Lady walking in the Forest with her black labrador
Walks in the Forest

Woodland walks

The best way to experience the Forest is to follow one of our waymarked walks.

There are currently 8 waymarked trails, including gentle 1.5 mile strolls, perfect for families with young children, and our specially designed accessible route suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with limited mobility. Or for a longer trail, follow our 4 mile Founder’s Walk which takes in stunning views across some of the newly planted woodland.

Find information about each of our woodland walks below, including start and finish points, distance, terrain, and things to look out for whilst you are exploring the different areas of the Forest. Each walk can be extended to another, using Public Rights of Way or linking permissive footpaths. 

Click on an icon to see its description

All Walks

A view of an open area of Haydon Way Wood in autumn

Haydon Way Wood

Distance: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

This easy-to-follow walk will lead you along the River Arrow, to a wildflower meadow through to a beautiful skyline view near Windmill Hill. Look out and see the scale of the Heart of England Forest for yourself.

 

A pathway through Morgrove Coppice leading out to an open grassland
A view of the path through mature woodland leading to a few wooden steps in to the young plantation
An open field with a large oak tree on the right and a glimpse of Studley Castle in the background.

College Wood

Distance: 1.4 miles

Difficulty: Easy

A waymarked trail through College Wood, near to the village of Studley, perfect for a stroll at any time of the year, taking in views towards both Spernall Park and Studley Castle.

A view of the open area of Coxmere Wood on a sunny autumn day

Coxmere Wood

Distance: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

This easy-to-follow walk will take you to a pond home to many frogs, toads and dragonflies. You will also see a range of budding trees in your new native broadleaf Forest.

One of the barns in Gidding's Wood during autumn

Giddings Wood

Distance: 1.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

This lovely woodland has a character of its own. Follow the waymarked route though the woodland flanked by flowering trees and shrubs out into a much younger and less densely stocked plantation planted in 2016.

A view of Pilgrim's Lock along the River Avon

Founder's Walk

Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Easy

A longer stroll through the growing Forest, taking in new tree planting, more mature woodland and meandering brooks. Discover the Founder’s Rock and step off the trail to pay the Heart of England Forest Arboretum a visit.

A view of the tree dedication area in Dorothy's Wood in autumn
A view of Noleham Wood in autumn

Noleham Wood

Distance: 1.75 miles

Difficulty: Easy

This mainly unmarked trail takes you through woodland creation of two different ages and across grazing meadows while following in-part the course of the Noleham Brook.