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Northaw Great Wood

✦ Ancient woodland217 ha

📷 Stefan Czapski · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifePicnicBirds
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome217 ha

Getting here

51.72310, -0.14242

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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
  • 🧺Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out
  • 🐕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
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam
ParkingPicnic spot

Best for

11 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Picnic day out

picnic area, car park

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Blue Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +73 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blue Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +73 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Brown Hawker, Polydrusus formosus, Cantharis pellucida +7 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

16 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Parkfield, Oakmere & Beyond 2 mile walkWalking route2 km
Named routeLength 2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Red TrailWalking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Short TrailWalking route
Named routeListed length 1.3Round tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Hertfordshire Chain WalkWalking route

Not waymarked

Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

19 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 12Cycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
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
NCN12 Proposed alternative routeCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
NCN12 proposed reroutingCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route14 m
Named routeRef 61Length 14 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route15 m
Named routeRef 61Length 15 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

7 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Detail of oak stump, Northaw Great Wood

📷 Stefan Czapski · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Detail of oak stump, Northaw Great Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🦉NORTHAW GREAT WOOD COUNTRY PARKNature reserve100 m→🏞️NORTHAW GREAT WOODCountry park100 m→🌱Oakmere ParkUrban park3.7 km→🌱Oakmere ParkUrban park3.7 km→🌱ParkfieldUrban park3.7 km→🌱Northaw Great WoodUrban park100 m→

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