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Bottom Shaw

✦ Ancient woodland75 ha

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome75 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • ☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
  • 🌿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

10 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit +72 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit +72 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Holly, Bramble, Broad Buckler-fern +50 more · last seen 2022

Free

Foraging

Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants; Plants — Bramble, Beech, Pedunculate Oak +4 more foraging species

Varies

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Platycheirus albimanus, Western Honey Bee, Stag Beetle +92 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 27 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The Chiltern Way Southern ExtensionWalking route

Long distance path

Named routeRef CWSRegional walking route
European walking route E2 west, UK, South East EnglandWalking route

Westroute: Stranraer (UK) - Birminhgham (UK) - Calais (FR) - Zoersel (BE) / Eastroute: Stranraer (UK) - Harwich (UK) - Rotterdam (NL) - Zoersel (BE) / Both Routes: Zoersel (BE) - Maastrich (NL) - Luxembourg (LUX) - Lake Geneva (CH) - Nice (FR)

Named routeRef E2International walking route
Hidden Valley, Basildon ParkWalking route4 km

A route throught our secluded valley, down the carriage drive and up the old drive to the mansion. Potential for livestock on route.

Named routeLength 4 kmDuration 01:30Point-to-pointLocal walking route
Thames PathWalking route296 km
Named routeRef TPLength 296 kmNational walking route
St Frideswide’s WayWalking route
Named routeRef SFWRegional walking route
Sheepwash Lanepublic footpath · 413 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 413 mSurface gravelPath type: track
Collins Endpublic footpath · 152 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 152 mSurface asphaltPath type: unclassified
Hardwick Roadpublic footpath · 955 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 955 mSurface asphaltPath type: service
🚴

Cycling

11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
Round Berkshire Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
Route R5Cycling route
Named routeRef R5Local cycle route
Reading R50Cycling route
Named routeRef R50Local cycle route
Reading R4Cycling route
Named routeRef R4Local cycle route
Reading Town Centre RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Judges' RideMountain bike route
Named route
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
🐴

Horse riding

24 public paths nearby

Public paths
Collins Endbridleway · 72 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 72 mPath type: unclassified
Town Lanerestricted byway · 658 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 658 mPath type: track
Bunce's Lanebridleway · 35 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 35 mSurface asphaltPath type: service
Town Lanerestricted byway · 194 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 194 mPath type: track
Hardwick Roadbridleway · 1.3 km
Public pathbridlewayLength 1.3 kmSurface pavedPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Evening light filtering through Bottom Wood, near Mapledurham, Oxfordshire

Evening light filtering through Bottom Wood, near Mapledurham, Oxfordshire

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