Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Lay Wood

✦ Ancient woodland19 ha

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome19 ha

Getting here

50.85400, -2.33125

Open directionsv
Google Maps↗Driving directionsApple Maps↗Driving directionsWaze↗Live driving navigationGoogle Transit↗Bus, rail or tramApple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

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

10 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird +54 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird +54 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

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

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +36 more · last seen 2024; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +36 more · last seen 2024

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

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

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Blackmore Vale

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Blackmore Vale

1 / 15

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Milton AbbeyHistoric site3.8 km→✦Cultivation remains on Thomas's Hill and E of HiltonHistoric site3.9 km→✦Small multivallate hillfort called Rawlsbury CampHistoric site300 m→✦BINGHAM'S MELCOMBEHistoric site4 km→✦Earthworks on RingmoorHistoric site4.8 km→✦Earthworks on Houghton South Down, including group of three round barrowsHistoric site4.8 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 234cc521-8df7-45c3-8324-5b5fab6f25fa