Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Merlin's Spring

✦ Ancient woodland19 ha

📷 Bikeboy · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome19 ha

Getting here

51.66495, -0.44798

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

  • ☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
  • 🌿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
Parking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie +73 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie +73 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Swan's-neck Thyme-moss, Common Liverwort, Green Alkanet +28 more · last seen 2024

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Harlequin Ladybird +62 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Harlequin Ladybird +62 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Common Sorrel, Beech, Common Chickweed +2 more foraging species

Varies

Heritage

Ancient woodland — historic landscape

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

15 signed routes nearby · 1 public path 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
Grand Union Canal WalkWalking route

Napton to Coy Carp section

Named routeRegional walking route
LOOP link to Moor Park UndergroundWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Colne Valley TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Ebury WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

82 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6National Cycle Network
Long Lane to Tudor Parade (proposed)Cycling route
Named routePoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
Route 61Cycling route34 km

Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.

Named routeRef 61Length 34 kmNational Cycle Network
Beacon Way to Tudor Parade (proposed)Cycling route
Named routePoint-to-pointLocal cycle route
Rickmansworth to Croxley GreenCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Meadow Way, Rickmansworth to NCN61Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Spring in Whippendell Wood

📷 Bikeboy · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Spring in Whippendell Wood

1 / 22

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Cassiobury ParkUrban park2 km→🌱Rickmansworth Aquadrome Local Nature ReserveUrban park4 km→🦉RICKMANSWORTH AQUADROMENature reserve4 km→🌱Oxhey ParkUrban park4.5 km→🌱Cassiobury ParkUrban park2 km→🌱Goodwood Recreation GroundUrban park2.7 km→

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: bea5883f-a0f9-47fe-874e-a0e1cbbc8703