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Hillhouse Wood

✦ Ancient woodland17 ha

📷 Mr James D · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome17 ha

Getting here

51.91691, 0.82895

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit +71 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit +71 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Stag Beetle, Banded Demoiselle, Rhynchites auratus +11 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Stag Beetle, Banded Demoiselle, Rhynchites auratus +11 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

11 signed routes nearby · 28 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (North)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (West)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital Spoke (South)Walking route
Named routeLocal walking route
West Bergholt 10public footpath · 301 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 301 mPath type: footway
West Bergholt 20public footpath · 459 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 459 mPath type: footway
West Bergholt 14public footpath · 79 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 79 mSurface groundPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

84 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Highwoods RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
Colchester Orbital Cycle Spoke (Centre)Cycling route
Named routeRound tripLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Bluebells in Hillhouse Wood; West Bergholt

📷 Mr James D · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Bluebells in Hillhouse Wood; West Bergholt

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Springs Lane ParkUrban park3.6 km→🌱Mile End Recreation GroundUrban park4 km→🌱Wheatfield road parkUrban park4.1 km→✦Site of pre-Roman settlementHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Fordham HeathUrban park1.7 km→🌱Quilters GreenUrban park1.9 km→

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