Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Dark Wood

✦ Ancient woodland24 ha

📷 Wikipedia · In a Dark, Dark Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome24 ha

Getting here

51.71979, -2.24610

Open directionsv
Google Maps↗Driving directionsApple Maps↗Driving directionsWaze↗Live driving navigationGoogle Transit↗Bus, rail or tramApple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

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
  • 🅿️Parking 63m away — 14 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Common Smoothcap, Wall Screw-moss, Forked Veilwort +4 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Glow-worm, Azure Damselfly +33 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby · 24 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Macmillan WayWalking route290 km
Named routeRef MWALength 290 kmListed length 461Regional walking route
Cotswold WayWalking route164 km
Named routeRef CWLength 164 kmNational walking route
Walk Around Stroud (The WAS Way)Walking route
Named routeRef WASRound tripLocal walking route
MST27Walking route
Named routeRef MST27
Woodchester Blue TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

67 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Mercian WayCycling route
Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network
Mercian Way (Stroud branch)Cycling route
Named routeRef (45)National Cycle Network
Mercian Way (alternative)Cycling route
Named routeRef (45)National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route817 m
Named routeRef 45Length 817 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.6 km
Named routeRef 45Length 1.6 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route145 m
Named routeRef 45Length 145 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

In a Dark, Dark Wood

📷 Wikipedia · In a Dark, Dark Wood · CC BY-SA 3.0

In a Dark, Dark Wood

1 / 16

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Stratford ParkUrban park3.7 km→🌱Rodborough CommonUrban park2.2 km→✦Multi-period site on Minchinhampton CommonHistoric site2.9 km→🌱Mortimer GardensUrban park3.4 km→🌱Bank GardensUrban park3.6 km→🌱Bank GardensUrban park3.6 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: c113e401-1e65-4682-bef2-dd60aa4d5c1d