Glade
← Back

✦ Historic site

Barbury Castle

✦ Ancient woodland10 ha

📷 Dave Price · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

HeritageWildlifeCycling
Public accessDogs welcome10 ha

Getting here

51.48532, -1.78645

Open directionsv
Google Maps↗Driving directionsApple Maps↗Driving directionsWaze↗Live driving navigationGoogle Transit↗Bus, rail or tramApple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Best for

6 activities

Heritage

Free86%

Historic site with public access

Wildlife

Free75%

Ancient woodland

Cycling

Varies72%

Named cycling route nearby: Mercian Way

Dog walks

Free72%

Dogs allowed with public access

Hiking

Free72%

Named hiking route nearby: The Ridgeway

Mountain biking

Varies65%

Named MTB route nearby: King Alfred's Way

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

v

6 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The RidgewayWalking route140 km▾
Named routeRef RWLength 140 kmNational walking route
Sarsen WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Wessex RidgewayWalking route▾
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
White Horse TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef WHTRegional walking route
Millennium TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

v

36 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Mercian WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network
Wiltshire CyclewayCycling route155 km▾
Named routeRef WCLength 155 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
Route 403Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 403National Cycle Network
Route 482Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 482National Cycle Network
Swindon to Ridgeway LinkCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.1 km▾
Named routeRef 482Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
🚵

Mountain biking

v

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
King Alfred's WayMountain bike route▾

King Alfreds Way is 350km (220 miles) off road route designed to be ridden clockwise. It starts & ends in Winchester. It is suitable for gravel or cross-country bikes.

Named routeRegional cycle route
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeListed length 207km
🐴

Horse riding

v

12 public paths nearby

Public paths
The Ridgewaybyway open to all traffic · 101 m▾
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 101 mSurface gravelPath type: track
The Ridgewaybyway open to all traffic · 1.5 km▾
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 1.5 kmSurface gravelPath type: track
The Ridgewaybyway open to all traffic · 313 m▾
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 313 mSurface gravelPath type: track

About this historic site

Barbury Castle is an ancient historic site covering 10 hectares. As an ancient woodland, it has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD — a rare and irreplaceable habitat rich in biodiversity and historical character.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Aerial View of Barbury Castle

📷 Dave Price · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Aerial View of Barbury Castle

1 / 15

🌱 Visiting this spring

  • 🌸Ancient woodlands are famous for bluebell carpets in April and May — one of Britain's most spectacular wildflower displays
  • 🐦Prime nesting season — listen for woodpecker drumming, warbler song and the first cuckoos from April
  • 🦌Roe deer are active before the leaf canopy closes in — dawn and dusk are best

Facilities

🅿️

Parking

1 nearby · Free · 367m

✦ Ancient✓ Public access🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Barbury Castle Country ParkUrban park400 m→🌱Barbury Castle Country ParkUrban park400 m→✦Barbury Castle: a hillfort and bowl barrowHistoric site0 m→✦Saucer barrow: part of a barrow cemetery west of Barbury CastleHistoric site300 m→✦Three bowl barrows: part of a barrow cemetery west of Barbury CastleHistoric site400 m→✦Field system and earthwork enclosure on Burderop DownHistoric site1.1 km→