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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Old Down Wood

✦ Ancient woodland13 ha

📷 JR Dowding · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome13 ha

Getting here

51.13238, -2.84904

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Mute Swan, Mallard, Wren +76 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Mute Swan, Mallard, Wren +76 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Pyramidal Orchid, Even Scalewort, Wood Bristle-moss +20 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue +47 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue +47 more · last seen 2025

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 · 18 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Walton Heath TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Mini Marshes PathWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Reedbed TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Ham Wall LoopWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Mary Michael Pilgrims WayWalking route
Named routeRef MMPWRegional walking route
Honey Crock Lanepublic footpath · 570 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 570 mPath type: track
Back Lanepublic footpath · 244 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 244 mPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

13 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Bittern TrailCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Link from Route 3 to the Bittern TrailCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 3Cycling route527.7 km
Named routeRef 3Length 527.7 kmNational Cycle Network
Route 33Cycling route
Named routeRef 33National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route
Named routeRef EV1International cycle route
Main RouteCycling route288 m
Named routeRef 3Length 288 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Old Milestone by the A39, Bath Road, Loxley Wood, Shapwick parish

📷 JR Dowding · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Old Milestone by the A39, Bath Road, Loxley Wood, Shapwick parish

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds1.4 km→⛪St Peter's ChurchReligious grounds2.3 km→✦Sections of the Sweet Track, the Post Track and associated remains 500m north east of Moorgate FarmHistoric site3 km→⛪All Saints' ChurchReligious grounds3.1 km→⛪Stawell ChurchReligious grounds4 km→⛪St Edward's ChurchReligious grounds4.2 km→

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