Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Common Plantation

24 ha

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome24 ha

Getting here

50.68889, -2.36658

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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
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Canada Goose, Great Black-backed Gull, Coot +82 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Canada Goose, Great Black-backed Gull, Coot +82 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Dark-edged Bee-fly, Nalassus laevioctostriatus, Gorse Shieldbug +9 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Dark-edged Bee-fly, Nalassus laevioctostriatus, Gorse Shieldbug +9 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 10 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
The Hardy WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
South Dorset RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef SDRRegional walking route
Frome Valley WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Hardy’s cottage to Max GateWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Watergates Lanepublic footpath · 33 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 33 mPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

26 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 route450 m
Named routeRef 2Length 450 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route332 m
Named routeRef 2Length 332 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

23 public paths nearby

Public paths
Watergates Lanebridleway · 853 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 853 mPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

View Towards Empool Bottom

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

View Towards Empool Bottom

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Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🦉THORNCOMBE WOODNature reserve4.6 km→🌱Knighton Reserve SANGUrban park1.5 km→✦KINGSTON MAURWARDHistoric site4.6 km→🌱Thomas Hardy GardenUrban park4.9 km→✦Roman road over Thorncombe Wood and Black HeathHistoric site4.6 km→✦Huck Barrow in Knighton Heath WoodHistoric site1 km→

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