Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Gainford Great Wood

✦ Ancient woodland29 ha

📷 Chris Heaton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome29 ha

Getting here

54.55625, -1.74617

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
  • 🌿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

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Pheasant, Blackbird, Jackdaw +56 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Pheasant, Blackbird, Jackdaw +56 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Giant Hogweed, Bluebell, Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem +106 more · last seen 2024

Free

Foraging

Plants — Ramsons, Garlic Mustard, Hogweed +11 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird, Red-tailed Bumblebee +98 more · last seen 2025; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, 2-spot Ladybird, Red-tailed Bumblebee +98 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 8 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Teesdale Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough)Walking route

UK long distance footpath from Dufton to Warrenby.

Named routeRegional walking route
Way of Life - Gainford to EscombWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

21 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Byway (Yorkshire)Cycling route
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
National Cycle Route 165Cycling route
Named routeRef 165National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Route 715Cycling route

Walney to Wear (via Bishop Auckland)

Named routeRef 715National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route189 m
Named routeRef 165Length 189 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route512 m
Named routeRef 165Length 512 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route152 m
Named routeRef 165Length 152 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Gainford Great Wood

📷 Chris Heaton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Gainford Great Wood

1 / 16

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱St Andrew's ChurchUrban park2.4 km→🌱Winston Millennium GreenUrban park2.5 km→🌱The GreenUrban park1.3 km→🌱The GreenUrban park4.7 km→🌱The GreenUrban park4.7 km→🌱Low GreenUrban park4.9 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: 776061e7-9089-472e-9237-a26b2cdd8d2a