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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Rectory Wood

3 ha

📷 Andrew Hill · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsDogs
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome3 ha

Getting here

51.92935, 0.80475

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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

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Blackbird +82 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Blackbird +82 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Small Heath, Peacock, Small White +44 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Small Heath, Peacock, Small White +44 more · last seen 2025

Free

Cycling

Named cycling route nearby: Route 13

Varies

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby · 13 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Colchester Orbital West AWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Margery Allingham WalkWalking route9.5 km
Named routeLength 9.5 kmLocal walking route
Colne Valley PathWalking route37 km
Named routeLength 37 kmLocal walking route
Round ChapelWalking route

Circular route around Chappel. Whilst it is not signed, it has been recorded on OSM in 'Name' fields for some time.

Named routeLocal walking route
Fordham 3public footpath · 301 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 301 mSurface groundPath type: footway
Fordham 3public footpath · 331 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 331 mSurface groundPath type: footway
Fordham 14public footpath · 774 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 774 mSurface groundPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

41 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Colchester Orbital CycleCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
South Suffolk Cycle Route A2 (Bures Loop)Cycling route
Named routeRef A2Regional cycle route
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
Wolf WayCycling route400 km
Named routeRef Wolf WayLength 400 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

Photos

View across fields from Chappel Road to Rectory Wood

📷 Andrew Hill · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

View across fields from Chappel Road to Rectory Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Bures Recreation GroundUrban park4.9 km→🌱Quilters GreenUrban park600 m→🌱Fordham HeathUrban park3.3 km→✦World War II Eastern Command Line at Chappel ViaductHistoric site3.4 km→🌱Aldham ParkUrban park4 km→✦Wissington ring ditch clusterHistoric site5 km→

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