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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Free Wood

✦ Ancient woodland39 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome39 ha

Getting here

52.03489, 0.15389

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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
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird +50 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird +50 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Common Nettle, Dog's Mercury +31 more · last seen 2020

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Large White, Peacock, Meadow Brown +95 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Large White, Peacock, Meadow Brown +95 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Plants — Common Nettle, Hazel, Bramble +5 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 5 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Icknield Way PathWalking route169 km

long distance footpath 169 km

Named routeLength 169 kmRegional walking route
Harcamlow WayWalking route
Named routeRef HARRegional walking route
Lime Tree WalkWalking route
Named route
Kitchen Garden WalkWalking route
Named route
Temple WalkWalking route
Named route
Pipers Lanepublic footpath · 86 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 86 mSurface groundPath type: residential
🚴

Cycling

16 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Byway (Cambridgeshire)Cycling route

National Byway route through Cambridgeshire

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
NCN National Route 11Cycling route
Named routeRef 11National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route2.9 km
Named routeRef 11Length 2.9 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route40 m
Named routeRef 11Length 40 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route789 m
Named routeRef 11Length 789 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route24 m
Named routeRef 11Length 24 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Icknield Way Cycle TrailMountain bike route226 km

This is the off-road or mountain cycling route of the Icknield Way Trail.

Named routeLength 226 kmRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

15 public paths nearby

Public paths
Freewood Lanebridleway · 890 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 890 mSurface asphaltPath type: service
Icknield Way Trailbyway open to all traffic · 489 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 489 mSurface compactedPath type: track
Icknield Way Trailbyway open to all traffic · 688 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 688 mSurface compactedPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Free Wood

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Free Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦AUDLEY ENDHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Organic Kitchen GardenUrban park4.5 km→✦Audley End MansionHistoric site4.9 km→🌱Horse River GreenUrban park4.3 km→🌱ParterreUrban park4.9 km→🌱All Saints' ChurchUrban park4.2 km→

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