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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Hatfield Forest

✦ Ancient woodland4 ha
WildlifeBirdsInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

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

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, Mute Swan +46 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Jackdaw, Mallard, Mute Swan +46 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet +57 more · last seen 2025; Lowland meadows — marbled white, meadow brown and pollinating insects

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

14 signed routes nearby · 6 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Three Forests WayWalking route96 km
Named routeLength 96 kmRound tripRegional walking route
Harcamlow WayWalking route
Named routeRef HARRegional walking route
Waterside StortfordWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Hatfield Forest and Flitch Way Walk, Hatfield ForestWalking route5.6 km

Circular family walk, through medieval hunting forest full of ancient trees. Terrain is flat. Paths can get muddy. Dogs on leads near livestock and around the lake.

Named routeLength 5.6 kmDuration 02:00Round tripLocal walking route
Hatfield Forest Buttercup Walk, Hatfield ForestWalking route5.4 km

Trail takes you through the best places to see buttercups in May or June. Mostly level ground through grassy plains and woodland paths, some tree routes and gates. Paths can get muddy. Dogs on leads near livestock and around the lake.

Named routeLength 5.4 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

47 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Regional Route 50Cycling route
Named routeRef 50Regional cycle route
NCN National Route 11Cycling route
Named routeRef 11National Cycle Network
Route 16Cycling route
Named routeRef 16National Cycle Network
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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Thatched cottage, close to Hatfield Forest, Essex

Thatched cottage, close to Hatfield Forest, Essex

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