Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Norton Wood

✦ Ancient woodland33 ha

📷 Marilyn Peddle · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome33 ha

Getting here

50.87645, -2.21585

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
  • 🅿️Parking 424m away — 2 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 — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin +69 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin +69 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

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

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock +42 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Hod Hill circular walk, Hod HillWalking route1.6 km

Hod Hill is a steep climb to the ramparts of the hillfort, followed by a moderately level walk.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:45Round tripLocal walking route
Hod Hill butterfly walk, Hod HillWalking route1.6 km

Easiest approach involves one steep slope, alternative approach is gentler but longer. Site itself is level but uneven with little mud. Dogs welcome, but cattle are on the hill in summer and sheep in winter.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:45Round trip
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Stour Valley WayWalking route100 km
Named routeRef SVWLength 100 kmRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

41 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 25Cycling route
Named routeRef 25National Cycle Network
North Dorset TrailwayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
National Cycle Network 250Cycling route
Named routeRef 250National Cycle Network
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route81 m
Named routeRef 25Length 81 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route47 m
Named routeRef 25Length 47 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

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
Norton Lanebridleway · 849 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 849 mPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Norton Wood

📷 Marilyn Peddle · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Norton Wood

1 / 16

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦STEPLETON HOUSEHistoric site3.6 km→✦RANSTONHistoric site3.8 km→✦Disused Drinking FountainHistoric site4.3 km→✦Earthworks on site of manor houseHistoric site1.3 km→✦Hod HillHistoric site2.2 km→✦Hod Hill camp and Lydsbury RingsHistoric site2.2 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: 5c63c1af-b836-46d6-89fc-1bb9d115d2dd