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Melcombe Park

✦ Ancient woodland53 ha

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome53 ha

Getting here

50.83807, -2.36507

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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 — Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch +64 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch +64 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Common Whitebeam · last seen 2017

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Large White, Small White +40 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Large White, Small White +40 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional 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

9 public paths nearby

Public paths
Cothayes Drovebridleway · 24 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 24 mPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Hedge,footpath and field, Melcombe Park Dorset

📷 Nigel Mykura · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hedge,footpath and field, Melcombe Park Dorset

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Field system and settlement on Watcombe PlainHistoric site3.5 km→✦Cultivation remains on Thomas's Hill and E of HiltonHistoric site4.8 km→✦Ancient settlement E of Lyscombe BottomHistoric site2.5 km→✦Small multivallate hillfort called Rawlsbury CampHistoric site2.8 km→✦Earthwork and ancient fields SE of Lyscombe BottomHistoric site3 km→✦BINGHAM'S MELCOMBEHistoric site3.6 km→

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