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Benscliffe Wood

✦ Ancient woodland22 ha

Plan your visit

WildlifeFungiSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome22 ha

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
  • 🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

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

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Common Jelly Spot, Violet Bramble Rust, Blushing Bracket +58 more · last seen 2026; Fungi — Common Jelly Spot, Violet Bramble Rust, Blushing Bracket +58 more · last seen 2026

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Great Burnet, Devil's-bit Scabious, Betony +98 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Plants — Meadowsweet, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Red Dead-nettle +12 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet +263 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet +263 more · last seen 2026

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird +46 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Blue Tit, Robin, Blackbird +46 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Leicestershire RoundWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
National Forest WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Ivanhoe WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

13 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 63Cycling route
Named routeRef 63National Cycle Network
Leicester 'Route 2'Cycling route
Named routeRef 2Local cycle route
Loughborough Cycle Network Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1Local cycle route
Loughborough Cycle Network Route 3Cycling route
Named routeRef 3Local cycle route
Leicester 'Route 4'Cycling route
Named routeRef 4Local cycle route
Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6National Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Benscliffe Wood in Charnwood Forest

Benscliffe Wood in Charnwood Forest

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