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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Gravelpit Wood

9 ha

📷 Robin Webster · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome9 ha

Getting here

51.87590, 0.80458

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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

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie +79 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie +79 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Stag Beetle, Pseudovadonia livida +10 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Stag Beetle, Pseudovadonia livida +10 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 17 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Margery Allingham WalkWalking route9.5 km
Named routeLength 9.5 kmLocal walking route
Colne Valley PathWalking route37 km
Named routeLength 37 kmLocal walking route
Round ChapelWalking route

Circular route around Chappel. Whilst it is not signed, it has been recorded on OSM in 'Name' fields for some time.

Named routeLocal walking route
Stanway 8public footpath · 421 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 421 mPath type: track
Stanway 8public footpath · 54 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 54 mPath type: footway
Stanway 8public footpath · 34 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 34 mPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

44 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United KingdomCycling route
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
Lexden QuietwayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Pond in Gravelpit Wood

📷 Robin Webster · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Pond in Gravelpit Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🐄Colchester ZooVisitor farm2.5 km→🌱Westlands Country ParkUrban park3.5 km→🌱Marks Tey Recreational GroundsUrban park1.9 km→✦Roman Practice Camp and late Iron Age and Roman remains east of Stanway Hall FarmHistoric site2.6 km→🌱Wheatfield road parkUrban park3.1 km→✦Gosbecks Iron Age and Romano-British siteHistoric site3.7 km→

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