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Hatfield Forest

✦ Ancient woodland199 ha

📷 Thomas Nugent · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome199 ha

Getting here

51.86038, 0.22827

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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
  • 🅿️Elgins Car Park 20m away — 10 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Jackdaw, Mallard, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Jackdaw, Mallard, Woodpigeon +54 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Silky Wall Feather-moss, Supine Plait-moss, Fox-tail Feather-moss +46 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +66 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

13 signed routes nearby · 32 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Hatfield Forest Walk, Hatfield ForestWalking route2.7 km

Circular walk around the lake and then through the forest. Paths can get muddy after wet weather. Dogs welcome, please keep dogs on lead near livestock and around the lake.

Named routeLength 2.7 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Forest WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Capability Brown Walk, Hatfield ForestWalking route3 km

Circular trail explores the Georgian highlights of Hatfield Forest and influences of architect Capability Brown. Mostly level ground, some tree routes and gates. Paths can get muddy. Dogs on leads near livestock and around the lake.

Named routeLength 3 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
London to Walsingham - stage 03Walking route
Named routeRef LW03Local walking route
🚴

Cycling

42 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 11Cycling route
Named routeRef 11National Cycle Network
Route 16Cycling route
Named routeRef 16National Cycle Network
Regional Route 50Cycling route
Named routeRef 50Regional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route218 m
Named routeRef 11Length 218 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route17 m
Named routeRef 11Length 17 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route35 m
Named routeRef 11Length 35 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

15 public paths nearby

Public paths
The Flitch Waybridleway · 872 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 872 mSurface gravelPath type: bridleway
The Flitch Waybridleway · 843 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 843 mSurface compactedPath type: bridleway
Leaper's Lanerestricted byway · 354 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 354 mSurface compactedPath type: bridleway
The Flitch Waybridleway · 510 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 510 mSurface compactedPath type: bridleway
The Flitch Waybridleway · 848 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 848 mSurface compactedPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Hatfield Forest from the air

📷 Thomas Nugent · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hatfield Forest from the air

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Sworder's FieldUrban park4.6 km→🌱Grange PaddocksUrban park4.8 km→🌱Link Road WoodlandUrban park4.9 km→🌱Castle GardensUrban park4.7 km→🏞️HATFIELD FORESTCountry park300 m→🌱Hatfield ForestUrban park300 m→

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