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Hand Wood

✦ Ancient woodland2 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

51.24963, 1.05587

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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
National trailWalking trails

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Nightingale, Coot, Turtle Dove +80 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Nightingale, Coot, Turtle Dove +80 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange-tip +68 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange-tip +68 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Cleavers, Hawthorn, Greater Plantain +33 more · last seen 2024; Plants — Cleavers, Hawthorn, Greater Plantain +33 more · last seen 2024

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble +6 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

13 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Red TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Black TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Elham Valley WayWalking route
Named routeListed length 40kmRegional walking route
Stour Valley WalkWalking route
Named routeListed length 82.9 kmRegional walking route
Via Francigena - 01 part Great BritainWalking route
Named routeRef VFInternational walking route
🚴

Cycling

181 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 18Cycling route
Named routeRef 18National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 183Cycling route
Named routeRef 183National Cycle Network
NCN Regional Route 17 (Kent)Cycling route
Named routeRef 17Regional cycle route
Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Great Stour WayCycling route
Named routeNational Cycle Network
Pilgrims Cycle TrailCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Hand Wood

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hand Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Westgate GardensUrban park3.6 km→🌱Westgate GardensUrban park3.6 km→🌱Kingsmead Recreation GroundUrban park4.6 km→🌱Village GreenUrban park2.8 km→🌱Martyrs' Field MemorialUrban park2.9 km→🌱Castle GardensUrban park3.2 km→

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