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← Back🌲 Mixed woodland

Beacon Plantation

✦ Ancient woodland11 ha

📷 Maurice D Budden · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome11 ha

Getting here

50.74243, -2.35902

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking on site — 4 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Firecrest, Robin +96 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Firecrest, Robin +96 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Dark-edged Bee-fly, Rhododendron Leafhopper, Minotaur Beetle +21 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Dark-edged Bee-fly, Rhododendron Leafhopper, Minotaur Beetle +21 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
The Hardy WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Frome Valley WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Hardy’s cottage to Max GateWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

22 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 2Cycling route

National Cycle Route 2 Christchurch to Axminster

Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Purbeck RideCycling route
Named routeRef 6Regional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route324 m
Named routeRef 2Length 324 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route87 m
Named routeRef 2Length 87 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route92 m
Named routeRef 2Length 92 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route85 m
Named routeRef 2Length 85 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

11 public paths nearby

Public paths
Tolpuddle Hollowbridleway · 1 km
Public pathbridlewayLength 1 kmPath type: bridleway
Two Drovesbridleway · 434 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 434 mPath type: bridleway
Two Drovesbyway open to all traffic · 122 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 122 mPath type: unclassified
Two Drovesbridleway · 167 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 167 mPath type: bridleway
Two Drovesbyway open to all traffic · 321 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 321 mSurface gravelPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Lane from Beacon Corner to Troy Town, with beech trees

📷 Maurice D Budden · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Lane from Beacon Corner to Troy Town, with beech trees

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🦉THORNCOMBE WOODNature reserve2.6 km→✦KINGSTON MAURWARDHistoric site3.8 km→✦ATHELHAMPTONHistoric site2.3 km→🌱Thomas Hardy GardenUrban park2.3 km→✦Roman road over Thorncombe Wood and Black HeathHistoric site1.6 km→✦Medieval settlement of Little PiddleHistoric site4 km→

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