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Hillcombe Coppice

✦ Ancient woodland74 ha

📷 Clive Perrin · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome74 ha

Getting here

50.87943, -2.22881

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
  • 📍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

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin +63 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin +63 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell · last seen 2018

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Green-veined White +27 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

5 signed routes nearby · 7 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Hod Hill circular walk, Hod HillWalking route1.6 km

Hod Hill is a steep climb to the ramparts of the hillfort, followed by a moderately level walk.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:45Round tripLocal walking route
Hod Hill butterfly walk, Hod HillWalking route1.6 km

Easiest approach involves one steep slope, alternative approach is gentler but longer. Site itself is level but uneven with little mud. Dogs welcome, but cattle are on the hill in summer and sheep in winter.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:45Round trip
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Stour Valley WayWalking route100 km
Named routeRef SVWLength 100 kmRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

40 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 25Cycling route
Named routeRef 25National Cycle Network
North Dorset TrailwayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
National Cycle Network 250Cycling route
Named routeRef 250National Cycle Network
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route81 m
Named routeRef 25Length 81 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route47 m
Named routeRef 25Length 47 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route
Named routeListed length 207km
🐴

Horse riding

19 public paths nearby

Public paths
Norton Lanebridleway · 849 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 849 mPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Hazel coppice with oak standards Hillcombe Coppice Dorset

📷 Clive Perrin · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hazel coppice with oak standards Hillcombe Coppice Dorset

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦RANSTONHistoric site3.9 km→✦STEPLETON HOUSEHistoric site4 km→✦Earthworks on site of manor houseHistoric site2.1 km→✦Hod HillHistoric site2.4 km→✦Hod Hill camp and Lydsbury RingsHistoric site2.4 km→✦Hambledon Hill campHistoric site3.8 km→

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