Getting here
55.23576, -2.09971
Best for
5 activitiesHeritage
Free86%Historic site with public access
Wildlife
Free75%Ancient woodland
Cycling
Varies72%Named cycling route nearby: Pennine Cycleway
Dog walks
Free72%Dogs allowed with public access
Hiking
Free65%Named hiking route nearby: St Cuthbert's Three Church Trail
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶
Walking
11
1 named nearby · 10 public paths
Named routePublic access
🚴
Cycling
6
6 named nearby
Named route
🐴
Horse riding
4
4 public paths
Public access
Named routes and paths nearby
Pennine Cycleway · Cycling0
St Cuthbert's Three Church Trail · Walking0
Main Route · Cycling
Main Route · Cycling
Main Route · Cycling
About this historic site
Elsdon Motte is an ancient historic site covering 2 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
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
☕
Café
Impromptu Tea Room · 291m
🅿️
Parking
2 nearby · Free · 167m
🧺
Picnic spot
3 · 159m away
✓ Public access🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- 🐕Dogs welcome
- 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysLoading local forecast…
Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km
✦Mote Hills motte and bailey castleHistoric site0 m→⛪St Cuthbert's ChurchReligious grounds300 m→✦Manside defended settlement and medieval crossHistoric site4.9 km→✦Prehistoric settlement, funerary and agricultural remains, 650m south of South Monkridge BridgeHistoric site3.9 km→✦Ant Hills (burial mounds), MonkridgeHistoric site4.2 km→✦Unenclosed settlement, field system, cairnfield, round cairn cemetery, round cairn, shieling and enclosed cremation cemetery on Todlaw PikeHistoric site4.3 km→