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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Hainault Forest Country Park

✦ Ancient woodland165 ha

📷 Richard Hoare · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome165 ha

Getting here

51.62224, 0.13320

Open directionsv
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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
  • 🅿️Parking nearby — easy to reach by car

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam
Bike parkingParking· Paid

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Canada Goose, Blue Tit +58 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Canada Goose, Blue Tit +58 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Greater Stitchwort · last seen 2024

Free

Insect spotting

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Emperor Dragonfly +172 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

10 signed routes nearby · 14 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Public Right of Way 74Walking route
Named routeRef 74Local walking route
Oak TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
London LOOP (Section 21)Walking route
Named routeRef LOOPPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Epping Forest Big WalkWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
London LOOP (Section 19)Walking route
Named routeRef LOOPRegional walking route
Cavill's Walkpublic footpath · 835 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 835 mPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

15 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
LCN 12Cycling route
Named routeRef 12Local cycle route
LCN 61Cycling route
Named routePoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
Seven Kings GreenwayCycling route
Named routeRef 7KGLocal cycle route
Cycleway 16Cycling route

Link from Cycleway 16 to Barkingside station

Named routeRef C16Regional cycle route
LCN 60Cycling route

One of the LCN's "orbital routes in north east London". LCN60 was supposed to reach Harold Hill, but never made it that far.

Named routePoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
LCN 61Cycling route
Named routePoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

16 public paths nearby

Public paths
Crabtree Hillbridleway · 611 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 611 mSurface dirtPath type: unclassified
Crabtree Hillbridleway · 71 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 71 mSurface dirtPath type: unclassified
Cavill's Walkbridleway · 58 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 58 mSurface dirtPath type: bridleway
Crabtree Hillbridleway · 72 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 72 mSurface dirtPath type: unclassified

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Path through Hainault Forest Country Park (1)

📷 Richard Hoare · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Path through Hainault Forest Country Park (1)

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Bedfords ParkUrban park4.5 km→🌱Chigwell MeadowsUrban park3.9 km→🌱Fairlop Waters Country ParkUrban park4 km→🌱Fairlop Waters Country ParkUrban park4 km→🌱Rise ParkUrban park4.5 km→🌱King George's Playing FieldsUrban park4.7 km→

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