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✦ Historic site

Castle Hill

✦ Ancient woodland11 ha

📷 Vieve Forward · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

HeritageWildlifeDogs
Public accessDogs welcome11 ha

Getting here

51.61937, -1.77527

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Best for

4 activities

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site with public access

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Ancient woodland

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Hiking

Good match

Named hiking route nearby: The Roman Way

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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4 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The Roman WayWalking route274.5 km▾
Named routeLength 274.5 kmRegional walking route
Millennium TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Thames PathWalking route296 km▾
Named routeRef TPLength 296 kmNational walking route
Thames & Severn WayWalking route69.8 km▾

Linking the Severn to the Thames following the route of the Stroudwater Navigation and Thames & Severn Canal as closely as possible using public rights of way. As the canals are restored, it will be updated to use the reinstated towpath wherever possible.

Named routeRef T&S WLength 69.8 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

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15 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Mercian WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network
Eastern FlyerCycling route▾
Named routeRef EFLocal cycle route
Tadpole RoundCycling route9.1 km▾
Named routeRef TRLength 9.1 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
Haydon RoundCycling route11.8 km▾
Named routeRef HRLength 11.8 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
West Swindon RoundCycling route11.3 km▾
Named routeRef WSRLength 11.3 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
Urban RoundCycling route27 km▾
Named routeRef URLength 27 kmRound tripLocal cycle route

About this historic site

Castle Hill is an ancient historic site covering 11 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

21 photos from nearby open sources

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Iron Age hillfort, Castle Hill, Blunsdon St Andrew

📷 Vieve Forward · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Iron Age hillfort, Castle Hill, Blunsdon St Andrew

1 / 21

Visiting this spring

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🌸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
✦ Ancient✓ Public access🐶 Dogs

Good to know

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

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Stanton Country ParkUrban park2.6 km→🌱Pentylands Country ParkUrban park4.2 km→🌱Eastern CommonUrban park3.5 km→🌱Brook ParkUrban park3.6 km→🌱Diamond Jubilee ParkUrban park2.8 km→🌱Merton Fields Millennium GreenUrban park3.3 km→