Wood at the eastern end of the woods. From here you can pick up the woodland footpaths heading west up to Moncrieffe Hill. The summit area, which is known as Moredun Top, is clear and provides fine views over Perth and the Firth of Tay. The route then follows other paths to an Iron Age hill fort and Tarsappie Hill before returning to the car park. View Full Details>> |
| Monk Coniston | 3 miles (5 km) | This circular walk takes you through the pretty grounds of Monk Coniston hall to Tarn Hows in the Lake District. The walk starts from the Monk Coniston National Trust car park at the northern end of Coniston Water. It takes you through the Monk Coniston Hall estate with its walled garden, stone Gazebo and attractive woodland. Look out for a variety of flora and fauna including large redwoods and pretty woodland wildflowers. Wildlife includes roe deer, hares, common lizards and adders. At the northern end of the route you will come to the beautiful Tarn Hows where you can enjoy a waterside walk around the tarn with great views of the surrounding Lakeland mountains. From the northern tarn you can enjoy a climb to Black Crag for wonderful views of the area. To extend your walking in the area you could enjoy a walk or cycle along Coniston Water. The Cumbria Coastal Way also runs past the estate so you could pick up this long distance trail to further explore the area. View Full Details>> |
| Moors Valley Country Park | 3 miles (5 km) | Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, is situated in Ashley Heath, on the Dorset/Hampshire border. The park has a number of peaceful woodland paths so is a great place for a safe and easy cycle or walk. There are a number of well waymarked cycle and walking routes through the park, while there is also cycle hire available throughout the year.
The park contains the Moors River and two Lakes where you can see Grey Herons, Great Crested Grebes, Mallards and Mute Swans. There is also a steam railway and a 'Go Ape' adventure park. Moors Valley is situated right next to Ringwood Forest so there is scope for continuing your ride for several miles through more peaceful woodland. View Full Details>> |
| Mortimer Forest | 8 miles (13 km) | Enjoy walking and cycling trails in this large area of woodland near Ludlow. The woods are located on the border of Shropshire and Herefordshire and include a number of signed trails taking you to the highlights of the forest. The walk starts at the ruined castle in Ludlow and follows the Mortimer Trail over the River Teme into the forest. You'll pass Whitcliffe Common on the southern side of the river where there's a nice viewpoint and riverside trails. The trail heads into the centre of the woods where you can enjoy a climb to High Vinnalls. It's a challenging ascent with the hill reaching a height of about 1200ft. This walk uses a section of the long distance Mortimer Trail which runs through the heart of the forest. You can extend your walk by following the trail south and visiting the Croft Ambrey Iron Age Hillfort where there are great views to the Welsh Hills. There's also nice trails through the parkland and gardens of Croft Castle. The Shropshire Way also passes Ludlow so you could pick up this trail and head deep into the Shropshire countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Mulgrave Woods | 4 miles (5.8 km) | These pretty woods near Whitby have some nice walking trails to try. On the estate you'll find miles of tracks and paths leading to becks, waterfalls and the interesting ruins of Mulgrave Castle. It's a great place to go when the sea front is too windy as the paths are all nicely sheltered. Start your walk on the coast at Sandsend where there is a car park just to the west of the beach. Then follow the paths west along the East Bow Beck and you will come to the castle after a mile or so. The Norman castle is thought to have been built by Nigel Fossard who obtained the property after the Norman Conquest. After rounding the castle you can pick up paths along the Sandsend Beck to lead you back to the car park. Please note the woods are open to the public from dawn to dusk on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays throughout the year except for the month of May when they are closed for the entire month. On certain Sundays you can visit the beautiful gardens. See the link below for details. Sandsend is on the Cleveland Way so it's easy to extend your walk along the coast. Heading east will take you into Whitby, while heading north takes you to the lovely Runswick Bay. View Full Details>> |
| Mynydd Du Forest | 8 miles (13 km) | This large area of woodland in the Black Mountains has miles of forest tracks suitable for walking and mountain biking. The waters of the Grwyne Fawr run through the woods so there is the option of a waterside walk to the nearby Grwyne Fawr Reservoir along the river. You can start your exercise from the Mynydd Du car park at the northern end of the woods, a few miles west of the splendid Llanthony Priory. It's situated in a nice spot at the end of a country lane just next to the river. From here you can pick up the forest trails through the western side of the woods before crossing the river at Pont Cadgwan and returning on the eastern side of the river. There's lots of attractive trees and plants and some steep climbs with great views of the surrounding hills. The riverside sections are lovely too with lots of pretty waterfalls to enjoy. View Full Details>> |
| Nant Y Arian | 3 miles (4.5 km) | This large forest near Aberystwyth has a series of good mountain bike trails and miles of good footpaths for walkers. The forest has a good sized car park and visitor centre just off the A44 between Goginan and Ponterwyd. From here you can pick up the mtb trails heading north into the forest. There's two red grade and two black grade trails of varying lengths. These include technical singletrack descents and long climbs with more details on the open street map link and more information link below. If you're on foot then there's nice paths around the two ponds located just to the east of the car park. There's also miles of bridleways and footpaths to the north of the car park. Some of the trails are quite challenging with a climb to Mynydd March in the northern section. From the high points there are stunning views to the Welsh Mountains. There's also a number of large ponds which are in really lovely remote spots. The forest has a number of bird hides and is well known as a great place to watch red kites. There's also a nice cafe where you can refresh yourself after your exercise. To extend your walking in the area you could head to the nearby Devil's Bridge Falls. The spectacular falls include the imposing Jacob's Ladder stone steps and some wonderful scenery. A few miles north you'll find Nant-y-moch Reservoir where there's a nice waterside trail to try. View Full Details>> |
| National Memorial Arboretum | 5 miles (8 km) | This peaceful circular walk takes you through the National Memorial Arboretum and its surrounding countryside in Alrewas, near Lichfield in Staffordshire. There are 30,000 trees in the 150 acre Arboretum, forming a unique living tribute to those who have served and continue to serve our country. There are also over 300 thought-provoking memorials, each with a story to tell. This walk starts in the Arboretum car park and takes you through the grounds to Wychnor Viaduct on the River Trent. You will pass the pretty Croxall Lakes Nature Reserve. The reserve consists of two large lakes which attract various wildfowl and waders during the autumn months. It's a pretty area with reedbeds and the River flowing through it. Look out for otters and short-eared owls during winter. From the nature reserve you continue to Catholme and Wynchnor Bridges where you pick up the Trent and Mersey Canal. View Full Details>> |
| Neath Waterfalls Walk | 9 miles (15 km) | This long circular walk explores the rivers and waterfalls in the Vale of Neath, also known as 'Waterfall Country'. It's a spectacularly beautiful area with a huge number of waterfalls to see. The falls are of varying size with some of them allowing you to walk behind them for a really special experience. This route runs for about 9 miles on generally good footpaths with some moderate climbing as you cross the countrsyide between the two woodland gorges. The route starts in the village of Pontneddfechan and heads north along the Afon Nedd Fechan and the Afon Pyrddin where there's a lovely wooded gorge and the Sgwd Gwladus falls to see. The route then heads north east out of the gorge into open countryside towards Ystradfellte. Here you can pick up the popular Four Waterfalls Walk to visit Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd-yr-Eira waterfalls. The route then follows more woodland trails through the forest to the east of the village before returning to Pontneddfechan. View Full Details>> |
| New Forest Reptile Centre Trail | 1 miles (2 km) | Follow the Reptile Discovery Trail on this easy walk in the New Forest. The trail takes place on well surfaced tree lined paths with a variety of wildlife to look out for. The centre has all of Britain's native lizards, snakes, frogs and toads. You can also view birds of prey on the nest cams and look out for dragonflies and tadpoles in the pond. It's a great educational walk for families or anyone looking for an easy, informative stroll. If you'd like to extend your walk you could pick up our Lyndhurst Circular Walk and visit the Knightwood Oak which is less than a mile from the trail. View Full Details>> |
| Newborough Forest | 8 miles (13 km) | Explore this fabulous coastal forest in Anglesey on this walking route in Wales. There are miles of cycling and walking trails through the peaceful woodland leading you to the stunning Llanddwyn Bay and Newborough Warren Nature Reserve. This large dune, mudflat, saltmarsh and beach system attracts a large lumber of coastal birds including oystercatchers, lapwings, curlew, skylarks and meadow pipits. This circular walk starts from the Newborough Warren car park near to the coast (postcode for sat navs:LL61 6SG). It runs for about 8 miles on a series of good footpaths. The forest is attached to the wonderful Llanddwyn Island. The island has nice footpaths leading to the ruins of St Dwynwen's Church and the Twr Mawr lighthouse. From the island there are wonderful views of the Menai Strait to Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. Most of this route is designed for walkers but there are plenty of cycle tracks in the area to try as well. The Anglesey Coast Path runs past the site so you could pick this trail up and continue your exercise. Heading east will take you along the Menai Strait to Menai Bridge. View Full Details>> |
| Norsey Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These lovely woods near Billericay have some good waymarked footpaths to try. The site covers 165 acres with ancient coppiced sweet chestnut, oak and hornbeam woodland. It is also a local nature reserve with ponds, streams and lots of bluebells in the spring months. There's also a heather glade, bluebells in the spring and lots of wildflowers in the summer months. Look out for wildlife including dormouse, pipistrelle bat and newts around the ponds. The area is a well managed with a car park, visitor centre, toilets and picnic centre. To continue your walking in the Billericay area you can head about 2 miles to the north east and visit Hanningfield Reservoir. The southern end of the water has some good woodland trails with nice views over the water. View Full Details>> |
| Oakley Wood | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Enjoy a peaceful woodland walk through Oakley Wood, near Leamington Spa. The wood covers 47 hectares (116 acres) and consists of ancient woodland with lots of bluebells and wildflowers in the spring and summer months. It's also a significant butterfly site containing 70% of Warwickshire's butterfly species including Clouded Yellow, Large White, Small White and Small Tortoiseshell. You can also look out for deer and a variety of woodland birds including spotted woodpecker and blackcap. There are two waymarked walking routes to follow in the woods, a blue trail with 8 trail marker posts and a red one with 12 posts. To extend your walking in the area you could head to the nearby Charlecote Park. Here you can enjoy a walk along the River Avon and visit the lovely waterfall and the large lake. You can reach the park from the nearby village of Wellesbourne on the Wellesbourne Walk. It's about a 2 mile walk from the village, running along the River Dene. You can also visit the village's historic watermill beforehand. Also nearby is Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. View Full Details>> |
| Oversley Wood | 2 miles (3.5 km) | Follow the woodland trails through the delightful forest on this circular walk in Alcester. The woods are located just to the south of Alcester. You can easily reach them from the town by following the Arden Way over the River Arrow and past Oversley Green. There's also a car park in the north eastern corner just off the A46. This will give you access to miles of good woodland trails. It's great in the spring and summer with lots of bluebells and wildflowers to enjoy. Look out for butterflies, badgers and lots of birdlife as you make your way through the woods. To extend your walk you can continue along the Arden Way towards Upton and Walcote. View Full Details>> |
| Oxhey Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These peaceful woods near Watford have nice footpaths and a popular sculpture trail to follow. You can park at the Oxhey Woods car park off Oxhey Drive which runs through the centre of the woods. There are lots of trails in the woods but the main attraction is the excellent sculpture trail. Along the 1km trail you will find numerous carved wooden sculptures of the wildlife you can see in the area. Watch the video below to see the pieces being carved. The woods are also a local nature reserve so look out for a variety of interesting flora and fauna. Plants includes bluebells, anemones and violets amongst the ancient woodland. There's also a rhododendron trail running through the southern section of the site near the sculpture trail. Wildlife includes the tiny pipistrelle bat and a variety of woodland birdlife. The London Loop passes through the wood so there is scope for extending your walk in the area. If you head east the trail will take you to Harrow Weald Common, Bentley Priory Nature Reserve and Stanmore Common. The commons have nice woodland trails, heathland and wildlife including muntjac deer to look out for. View Full Details>> |
| Oxleas Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | This lovely park in south east London has good footpaths through bluebell woodland, a terraced garden, a rose garden and parkland. The area is in an elevated position on Shooter's Hill so there are great views of the city of London and the surrounding countryside to enjoy. In the park you will find ancient woodland including oak, silver birch, hornbeam and coppice hazel. There's nice wide lawns where you can enjoy a picnic and the far ranging views. In Castle Wood you will find the 18th century Severndroog Castle. The impressive Gothic-style castle has a viewing platform from which you can see several of the surrounding counties on a clear day. The park also has good facilities with a car park and a nice cafe. The Green Chain Walk passes right through the park so you can pick this up to extend your walking in the area. Heading north will take you through Eltham Common and Woolwich Common before coming to the River Thames in Greenwich. Head east and you will soon come to Bostall Woods where there are more nice walking trails to try. Adjacent to Bostall Woods is the fine Lesnes Abbey Woods where you can explore the ruins of the 12th century abbey and visit the lovely ornamental garden and arboretum. View Full Details>> |
| Padley Gorge Trail | 3 miles (5 km) | Follow the Padley Gorge Trail through the stunning Hope Valley in the Peak District. The hugely popular walking trail runs along the lovely Burbage Brook with its pretty waterfalls, rocky boulders and wooden bridges. You start off at Grindleford Station which you can reach direct from Manchester or Sheffield. The trail is signposted so you can pick it up quite easily. It runs for about 1.5 miles through Yarncliff Wood and then into more open countryside. You can return the same way or head into the beautiful Longshaw Estate to extend your walk. It's a great area for wildlife spotting. Look out for dippers, pied flycatchers, wood warblers and redstarts. The woods at Yarncliff are also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and described as 'the best example of the remnant oak-birch woodland that once covered much of the edges of the gritstone uplands of the Peak District'. There's plenty of nice spots for a picnic next to the babbling brook and its pretty rockpools. You can also find refreshment at the excellent Grindleford Station Cafe, near the start of the route. The gorge is close to the village of Hathersage so you could start your walk from there if you prefer. You're also close to Stanage Edge where you can enjoy fabulous views and interesting rock formations. For a longer walk you could try our Padley Gorge Circular Walk which passes the Fox House Inn and the Longshaw visitor centre. View Full Details>> |
| Pamber Forest | 2 miles (4 km) | This large forest in Tadley covers nearly 500 acres. It is criss crossed with numerous footpaths ideal for a peaceful stroll. The area consists of Oak and Birch ancient woodland and heathland. The pretty Honeymill Brook also runs through the forest. The area is great for wildlife with many species of butterfly to look out for. White admiral, purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary are just a few you may see as you make your way through the woods. Birds such as Blackcap and Green woodpeckers are regular visitors to the woods too. Interesting flora includes wild daffodils, honeysuckle and lovely purple heather. This circular route is more suited for walking but on the eastern side of the forest you will find a bridleway which is good for cycling. This runs from Pamber heath to Bridle's Copse, passing Silchester Common on the way. View Full Details>> |
| Parbold Fairy Glen | 5 miles (8 km) | This walk visits the delightful Fairy Glen near the Lancashire village of Parbold. It's a nice easy walk, starting from Parbold train station and heading east along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. You follow the towpath for about a mile before crossing the canal and heading north east to the glen. It's a lovely little spot with pretty streams, beautiful waterfalls, dramatic cliff faces, wooden bridges and shady woodland trails. It's great for flora and fauna with wild garlic, bluebells and various other wildlflowers to see. If you prefer you could start the walk from Appley Bridge station which is just to the east of the site. If you are coming by car you can park at the lay by off the A5209 at the northern end of the glen (postcode WN6 9EQ). From here it is a short walk to the glen on the other side of the road. View Full Details>> |
| Parkhurst Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | This forest near Newport has a series of good cycling and walking trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Parndon Wood | 1 miles (1.5 km) | This lovely nature reserve in Harlow has a 1.5km nature trail to try. It's located on the southern outskirts of the town and consists of ancient woodland, 3 bird watching hides, a large pond and a conservation centre. It's great for wildlife with deer, squirrels, and various woodland birds to look out for. You can enjoy refreshments in the centre after your walk. Two long distance walking trails run past the reserve. You can pick up the Forest Way and the Stort Valley Way to further explore the area. For example you could follow the trail south west and visit Epping Forest and Waltham Abbey. View Full Details>> |
| Pembrey Forest | 9 miles (14.5 km) | Enjoy a long circular walk around this large forest in Carmarthenshire. There's miles of nice, wide cycling and walking trails with lots of wildlife to look out for on the way. The route starts in at the visitor centre and car park in Pembrey Country Park. From here you can head up trails heading north west through the park and into the forest. Here you'll find wonderful, towering Corsican Pine, picnic areas, a pond and a wide variety of interesting flora and fauna. Look out for White water Lily, Early Purple Orchid and Red Campion as you make your way along the paths. View Full Details>> |
| Pentre Ifan | 2 miles (3 km) | Visit the largest and most well preserved neolithic dolmen in Wales on this fascinating walk in Pembrokeshire. The walk starts from the Pentre Ifan car park and follows footpaths and country lanes to the burial chamber. It's an impressive sight with 7 principal stones including a 5 metre long capstone. Built around 3,500 B.C it is classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. View Full Details>> |
| Pressmennan Wood | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy a visit to Pressmennan Wood and Pressmennan Lake on this circular walk near Dunbar in East Lothian. There's over 200 acres to explore with views of the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock. You can also enjoy a stroll along Pressmennan Lake, one of only three lakes in Scotland. It's a splendid place with Pressmennan considered by many to be one of the best woods in the UK. There's a nice waymarked walking trail starting from the car park at the western end of the woods. Along the way there's lots of interesting flora to look out for including bluebells, conifers, wild garlic (ransoms) and wild raspberries. Wildlife is abundant with deer, hares, bats, otters and owls. It's great for children too with a sculpture trail where they can hunt for fairies known as Glingbobs and Tooflits. View Full Details>> |
| Puddletown Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | This large area of woodland near Dorchester has miles of footpaths and mountain bike trails. There are a number of easy walking trails and some more challenging climbs to Green Hill and Beacon Hill. If you are on a moutain bike you can enjoy miles of bridleways, short natural singletracks, downhill sections and some jumps. The forest is located just to the west of the village of Puddletown and the River Piddle. It is a nice walk to do if you are visiting Thomas Hardy's cottage which is located on the western fringe of the forest. View Full Details>> |
| Puzzlewood | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Try the delightful family trail in these magical woods near Coleford in the Forest of Dean. In the woods you will find ancient trees, rope bridges, interesting rock formations, secret caves and overhanging boulders. There's a number of maze like paths to follow around the 14 acre site with fascinating geological features. These originated through the erosion of natural underground cave systems formed in the Carboniferous Limestone many millions of years ago. Puzzlewood is thought to have provided the inspiration for the forests of Middle-earth in the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was also used as a film location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. View Full Details>> |
| Queen Elizabeth Forest Park | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy miles of mountain bike trails and footpaths in this expansive forest in Perthshire. This 3 mile circular walk take you around the Lime Craig Trail from the excellent visitor centre in Aberfoyle. There's attractive oak woodland, waterfalls and a steep climb to Lime Craig. From the viewpoint there are excellent views of Ben Lomond, Ben Venue, Ben Ledi, the Carse of Stirling and the Campsie Fells. The area is great for wildlife too. Look out for red squirrels and crossbills as you make your way through the woods. There's lots of other trails to try with more details from the Lodge Visitor Centre. This route is designed for walkers but there's plenty of trails for mountain bikers to try. For example you can follow the National Cycle Route 7 to Loch Venachar and Loch Drunkie through the Archay Forest from the centre. If you head north west you can visit Loch Achray and the wonderful Loch Katrine. A few miles east of Aberfoyle you will find Inchmahome Priory on Lake Mentieth. It's a special place with the 13th century ruins of the priory surrounded by woodland trails. Just to the west of the visitor centre you can pick up the cycling and walking trails along Loch Ard. The Rob Roy Way long distance footpath also passes through Aberfoyle so you can pick this up to head deeper into the forest. If you were to head north east along the path it would take you to Callander where you can visit the beautiful Falls of Leny and Loch Lubnaig. If you are looking for a more challenging walk then you could climb to Ben Ledi for fabulous views over the park. View Full Details>> |
| Raincliffe Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | This woodland area in the North York Moors has some good bridleways for mountain biking and nice walking trails. You can park at the car park off Mowthorp Road to pick up the tracks. Follow Middle Road through the centre of the forest before picking up Lady Mildred's Ride to return. If you head all the way through the woods you will come to Scarborough where you can pick up National Cycle Network Route 1. The woods are good for wildlife spotting with deer, badgers, squirrels, frogs, toads, foxes and various woodland birds to look out for. In the spring months there are also lots of bluebells. To extend your exercise you can head into the adjacent Forge Valley Woods. This nature reserve has a nice boardwalk trail along the River Derwent. The woods can be reached on the circular West Ayton Walk which starts from the delightful village. Just to the west is the expansive Wykeham Forest with miles more trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Rendlesham Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Rendlesham Forest is probably most famous for reported UFO sightings in 1980 but it is also a great place for cycling and walking. Cyclists can enjoy two easy, family cycle routes on flat well defined paths and quiet country lanes. For walkers there are also two way-marked trails of differing lengths. Both are an easy stroll suitable for all abilties. There is also a UFO trail which takes you to some of the areas connected to the UFO sighting in December 1980. The circular route below starts at the car park/visitor centre and takes you through forest on trails and quiet roads. The route is suitable for cyclists and walkers but the latter could take the woodland paths adjacent to the section along the road. The forest also has a bike park with two challenging one-way rides. This is located near the car park. Rendlesham is located just a few miles east of Woodbridge. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could pick up the Suffolk Coast Path. It runs along the Butley River through Boyton Marshes to the River Ore and the coast. Also nearby is the wonderful Orford Ness Nature Reserve. The national trust owned reserve is located on a remote shingle spit by the River Ore and can be accessed by catching the National Trust ferry from Orford Quay. Also nearby is Tunstall Forest where you can try the excellent 10 mile red graded single-track mountain bike trail. View Full Details>> |
| Rockingham Forest | 5 miles (8.1 km) | A lovely walk from King's Cliffe to Barrowden through the ancient woodland of Rockingham Forest. The walk starts in the village of King's Cliffe and picks up a section of the Jurassic Way long distance trail to take you through Westhay Woods in Fineshade Woods. The woods have miles of good cycling and walking trails and are popular with bird watchers looking out for red kites. You can also see nightingale, nightjar, woodcock, grasshopper warbler, tree pipit, marsh and willow tits. The route then leaves Fineshade and continues west through Wakerley Woods. Here you can look out for deer on the Deer Park Trail where you will also pass two Bronze age burial cairns. The final section takes you over the River Welland and into the village of Barrowden. View Full Details>> |
| Rowberrow Warren | 3 miles (5.5 km) | Enjoy miles of mountain bike trails and walking trails in these woods near Cheddar. You can start from the village of Rowberrow, just north of Shipham. Just head east from the village and you can pick up the bridleways and tracks through the woods. It's an attractive area with shady clearings, streams and interesting flora and fauna to look out for. The woods are crossed by two long distance footpaths. In the northern end of the woods you can pick up the Limestone Link and follow it to Dolebury Warren and Burrington Combe, where there are more good mtb trails. The climb to Beacon Batch on Black Down hill starts from the car park here. The hill is the highest point in the Mendip Hills and provides great views over the lovely Blagdon Lake. The West Mendip Way also passes along the southern end of the site. You can pick this up to head to Shipham. View Full Details>> |
| Rowney Warren Wood | 2 miles (4 km) | These woods in Bedfordshire have walking trails, a BMX trail and mountain bike trails to try. In one half of the woods you will find the cycling trails and in the other peaceful woodland footpaths. There's good facilities as well with a good sized car park, picnic areas and a cafe. At the northern section of the woods you will find Chicksands Bike Park. The park has a range of trails for all abilities. See the video below to give you an idea of what you can expect to find at the site! The woods are in a good location for extending your walking. You could pick up the John Bunyan Trail and head to the nearby Chicksands Wood. The woods have nice wide trails and pretty bluebells in the spring. You can also pick up the Greensand Ridge Walk and visit Maulden Woods near Clophill. Here you will find more walking trails taking you through semi-natural broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland and conifer plantations. View Full Details>> |
| Salcey Forest | 4 miles (7 km) | Enjoy peaceful cycling and walking trails in this popular forest in Northamptonshire. For cyclists there is a lovely, family cycle trail starting at the car park. It's a gentle circuit of the forest on surfaced paths but with a couple of road crossings to look out for. Walkers can enjoy three waymarked routes of varying lengths. The easy Elephant walk takes you past Elephant pond. For a longer walk you could try the 10km (6 mile) Woodpecker trail where you can look out for all three British species of woodpecker - the lesser spotted, greater spotted, and green. The forest has good facilities with parking spaces and a very good cafe. It is located about 7 miles south of Northampton. Several long distance cycling and walking trails run through or past the forest so it's easy to continue your exercise in the area. You could pick up the Hanslope Circular Ride, The Swan's Way or the Midshires Way to extend your outing. View Full Details>> |
| Savernake Forest | 6 miles (9.5 km) | This large area of woodland is located near Marlborough in the North Wessex Downs AONB. In the woods you'll find miles of walking and cycling trails, with thousands of acres of ancient woodland to explore. As well as the peaceful trails there's a number of ponds, hill climbs, an arboretum, lots of bluebells in the spring and a variety of woodland birds to look out for. There's also some open farmland with grazing cattle and hundreds of beeches and oaks, with tree lined avenues, and coniferous plantations. You can start off from the parking area in the north western corner of the forest, next to the campsite. Then pick up the trails heading south east into forest. For cyclists there's a nice trail running along the Grand Avenue through the centre of the forest. It's part of National Cycle Network Route 4 and you could continue your ride on our Marlborough to Reading Cycle Route. To extend your exercise you could head south east from the forest and visit Bedwyn Common and Great Bedwyn village. Here there are some nice waterside paths along the River Dun to enjoy. Just to the west of the forest you can pick up the long distance Wansdyke Path and visit the nearby West Woods where you'll find more good mountain bike trails and footpaths. In nearby Marlborough you can enjoy a lovely walk along the River Kennet or pick up long distance trails including the Chiseldon and Marlborough Railway Path and the Wessex Ridgeway. View Full Details>> |
| Selsdon Wood | 2 miles (3 km) | This woodland and nature reserve in Croydon is criss crossed with a number of nice footpaths and walking trails. The reserve includes 200 acres of ponds, open meadows and ancient woodland including oak, beech, ash and sweet chestnut. There's two colour coded waymarked trails which you can pick up from the car park. The area is also known as the Bird Sanctuary with birds such as Blackcap, Buzzard, Cuckoo and Chiffchaff to look out for. Also keep your eyes peeled for Roe Deer, various insects and the rare White Squirrel. It's great for flora too with 130 flowering plants to see. These include Crocus, Red Campion, Bluebell and Cowslip. The London Loop and the Vanguard Way pass through the wood so you can pick these long distance footpaths up and extend your walk. One option is to follow the trails north to Littleheath Woods and then on to Addington Hills. This lovely park includes London's largest area of heathland and a great viewpoint with views towards Parliament Hill and Docklands. Just to the west of Addington Hills is Croham Hurst Woods where you'll find ancient woodland and a climb to Breackneck Hill. Heading east from Selsdon Wood will take you to Frith Wood and Frylands Wood. Heading south will take you into Surrey, passing Greatpark Wood, Holt Wood and Chelsham. View Full Details>> |
| Shaw Forest Park | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy some nice walking trails in this community woodland in Swindon. You can park in the car park on Forest Park Road off Mead Way. From here you can pick up the trails to the ash/willow woodland, wildflower meadows, grassland and ponds. Look out for wildlife including roe deer, foxes and various wildfowl. At the north western edge of the park you can visit the pretty Peatmoor Lake. To extend your outing you can head a mile north and visit Mouldon Hill Country Park. Here you'll find a lake, the River Ray, a section of the North Wilts Canal and nice views from the high points. Also nearby is Lydiard Country Park. Here you'll find 260 acres of lawns, woodlands and pasture to walk or cycle through. Our circular Swindon Cycle Route visits all these parks using signed cycle routes which run through the town. View Full Details>> |
| Sherrardspark Wood | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Enjoy a walk or cycle around these pleasant bluebell woods near Welwyn Garden City. There's lots of footpaths for walkers and bridleways for cyclists to try. The area is great for wildlife. Look out for nuthatches, treecreepers, woodpeckers, thrushes, robins, tits and wrens. You may also see Muntjac Deer and foxes. The Ayot Greenway runs through the woods so you can extend your exercise on this great rail trail. The shared cycling and walking path will take you east into Welwyn Garden City or west to Wheathampstead. View Full Details>> |
| Sherwood Pines Forest Park | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy several waymarked cycling and walking trails in this large woodland area in Mansfield. View Full Details>> |
| Shillito Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods near the village of Millthorpe have a nice walking trail and views across Ramsley Moor in the Peak District. There's a car park at the southern end of the woods on Fox Lane. You can pick up the trail from here and follow it through the mature conifer woodland. The walk can be extended by crossing Fox Lane and heading north along Blake Brook on Ramsey Moor. Continue north and you will come to Smeekley Wood and Cockshutts Wood. Footpaths can be followed all the way to the Derbyshire village of Holmesfield and the nearby Holmesfield Woods. Shillito Woods are located a few miles south of Sheffield and not far from Dronfield where you can pick up the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk. Also nearby are the climbs to Curbar Edge and Birchen Edge where you can look out for fascinating rock formations and enjoy wonderful views from the elevated position of these wonderful Peak District locations. Ramsley Reservoir is also located just a mile west of the car park. View Full Details>> |
| Shining Cliff Woods | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy waymarked walking trails through this peaceful woodland near Ambergate. In the spring you'll find carpets of bluebells. Wildlife includes warblers, flycatchers and bramblings. The woods are near to the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, so you could pick this up and follow the River Derwent to continue your walk. Our Around Belper circular walk makes use of this trail to take in the river and the nearby Cromford Canal. View Full Details>> |
| Shipley Glen | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy a short walk through this delightful glen near Bradford. Shipley Glen lies just to the north of the Yorkshire town of Shipley. It's a short walk from the train station or you could park on Glen Road. The glen has nice footpaths running through sheltered woods along a pretty beck. It's particularly lovely in the spring when you'll see lots of bluebells and Peacock Butterflies. There's also paths above the glen with splendid rock formations and great views to enjoy. You'll also pass the wonderful Bracken Hall near the start of the walk. Here you will find an informative museum, working farms, grassland, moor, woods, rocks, wildlife, history and archaeology. The centre has a wealth of information on the area and also organises guided walks. From the glen you can follow footpaths up to the adjacent Baildon Moor and enjoy wonderful views over Bradford and Leeds from Baildon Hill. You can also visit the fascinating Victorian village of Saltaire and pick up the River Aire Walk and Leeds and Liverpool Canal to extend your walking in the area. The Dales Way Link and the Bradford Millennium Way also pass the glen so you could pick these trails up and head north to visit Bingley Moor and Ilkley Moor. Just across the water is the town of Bingley where you can visit the country park of Bingley St Ives. There's miles of walking trails to be found here around the 500 acre estate. A few miles to the south you will find another splendid beauty spot Chellow Dene Reservoir. View Full Details>> |
| Shrawley Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | Enjoy a circular walk around this attractive area of woodland near Worcester. There are miles of good woodland trails, a riverside path along the River Severn and several large ponds to enjoy. The woods are very popular with walkers during the springtime as you will find carpets of pretty bluebells. The area near the village hall is known as the grove and has a stream running through a lovely wooded valley, with lots of pretty flowers and vegetation. View Full Details>> |
| Sika Trail | 7 miles (11 km) | This signed off road circular trail takes you on a tour of the peaceful Wareham Forest in Dorset. You will pass through the high forest and open heath of the area with its variety of wildlife. Look out for crossbills and sand lizards as you make your way around this 7 mile circular ride. This trail is suitable for families with older children as the trail is relatively flat but has a couple of climbs. It is signed for its duration and though it is advertised as a cycle trail it is also suitable for walkers. You can start off from the Sika Trail car park located at postcode BH20 7PE. This route links with the Wareham Forest Way. It runs from Wareham to Sturminster Marshall with nice views of the River Frome and the River Piddle Valley. Also nearby are the Hartland Moor and Arne Nature Reserves. Here you will find more nice footpaths with a variety of wildlife to look out for. View Full Details>> |
| Silton Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | Enjoy miles of mountain bike trails and footpaths in this large coniferous forest on the North York Moors. You can park on Moor Lane near to the village of Nether Stilton to start your exercise. A cycling and walking trail then runs to the north of the forest along National Cycle Route 65. The tracks are great for mountain bikers with berms, humps, tight turns and drops. View Full Details>> |
| Silverhill Wood | 2 miles (3.2 km) | Climb to the highest point of Nottinghamshire on this pleasant walk around Silverhill Wood Country Park. The park was built on two former colliery sites and includes a series of good footpaths taking you to woodland, ponds and an excellent viewpoint with fine views over the surrounding area. The walk starts from the car park which is on Silverhill Lane at the southern end of the site. From here you can pick up the woodland trails taking you up to the 204.3 m (670 ft) summit where there's lovely views over 5 counties. You can also see Lincoln Cathedral and the parkland of the nearby Hardwick Hall. The summit includes a bronze statue named 'Testing for Gas' which depicts a kneeling coal miner with a Davy lamp. The statue commemorates coal mining at the 85 Nottinghamshire collieries. After taking in the views the route descends to the two pretty ponds on the eastern side of the site. From here it's a short walk back to the car park. The park is great for wildlife. Look out for deer, butterflies, buzzard, kestrel and green woodpecker as you make your way around the site. This route is designed for walkers but there are tracks suitable for cyclists as well. See the maps below for details of the tracks you can follow around the park. View Full Details>> |
| Slalely Forest | 7 miles (12 km) | This large area of coniferous woodland is located a few miles south of Hexham. There's miles of nice wide trails suitable for mountain bikers or walkers. In the forest you'll find a mixture of spruce, pine and larch trees with lots of wildlife to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for nightjar and red squirrels as you make your way through the woods. There's also a sculpture trail at the eastern side of the woods. To the east of the woods you will find the noteworthy Slalely Hall. The Edwardian mansion is now a hotel set in 1000 acres of beautiful grounds. In the grounds there are Japanese Gardens, wide lawns and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Spring Wood Whalley | 2 miles (4 km) | Follow the nature trail through delightful woodland on this easy walk in Whalley. The woods are located close to the town centre and a short walk from Whalley railway station. The area has a series of waymarked, surfaced footpaths to follow through the ancient woodland. There are twenty four different species of trees, wild garlic flowers, ponds and in the spring there are carpets of bluebells. Spring Wood has good facilites with parking, an information centre and picnic areas. You can also extend your walk into the surrounding countryside at Wiswell where there are nice views towards Longridge Fell. Whalley is a lovely town to stroll through so you can easily extend your walk by visiting the fascinating Whalley Abbey. In fact the monks of the abbey once owned Spring Wood. The River Calder also runs through the town so you can enjoy a waterside walk along the river too. View Full Details>> |
| St Leonard's Forest | 2 miles (4 km) | This large area of woodland is located just to the east of Horsham. There are miles of cycling and walking trails to explore with attractive pine woodland, a series of pretty streams with little waterfalls and the Whitevane Pond at the north western end of the forest. There are good wide tracks ideal for a mountain bike or hybrid. There's some steep climbs to try with fun descents. For walkers there are miles of easy flat tracks to enjoy. Look out for wildlife including peacocks and wood warblers. View Full Details>> |
| Staffhurst Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | This woodland area near Tandridge is popular with walkers in spring when there are carpets of pretty bluebells and a nice woodland pond to see. There are a number of trails to follow around the woods with the option of extending your walk into the adjacent Great Earls Wood and Merle Common. You can enjoy refreshment at the nearby Royal Oak Pub after your walk. There is a car park at the woods but if you wanted to visit the woods by train you could follow the Eden Valley Walk and the Vanguard Way from Edenbridge towards the woods. View Full Details>> |
| Standing Hat | 2 miles (4 km) | This easy circular walk takes you through Forestry Commission managed Inclosures near Brockenhurst in the New Forest. You can park at the car park at Balmer Lawn and then follow good footpaths through the delightful woodland in the Pignal Inclosure. It's a lovely spot for an easy, peaceful stroll. Look out for the New Forest Ponies on your walk. If you'd like to try more easy walks near Brockenhurst then the Ober Water Walk and the Blackwater Arboretum Trail are both good options. View Full Details>> |
| Standish Wood | 2 miles (3 km) | Enjoy peaceful woodland trails in this large area of woodland near Whiteshill, Stroud. In the springtime there are carpets of bluebells to enjoy. The walk can be extended by climbing Haresfield Beacon for wonderful views over the Severn Vale and the Cotswolds. View Full Details>> |
| Stanton Moor | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This upland area near the Derbyshire village of Stanon-in-Peak has good walking trails, attractive woodland and fascinating ancient historical sites to visit. You can start the walk at the village of Stanon-in-Peak near Matlock. The village has a 19th century Parish Church, Stanton Hall stately home and several fine stone houses. Just to the east of the village you can pick up public footpaths to take you across the moor. The area is geologically significant with several pillars of sandstone dotted around the edge of Stanton Moor. There are also four Bronze Age stone circles including the well known Nine Ladies. The site is owned by English Heritage and is a popular attraction for walkers and photpgraphers. You could also start your walk from the village of Birchover to the south of Stanton Moor, if you prefer. See the Nine Ladies Stone Circle Walk for more details. View Full Details>> |
| Stapleford Woods | 1 miles (1.5 km) | This area of ancient woodland near Newark on Trent has some nice footpaths taking you around the forest. In the woods you will find large Victorian era-planted Rhododendrons and other interesting flora and fauna.
There is a car park off Coddington Lane where you can pick up the circular surfaced walking trail. It runs for just under a mile and is a nice way to spend half an hour. To extend your walking in the area you could head a couple of miles west and pick up the Trent Valley Way. The lovely riverside trail runs through Newark-on-Trent and Collingham. The woods are close to the villages of Coddington and Beckingham which are nice places to go for refreshments after your walk. View Full Details>> |
| Stoke Park Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | These woods in Eastleigh have some nice cycling and walking trails to try. In the spring months there's also lots of bluebells to see. Enter the woods on Stoke Park Road at the western side of the site where there is a small car park. From here you pick up a selection of cycle trails and footpaths to take you around the woods. On the eastern side of the woods you can enjoy refreshments at the Fox and Hounds pub at Pylehill. View Full Details>> |
| Stoke Wood | 1 miles (1.5 km) | These ancient woods are located near Bicester in Oxfordshire. They consist of both mixed broadleaf and exotic conifer trees with nice footpaths to follow around the site. Highlights in the woods include an impressive avenue of Corsican pines and a flowers including orchids and bluebells. Wildlife to look out for include tawny owl and butterflies such as white admiral and silver-washed fritillary. You can start your walk from the Stoke Woods car park at the north eastern end of the woods. It's located less than a mile west of the village of Stoke Lyne. To extend your walking in the area you can head to Stratton Audley and pick up the long distance Cross Bucks Way. A few miles west of the woods you can pick up the Oxford Canal Walk at Somerton. There's also the option of exploring the Cherwell Valley around the village of Deddington. View Full Details>> |
| Sulham Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | Follow a series of waymarked trails in this woodland area near Tidmarsh. There's lots of different trails to try with a mix of open countryside and woodland to enjoy. The site includes Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland with lots of bluebells in the spring months. You can start your walk from Sulham village or from nearby Tidmarsh. There is a car park on Sulham Hill Road just to the east of the village. The Thames Path runs just to the north of Sulham. You can pick this up to extend your walking in the area. Just to the east you can pick up a waterside path running north along the River Pang to Pangbourne. View Full Details>> |
| Sunnyhurst Woods | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Explores 85 acres of woodland on this circular walk through Sunnyhurst Woods in Darwen. There's a nice stream running through the woods with good waterside footpaths on either side. It's perfect for a peaceful stroll and a picnic. The area is also a nature reserve so look out for a wide variety of flowering plants and birdlife including the great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, tree creeper, kingfisher and tawny owl. There is also a pretty visitor centre with information about all the trails in the woods. This circular walk takes you through the woods and then past the neighbouring reservoirs of Earnsdale and Sunnyhurst Hey. Near the reservoirs there are great views across the moorland to Jubilee Tower. If you would like to extend your walk then you could pick up the Witton Weavers Way and climb Darwen Tower for great views over the surrounding countryside. View Full Details>> |
| Swithland Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | These woods in the Charnwood Forest have a series of good footpaths to try. There's also bridleways suitable for mountain bikers. The woods are located just to the south of Loughborough with car parks at the northern end of the woods off Swithland Road and at the southern end off Roecliffe Road. From here you can pick up the trails taking you through mature oak, birch, alder and lime woodland. There's also a series of pretty streams and lots of woodland wildlife to look out for. In the spring months the forest floor is covered in carpets of lovely bluebells. The woods link with the adjacent Bradgate Country Park where you will find a deer park and a great viewpoint. Just to the north east you will find the pretty Swithland Reservoir. The reservoir has a nice waterside walking trail with lots of birdlife to look out for on the water. You could also pick up our Charnwood Forest circular walk and visit Beacon Hill Country Park. It's about a two mile walk from the woods to the park where you can climb Beacon Hill for fabulous views over the area. View Full Details>> |
| Symonds Yat Rock | 2 miles (4 km) | Enjoy wonderful views over the Wye Valley from this well known viewpoint on the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire border. From the elevated position you have a great view of the beautiful wooded gorge below. It's also a popular spot for birdwatching with peregrine falcons, buzzards, goshawks and hobbies regularly seen. The area is great for walking and cycling with miles of waymarked woodland trails and riverside paths to try. This circular walk starts from the car park and follows good footpaths to the viewpoint. You then continue along the river through the woodland, passing Huntsham Hill on the way. A section along the Perigrine Path then takes you along the River Wye before heading through Riddings Wood to the car park. There are several other waymarked trails in the area which visit the Iron Age Hillfort and Mailscot Wood. There is also a nature trail with nature boards through an attractive section of mixed woodland. You can buy refreshments from the excellent Log cabin cafe. This route is designed for walkers but cyclists can try the Symonds Yat Rock Cycle Trail which runs for about 3 miles from the campsite. You can also pick up the Perigrine Path cycle route which runs through Symonds Yat. View Full Details>> |
| Taf Fechan Forest | 6 miles (9 km) | Enjoy a series of beautiful waterfalls and delightful woodland trails on this walk in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The walk begins at the Taf Fechan Forest car park near the northern end of Pentwyn Reservoir. You then head to Lower and Upper Neuadd Reservoirs on peaceful woodland trails. You'll pass along the Taf Fechan River which is dotted with a number of picturesque waterfalls. The trail then passes along the lovely Lower and Upper Neuadd Reservoirs with the imposing Pen Y Fan making a wonderful backdrop. The route returns to the car park on alternative woodland trails. The whole of this route is designed for walkers but the eastern leg takes place on a super track which is suitable for walkers and cyclists. The route can be extended by following the Taff Trail to the nearby Blaen y Glyn Waterfalls. View Full Details>> |
| Thetford Forest | 4 miles (7 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large forest in Suffolk. Cyclists will find 4 way-marked trails of varying distance and difficulty. The Shepherd Trail is a nice easy ride on well defined paths, suitable for families. Experienced mountain bikers can try the exciting Beater trail which takes you through beautiful beech woods on a single track. Walkers can enjoy a number of way-marked walks such as the lovely Nature Trail. This walk features a viewing hide where you can look out for the wildlife in the forest. This includes four types of deer and countless varieities of birds and butterflies. The circular route below starts at the visitor centre and follows cycling and walking tracks around the centre of the forest. If you would like to continue your excercise you could head to the nearby Brandon Country Park. Here you will find beautiful lakeside lawns, a delightful walled garden and an excellent visitor centre. The super Little Ouse Path walking route also runs through the forest. Head a few miles north towards Lynford and you will find the delightful Lynford Arboretum with its peaceful, woodland walking trails. View Full Details>> |
| Thorncombe Woods | 2 miles (3.4 km) | This walk visits Thorncombe Woods, Duddle Heath and Thomas Hardy's cottage, near Dorchester. It's a lovely area for a stroll with miles of woodland trails, a pretty pond and decent views from the elevated heathland area. There's also lots of wildlife to look out for including Dartmoor ponies, deer and various woodland birds. Start the walk from the car park at the Dorset Council Hardy's Birthplace Visitor Centre in Higher Brockampton. Take time to explore the centre before you start the walk. It contains interesting displays about the life and works of Thomas Hardy and his connection to the local landscape. From the centre it is a short walk to Hardy's Cottage where the author was born in 1840. The delightful cob and thatch cottage is where he wrote some of his classic novels including 'Under the Greenwood Tree' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. The house is surrounded by lovely gardens where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll before a longer walk in the adjacent woods. The paths head south east from the cottage onto Duddle Heath, passing the pretty Rushy Pond on the way. There is an undulating path on the heath with splendid views over the landscapes which would have inspired much of Hardy's writing. After exploring the heath the route then returns to the car park on more peaceful woodland trails. View Full Details>> |
| Thorp Perrow Arboretum | 1 miles (2 km) | Explore 100 acres of woodland, gardens and lakes in this beautiful arboretum near Bedale in North Yorkshire. It's perfect for an easy afternoon stroll with a series of good footpaths including tree trails, a nature trail and a children's trail. There's lovely grassy paths, glades, bays, and avenues connecting the different sections of the arboretum. There's a wonderful collection of rare trees and plants from China, Japan, North America, Chile, and Europe. In spring there are daffodils, wild flowers and bluebells while in the summer the hydrangeas are in full bloom. In autumn the colours of the trees create a spectacular natural fireworks display. The site also includes a wonderful Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre with one of the largest collections of birds of prey in the north of England. These include eagles, falcons, hawks, vultures and owls with experts giving flying demonstrations. To extend your walk you can head into Bedale and enjoy a peaceful stroll along the delightful Bedale Beck. View Full Details>> |
| Thrunton Woods | 5 miles (8.5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this large area of woodland near Alnwick. View Full Details>> |
| Tunbridge Wells Common | 1 miles (2 km) | Explore this large green space on this pleasant walk in Tunbridge Wells. The common is criss-crossed with lots of nice walking trails and a cycle path. On the common you'll find woodland, heathland, ponds and a variety of wildlife. Look out for roe deer, voles, lizards and grass snakes. Around the ponds you can see frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies. The area is also well known for its sandstone outcrops and the Wellington Rocks where there are nice views over the cricket ground below. The common is located next to The Pantiles just to the north of Tunbridge Wells West Rail Station. It's easy to extend your walking in this lovely area. You can pick up the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk which explores the countryside, nature reserves and woodland surrounding the town. If you head north west you will soon come to Rusthall Common where there are more interesting shaped rocks such as Toad Rock and Loaf Rock. Also nearby is the splendid Broadwater Warren RSPB nature reserve. The reserve has miles of well laid out footpaths and a boardwalk through wet woodland to try. Just to the east of the common is the splendid Dunorlan Park. View Full Details>> |
| Tunstall Forest | 10 miles (16.5 km) | This large forest in Suffolk has miles of good footpaths and a 10 mile red graded single-track mountain bike trail. The waymarked route is called the Viking Trail and is a narrow flowing singletrack running through the trees, with twists, berms and some short climbs. It's a fun ride and not too challenging though there are some technically tricky bits. The ride starts at the car park off Tunstall Road towards the northern end of the forest. This mountain bike route is designed for cyclists but walkers can easily pick up the forest footpaths from the same start location. You can walk down to Tunstall Common and then continue south to the little village of Chillesford for refreshments. From here you can pick up the Suffolk Coast Path to take you back into the forest and then head west to return to the car park. View Full Details>> |
| Twigmoor Woods | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Enjoy a short stroll around these pretty woods near Scunthorpe. The walking trails take you around the pretty Gull Ponds and past shrubs, conifers and lovely colourful rhododendrons. It's good for wildlife spotting too. Look out for woodpeckers, tree creepers and common warblers. There's a car parking area just north of Greetwell which gives direct access to the footpaths. The woods are located just west of Scawby. The area has an interesting history. Twigmoor Hall, was the home of Jack Wright, one of Guy Fawkes' co-conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot. Legend has it that the plot was hatched at Twigmoor Hall. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could head to the nearby Messingham Sand Quarry where there are nice footpaths running around a series of lagoons. Also nearby is Laughton Woods with more peaceful woodland trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| Twyford Wood | 2 miles (4 km) | This wood near Grantham has miles of footpaths taking you to conifer woodland, grassland and the lovely Twyford Wood butterfly glades. Here you can look out for dingy and grizzled skipper butterflies. The site is a former second world war airfield with a control tower and wide open runways which are good for cycling. There is a small car park at the northern end of the forest where you can pick up the trails. The woods are very close to Colsterworth and Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton. Here you can visit the 17th-century limestone house of Woolsthorpe Manor which is owned by the National Trust. This is said to be the site where Newton, observing an apple fall from a tree, was inspired to formulate his law of universal gravitation. The village and manor are only about a mile from the woods. It's a nice place to go for refreshments and to learn about the history of the area after your walk. The Viking Way passes through nearby Buckminster so this is a good option if you'd like to extend your walking in the area. View Full Details>> |
| Uffmoor Wood | 1 miles (1.5 km) | These attractive woods near Romsley cover over 200 acres with miles of waymarked trails to try. The shady paths are particularly lovely in the spring when there are carpets of bluebells to enjoy. There's also pretty little streams with wooden footbridges and lots of wildlife. Look out for fallow deer, foxes and a variety of birdlife as you make your way through the woods. The woods are located very close to the splendid Clent Hills Country Park. Here you'll find miles of National Trust devised footpaths with magnificent views over the Cotswolds, Shropshire Hills and Welsh borders from the high points. About a mile east of the woods you'll find the Illey Way. This dismantled railway line will take you through the countryside to Waseley Hills Country Park and Woodgate near Halesowen. View Full Details>> |
| Wakerley Woods | 3 miles (5 km) | Enjoy several cycling and walking trails in this forest near Corby and Peterborough. View Full Details>> |
| Warburg Nature Reserve | 2 miles (2.5 km) | This delightful nature reserve near Henley-on-Thames has some lovely woodland trails to try. It's a splendid place for flora and fauna with lots of bluebells and wood anemones in the spring. In the summer months the site is rich with orchids including fly orchid and bird's-nest orchid. Look out for wildlife including rare butterflies and a variety of woodland birds. All in all over 2,000 species of plants, fungi and animals have been recorded here. The reserve has good facilities with a visitors centre, a picnic area and two bird hides. There's also a car park where you can start your walk. You could also start off from the nearby village of Nettlebed and follow paths past Nettlebed Common to the site. The Chiltern Way and the Oxfordshire Way both pass the reserve. You can easily pick up either of these long distance trails to extend your walk. Heading south will take you to Nettlebed Woods where there are more nice bluebell trails. If you follow the Oxfordshire way south east it will take you to Henley-on-Thames where you can enjoy a nice riverside walk. Our Turville Circular Walk also visits the reserve from the nearby village. It passes the famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Windmill and then takes you to the attractive 13th century Stonor Estate just to the east of the reserve. View Full Details>> |
| Wareham Forest Way | 13 miles (21 km) | This walk follows the Wareham Forest Way from Wareham to Sturminster Marshall. The expansive forest has miles of trails with ponds, viewpoints and heathland to explore. You start on the River Frome in Wareham and head north to Wareham Forest for a lovely wooded section through the heart of the forest. This section takes you through Wareham town, Wareham common and the River Piddle Valley before passing through the conifer plantations of the forest and its abundance of wildlife. After leaving the forest behind you pass through Old Park and East Morden before coming to the finish point at Sturminster Marshall. This walk is waymarked with signs along the length of the route. To extend your walking in the Wareham area you can pick up the The Hardy Way and follow it to Corfe Castle and Kimmeridge Bay.You are also very close to the Hartland Moor and Arne Nature Reserves. The Sika Trail cycling trail also runs through the forest and is suitable for walkers too. View Full Details>> |
| Watling Chase Timberland Trail | 10 miles (16 km) | Follow the Watling Chase Timberland Trail through the Watling Chase Community Forest on this historical path used by travellers for at least two thousand years. View Full Details>> |
| Wayford Woods | 1 miles (1.5 km) | These delightful little woods are located in the Somerset village of Wayford. View Full Details>> |
| Wendover Woods | 4 miles (7 km) | Enjoy miles of great cycling and walking trails in this large forest in Buckinghamshire. The cycle trail is a moderate 5 mile route on waymarked surfaced tracks. It has some steep sections but is generally suitable for all abilities/families. For walkers there are several waymarked trails including a lovely easy access trail for all abilities. On the way you can see sculptures, deciduous trees, evergreen trees and many woodland flowers. There are also splendid views of the surrounding Chilterns countryside. Other attractions in the woods include a splendid cafe and a Go Ape forest adventure with Zip Wires, Tarzan Swings and a variety of Crossings. For children there is a fun Superworm trail from the creators of the Gruffalo. The woods also include the highest point in the Chilterns at Haddington Hill. If you'd like to continue your outing then several long distance trails run past the forest. You could pick up the Icknield Way Path, the Chiltern Link or The Ridgeway or head to the nearby Grand Union Canal and pick up the Wendover Canal Arm to visit Weston Turville Reservoir . The woods are located near Aylesbury and Tring. Heading north east along the Ridgeway will take you into Tring via the lovely Tring Park. View Full Details>> |
| West Woods | 4 miles (7 km) | This large area of woodland near Marlborough has miles of hard surfaced cycling and walking trails to try. It's nice for an easy family cycle and there are more challenging tracks for mountain bikers. Walkers can also enjoy various waymarked trails and an easy access route. The woods consist of a beautiful plantation of beech trees with carpets of bluebells in the spring. The Wansdyke Path runs through the woods so you could pick this up to continue your exercise. You could also reach the woods from Marlborough by following the Wansdyke Path south west from the town centre for about 2 miles. If you head east from the woods you can visit the expansive Savernake Forest where there's thousands of acres of woodland to explore. View Full Details>> |
| Weston Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These pretty woods in Weston-Super-Mare have a series of good footpaths to try. The woods are also a local nature reserve covering 130 hectares (321 acres) on Worlebury Hill above the town. From the elevated position of the woods there are nice views over Sand Bay towards Wales. There's also an Iron Age hillfort at the western tip of the site where the defensive ramparts can be clearly seen. You can park at the car park on Worlebury Hill Road at the eastern tip of the woods. Then pick up the trails heading west towards the coast. To extend your walking in the area you could pick up the West Mendip Way long distance path and explore the Mendip Hills from Weston-Super-Mare. Just to the north of the woods you will find the splendid Sand Point where you can enjoy fine views across the Bristol Channel on a beautiful coastal peninsula. Just to the south you can enjoy more great coastal views on Brean Down or climb to the nearby Bleadon Hill. View Full Details>> |
| Westonbirt Arboretum | 4 miles (6 km) | Enjoy a woodland walk through this beautiful Arboretum near Tetbury in the Cotswolds. View Full Details>> |
| Wharncliffe Woods | 9 miles (15 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails through this large wooded area near Rotherham. The route starts at the Woodhead road car park and follows the Trans Pennine Trail north through the woods towards Wortley. View Full Details>> |
| Whichford Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy a short, peaceful stroll through these delightful woods on the edge of the Cotswolds. The area consists of Broadleaved and conifer woodland with a number of woodland walking trails to try. There are lovely views over the surrounding Warwickshire countryside from the forest too. Look out for various wildflowers, bluebells and wildlife including fallow deer. After your walk you can enjoy refreshments at the pub in the village of Whichford. The Macmillan Way long distance footpath runs through the woods so you could pick this up to extend your walk through Long Compton Woods to the village of Long Compton. If you continue south you will soon come to the fascinating Rollright Stones. View Full Details>> |
| Whinfell Forest | 5 miles (8 km) | This walk visits the Cliburn Moss Nature Reserve before following woodland trails into the adjacent Whinfell Forest. View Full Details>> |
| Whippendell Woods | 2 miles (3 km) | Explore 165 acres of ancient woodland on this circular walk through Whippendell Woods in Watford. There are a series of good trails to follow with an avenue of lime trees dating back to 1672. Other trees include oak, beech, ash and silver birch. In the spring months the woods are covered with huge numbers of pretty bluebells. The area is also very good for wildlife spotting. Look out for birds such as woodpeckers, tawny owls and sparrow hawks. Other creatures you might see include bats, badgers and deer. The woods were used as the location for The Gungan Forest in Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace. The video on the page shows scenes from the film. This walk starts at the car park, just off Grove Mill Lane and takes you on a circuit around the outskirts of the wood. It's easy to extend your walk if you have time. You can head a mile east to the nearby Cassiobury Park crossing the Grand Union Canal on the way. Also nearby is Chipperfield Common where you'll find waymarked, woodland walking trails to try. View Full Details>> |
| White Moss Walks | 1 miles (2 km) | This walk follows the footpaths around White Moss Common in the Lake District. The area consists of a series of nice footpaths taking you through woodland and meadows between Rydal Water and Grasemere Lake. On the way look out for picturesque waterfalls and pretty bluebells in the spring time. The walks start from the good sized White Moss Common car park off the A591 near Rydal Water, Grasmere Lake and the town of Ambleside. You then pick up the trails taking you through shady woodland towards the section of the River Rothay that runs between Rydal Water and Grasmere. It's a pretty area with picnic tables and the option of crossing a bridge and heading to Grasmere Lake. This route heads north to White Moss Common, passing Lady Wood and White Moss Tarn. You then pick up the Coffin Route which takes you across the pretty Dunney Beck. You then head south returning to the car park. To extend your walk you could head east to Rydal Mount and Rydal Hall along the Coffin Route. Heading west will take you to Grasmere passing Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth lived from 1799 to 1808. The climb to the pretty Alcock Tarn also starts from the White Moss car park. It takes you through the common to the elevated tarn where there are wonderful views over Grasmere. View Full Details>> |
| Whitwell Wood | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This 171 hectare broad-leaved woodland has three colour coded, waymarked walking trails to try. They are all easy trails making the woods an ideal location for a peaceful afternoon stroll. In the woods you'll find a pond with a variety of wildlife, pretty wild flowers and a number of woodland birds. Look out for tadpoles, baby frogs and spiders around the pond and butterflies near the wildflowers. The woods are located just north of the little Derbyshire village of Whitwell. It's just a short stroll from the village centre to the entrance of the woods off Clinthill Lane. If you would like to continue your walking in the area then you could head a few miles south to Cresswell Crags. Here you will find a wonderful limestone gorge with a waterside footpath running along Crags Lake with views of the surrounding caves and cliffs. View Full Details>> |
| Wilverley Plain | 3 miles (5 km) | This circular walk visits Wilverley Plain and the Wilverley Inclosure in the New Forest. View Full Details>> |
| Winkworth Arboretum | 2 miles (2.5 km) | Enjoy a series of woodland walking trails in this beautiful arboretum in Godalming. The area is run by the National Trust so there are very good facilities including a free car park and a tea room. In the woods you will find over 1,000 different shrubs and trees with many rare species. These include magnolias, bluebells, azaleas, rhododendron and holly. There are also large landscaped garden lakes, an attractive boathouse and lovely carved benches with animal figures. There are three colour coded, waymarked trails to try:- a blue 'Access for All' walk, a yellow 'Taste of Winkworth' walk and a red 'Challenging' walk. Look out for wildlife such as herons, green woodpecker and cormorants. It's a great place to spend a peaceful afternoon, particularly in autumn when the woods look spectacular. If you'd like to continue your walking in the area then you could head to the nearby River Wey Navigation and enjoy a waterside stroll along the towpath from Godalming. Just over a mile to the south west is another fine National Trust owned area. Hydon's Ball and Hydon Heath have a waymarked footoath taking you to the Octavia Hill memorial seat where there are splendid views over the Surrey Hills. You can follow footpaths from the arboretum through Busbridge Woods and the Juniper Valley to reach the site. View Full Details>> |
| Winterfold Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | This lovely area of the Surrey Hills is a popular place for walkers and cyclists. Winterfold Wood and the adjacent Hurt Wood have many miles of footpaths and bridleways which are suitable for mountain bikers. View Full Details>> |
| Wistman's Wood | 4 miles (7 km) | Enjoy a walk around this atmospheric forest and nature reserve in the Dartmoor National Park. View Full Details>> |
| Wombwell Wood | 1 miles (2 km) | Enjoy a peaceful walk around these pretty woods near Barnsley. View Full Details>> |
| Wooler Common | 4 miles (6 km) | Explore this attractive area of woodland and common land on this walk in the Northumberland National Park. It's a very peaceful area with lovely views of the Cheviot Hills, two pretty ponds and an easy access trail to try. The town of Wooler is a popular base for walkers with direct access to the Cheviot Hills. The common is also a short walk from the town centre. Just follow the St Cuthbert's Way long distance trail south west and you soon come to the site. View Full Details>> |
| Woolmer Forest | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This large area of heathland and woodland has public footpaths to follow from the hamlet of Conford in the north eastern part of the site. View Full Details>> |
| Worsley Woods | 2 miles (3.2 km) | This circular walk around Worsley uses a series of public footpaths to explore these pretty woods in Salford. There's shady trails, streams, a lake, sculptures and a wild flower trail to enjoy. View Full Details>> |
| Wychwood Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | Explore this large area of forest near Charlbury on this woodland walk. View Full Details>> |
| Wykeham Forest | 4 miles (6 km) | This large forest in the North York Moors has miles of walking trails and a mountain bike trail. View Full Details>> |
| Wyre Forest | 7 miles (11 km) | This large forest near Bewdley has miles of super cycling and walking trails to enjoy. View Full Details>> |
| Wytham Woods | 4 miles (7 km) | Enjoy miles of walking trails through this expansive wood in Oxfordshire. There's 1000 acres to explore on a network of well laid out footpaths. View Full Details>> |
| Yarner Woods | 2 miles (3.5 km) | This large woodland area near Bovey Tracey is part of the East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths National Nature Reserve. View Full Details>> |
| Yearsley Woods | 2 miles (4 km) | These expansive woods in the Howardian Hills have mountain bike trails and a series of footpaths to try. The woods are quite hilly on the north western side so there's good opportunities for some fast descents for cyclists. There's also good wide footpaths leading to a large picturesque pond and a couple of smaller ponds. Look out for a variety of woodland birds as you make your way along the paths. The woods are located just a mile to the east of the Foss Walk long distance trail. You could pick this up near Oulston to extend your walking in the area. A couple of miles east of the forest you can pick up the Ebor Way at Cawton. The Nunnington and the River Rye walk is also nearby and a great way to explore the Ryedale area of the Howardian Hills. View Full Details>> |