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Mays Wood

✦ Ancient woodland63 ha

📷 David Martin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome63 ha

Getting here

50.75248, -2.23207

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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
  • 🅿️Parking on site — 18 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Stonechat, Goldfinch +78 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Stonechat, Goldfinch +78 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral +35 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral +35 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 31 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
The Hardy WayWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Frome Valley WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Blind Streetpublic footpath · 88 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 88 mPath type: residential
🚴

Cycling

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Lawrence RideCycling route
Named routeRef 4Local cycle route
Purbeck RideCycling route
Named routeRef 6Regional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

32 public paths nearby

Public paths
Back Lanebridleway · 131 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 131 mSurface gravelPath type: unclassified
Dark Lanebridleway · 108 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 108 mPath type: track
Shittertonbridleway · 38 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 38 mPath type: residential
Butt Lanebridleway · 61 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 61 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential
Sandy Lanebridleway · 753 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 753 mPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Path west from Shitterton - geograph.org.uk - 7987183

📷 David Martin · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Path west from Shitterton - geograph.org.uk - 7987183

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Souls Moor and Bere Stream Nature ReserveUrban park600 m→✦Bowl barrow in Piddle Wood, 530m north east of Gate BarnHistoric site1.1 km→✦Manorial settlement at Court FarmHistoric site1.2 km→✦The Hundred Barrow, a bowl barrow 350m south west of Chalk Pit FarmHistoric site1.3 km→✦Hillfort, ridge and furrow, holy well and medieval chapel on Woodbury HillHistoric site1.9 km→✦WoodburyHistoric site1.9 km→

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