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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Hurst Wood

✦ Ancient woodland7 ha

📷 Robin Webster · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsFungi
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome7 ha

Getting here

51.87067, -0.32911

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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
  • 🍄Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

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; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow +67 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow +67 more · last seen 2025

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Lepraria incana s. str., Common Orange Lichen, Netted Shield Lichen +21 more · last seen 2015; Fungi — Lepraria incana s. str., Common Orange Lichen, Netted Shield Lichen +21 more · last seen 2015

Varies

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Rough-stalked Feather-moss, Hypnum cupressiforme +63 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Plants — Hogweed, Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle +10 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

14 signed routes nearby · 13 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The Chiltern WayWalking route275 km

A waymarked long-distance footpath in southern England

Named routeRef CWLength 275 kmRegional walking route
Lea Valley Walk (link to Luton Parkway station)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Above the Lea ValleyWalking route6.5 km

From quiet woods to expansive views over the Lea valley, this walk includes Gustard Wood at the northern tip of Wheathampstead and the Grade I splendour of Mackerye End.

Named routeLength 6.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Former Chiltern WayWalking route

Former route of Chiltern Way, removed in June 2022. Left in mapping for information, especially if people are using old guidebooks

Named routeRef CWexLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

23 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 57Cycling route
Named routeRef 57National Cycle Network
Recreational Cycle Route 16Cycling route

Local circular? cycle route

Named routeLocal cycle route
Chilterns CyclewayCycling route
Named routeRound tripRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.8 km
Named routeRef 6Length 1.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route690 m
Named routeRef 57Length 690 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Farm track with barrier

📷 Robin Webster · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Farm track with barrier

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Wigmore ParkUrban park3.1 km→🌱Kingswalden Park (Deer Park)Urban park3 km→🌱Raynham Way parkUrban park3.7 km→✦THE HOO, KIMPTONHistoric site3.9 km→🌱Falstone GreenUrban park3.6 km→✦ST PAUL'S WALDEN BURYHistoric site4 km→

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