Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Dark Wood

✦ Ancient woodland11 ha

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome11 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
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Westbury Tavern Car Park 25m away — 8 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Little Ringed Plover, Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull +92 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Little Ringed Plover, Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull +92 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Daisy, Common Nettle, Wood Avens +20 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Lowland meadows — marbled white, meadow brown and pollinating insects; Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Sphaerophoria +15 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Common Nettle, Ramsons, Hazel +2 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby · 9 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Two Saints WayWalking route148 km

Two Saints Way - Chester Cathedral to/from Lichfield Cathedral. In the late Middle Ages a steady stream of pilgrims walked this way – both housing shrines to two game-changing Mercian saints in the 7th century - St Werburgh and St Chad

Named routeRef TSWLength 148 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Trent Valley WayWalking route304 km
Named routeLength 304 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Newcastle WayWalking route40 km

Market Drayton to Mow Cop

Named routeLength 40 kmRegional walking route
Kidsgrove to Stoke RidgewayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Stone Circles ChallengeWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Swynnerton FP4public footpath · 273 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 273 mPath type: footway
Newcastle FP127public footpath · 272 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 272 mPath type: footway
Swynnerton FP5(a)public footpath · 60 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 60 mSurface asphaltPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

80 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Route 555Cycling route
Named routeRef 555National Cycle Network
Silverdale GreenwayCycling route
Named routeRef 551National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
National Route 550Cycling route
Named routeRef 550National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route875 m
Named routeRef 5Length 875 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route54 m
Named routeRef 5Length 54 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

1 / 15

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: d23830e8-0e89-432d-93b2-227a4a2f35e6