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Cowhay Wood

✦ Ancient woodland4 ha

📷 Colin Park · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

53.10639, -2.06079

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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
  • 🌿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; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Little Ringed Plover, Mallard, Woodpigeon +79 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Little Ringed Plover, Mallard, Woodpigeon +79 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Wood Anemone, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Wood Avens +49 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Wood Anemone, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Wood Avens +49 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hawthorn, Garlic Mustard, Elder +7 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Waterside walks

Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, River Skater +14 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, River Skater +14 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

15 signed routes nearby · 11 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Habitat Walk Ladderedge Country Park (Green Arrows)Walking route

Includes some hills

Named routeDuration 45min
Young Woodland LoopWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Peak District Boundary Walk Stage 17Walking route16.2 km
Named routeLength 16.2 kmRegional walking route
Valley Woodland TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Peak District Boundary Walk Stage 16Walking route18.1 km
Named routeLength 18.1 kmRegional walking route
Leek Town 40public footpath · 4 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 4 mPath type: track
Leek Town 40public footpath · 8 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 8 mPath type: track
Leek Town 45public footpath · 19 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 19 mPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 559Cycling route
Named routeRef 559National Cycle Network
National Route 550Cycling route
Named routeRef 550National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route170 m
Named routeRef 559Length 170 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km
Named routeRef 550Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route3.7 km
Named routeRef 559Length 3.7 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route1.2 km
Named routeRef 559Length 1.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Field path & stile above Cowhay Wood near Leek

📷 Colin Park · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Field path & stile above Cowhay Wood near Leek

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Brough ParkUrban park2.5 km→🌱Ladderedge Country ParkUrban park1.9 km→🏞️LADDEREDGECountry park1.9 km→🌱Deep Hayes Country ParkUrban park3.7 km→🌱Westwood Recreation GroundUrban park1.7 km→🌱Brough ParkUrban park2.3 km→

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