Rolf's Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 27 ha
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 27 ha
Places › England › South West › Dorset Getting here
50.92321, -2.17088
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 51+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Mallard 🐕 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 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🐦 51+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Mallard 🐕 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 £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Mallard, Blackbird +48 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Mallard, Blackbird +48 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Field Forklet-moss, Schreber's Forklet-moss · last seen 2021
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Brimstone, Red Admiral, Large White +74 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 7 signed routes nearby · 12 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Fontmell Down walk, Fontmell and Melbury Downs Walking route 1.6 km ▾
The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces which become muddy and slippery after wet weather.
Named route Length 1.6 km Duration 00:45 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Melbury Beacon walk, Fontmell and Melbury Downs Walking route 3.7 km ▾
The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces that become muddy and slippery after wet weather. Dogs are welcome under close control, as livestock grazes the down.
Named route Length 3.7 km Duration 01:30 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Hod Hill circular walk, Hod Hill Walking route 1.6 km ▾
Hod Hill is a steep climb to the ramparts of the hillfort, followed by a moderately level walk.
Named route Length 1.6 km Duration 00:45 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Hod Hill butterfly walk, Hod Hill Walking route 1.6 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 route Length 1.6 km Duration 00:45 Round trip
Show on map Wessex Ridgeway Walking route ▾
Named route Ref WR Regional walking route
Show on map 26 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 25 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 25 National Cycle Network
Show on map National Byway Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref NB Regional cycle route
Show on map North Dorset Trailway Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map North Dorset Cycle Way Cycling route ▾
Named route Regional cycle route
Show on map National Byway Dorset Loop Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref NB Loop Local cycle route
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 47 m ▾
Named route Ref 25 Length 47 m National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map 1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway Trail Mountain bike route ▾
Named route Listed length 207km
Show on map 2 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Photos Wessex Ridgeway in Preston Wood
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
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 useful was the information on this page?
id: c2656837-6601-420b-9795-997437a258e9
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Bookable tours GetYourGuide Promote here
Wildlife to spot
3,504 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 3,504 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 18 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Swift · Woodpigeon · Greenfinch · Yellowhammer · Bullfinch +13
Swift Apus apus2021 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2024 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2024 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Tawny Owl Strix aluco2024 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe2023 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2023 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2021 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2021 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2021 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2021 Siskin Spinus spinus2021 Blackbird Turdus merula2020 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2020 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2020 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2020 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria2020 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring summer
2022 ▾
Hedgehog · Polecat · Brown Hare · Weasel
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Polecat Mustela putorius Brown Hare Lepus europaeus2020 Weasel Mustela nivalis2020 🐝 Insects 45 species
spring summer autumn
2026 ▾
Dark-edged Bee-fly · Dotted Bee-fly · Conops quadrifasciatus · Downland Villa · Four-barred Major +40
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor2025 Conops quadrifasciatus Conops quadrifasciatus2024 Downland Villa Villa cingulata2025 Four-barred Major Oxycera rara Perennial Rye-grass · Red Fescue · Groundsel · Blackthorn · Prickly Sow-thistle +32
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne2020 Red Fescue Festuca rubra2020 Groundsel Senecio vulgaris2020 Blackthorn Prunus spinosa2020 Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper2020 Common Nettle Urtica dioica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 3,504 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 18 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Swift · Woodpigeon · Greenfinch · Yellowhammer · Bullfinch +13
Swift Apus apus2021 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2024 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella2024 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Tawny Owl Strix aluco2024 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe2023 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis2023 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2021 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2021 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2021 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2021 Siskin Spinus spinus2021 Blackbird Turdus merula2020 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2020 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2020 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2020 Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria2020 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring summer
2022 ▾
Hedgehog · Polecat · Brown Hare · Weasel
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Polecat Mustela putorius Brown Hare Lepus europaeus2020 Weasel Mustela nivalis2020 🐝 Insects 45 species
spring summer autumn
2026 ▾
Dark-edged Bee-fly · Dotted Bee-fly · Conops quadrifasciatus · Downland Villa · Four-barred Major +40
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor2025 Conops quadrifasciatus Conops quadrifasciatus2024 Downland Villa Villa cingulata2025 Four-barred Major Oxycera rara Perennial Rye-grass · Red Fescue · Groundsel · Blackthorn · Prickly Sow-thistle +32
Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne2020 Red Fescue Festuca rubra2020 Groundsel Senecio vulgaris2020 Blackthorn Prunus spinosa2020 Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper2020 Common Nettle Urtica dioica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2025
2025
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea2025
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea2025
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2025
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2025
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus2025
Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus2025
Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii2024
Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii2024
Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata2023
Locust Blowfly Stomorhina lunata2023
Tachina fera Tachina fera2023
Tachina fera Tachina fera2023
Sepsis Sepsis2023
Sepsis Sepsis2023
Black Oil-beetle Meloe proscarabaeus2023
Black Oil-beetle Meloe proscarabaeus2023
Ashy Mining Bee Andrena cineraria2022
Ashy Mining Bee Andrena cineraria2022
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator2025
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator2025
Simulium Simulium2024
Simulium Simulium2024
Thecophora atra Thecophora atra2024
Thecophora atra Thecophora atra2024
Anthomyia Anthomyia2024
Anthomyia Anthomyia2024
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2024
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2024
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2024
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2024
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis2024
Xylota segnis Xylota segnis2024
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens2024
Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens2024
Sicus ferrugineus Sicus ferrugineus2023
Sicus ferrugineus Sicus ferrugineus2023
Black-horned Gem Microchrysa polita2023
Black-horned Gem Microchrysa polita2023
Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva2023
Tawny Mining Bee Andrena fulva2023
Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus2022
Twin-spot Centurion Sargus bipunctatus2022
Hill Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris2022
Hill Cuckoo Bee Bombus rupestris2022
Lonchaea Lonchaea2022
Lonchaea Lonchaea2022
Ectemnius Ectemnius2022
Ectemnius Ectemnius2022
Tipula maxima Tipula maxima2022
Tipula maxima Tipula maxima2022
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca2022
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca2022
Phasia pusilla Phasia pusilla2022
Phasia pusilla Phasia pusilla2022
Anthomyia pluvialis Anthomyia pluvialis2022
Anthomyia pluvialis Anthomyia pluvialis2022
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2022
Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2022
Leopoldius calceatus Leopoldius calceatus2021
Leopoldius calceatus Leopoldius calceatus2021
Golden-haired Robberfly Choerades marginatus2021
Golden-haired Robberfly Choerades marginatus2021
Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo2021
Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo2021
Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa2021
Broad Centurion Chloromyia formosa2021
Myopa pellucida Myopa pellucida2021
Myopa pellucida Myopa pellucida2021
Polyporivora picta Polyporivora picta2020
Polyporivora picta Polyporivora picta2020
Culiseta annulata Culiseta annulata2020
Culiseta annulata Culiseta annulata2020
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris2020
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris2020
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris2020
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris2020
Nemopoda nitidula Nemopoda nitidula2020
Nemopoda nitidula Nemopoda nitidula2020
Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis2020
Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis2020 2020
2020
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2020
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium2020
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2020
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna2020
Dog-rose Rosa canina2020
Dog-rose Rosa canina2020
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba2020
Traveller's-joy Clematis vitalba2020
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus2020
Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus2020
Elder Sambucus nigra2020
Elder Sambucus nigra2020
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2020
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle2020
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2020
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus2020
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea2020
Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea2020
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2020
Nipplewort Lapsana communis2020
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum2020
Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum2020
Chives Allium schoenoprasum2020
Chives Allium schoenoprasum2020
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys2020
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys2020
Trifolium incarnatum Trifolium incarnatum
Trifolium incarnatum Trifolium incarnatum
Schreber's Forklet-moss Dicranella schreberiana2021
Schreber's Forklet-moss Dicranella schreberiana2021
Field Forklet-moss Dicranella staphylina2021
Field Forklet-moss Dicranella staphylina2021
Hoary Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum2020
Hoary Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum2020
False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum2020
False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum2020
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2020
Yarrow Achillea millefolium2020
Cleavers Galium aparine2020
Cleavers Galium aparine2020
False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius2020
False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius2020
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2020
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum2020
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2020
Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii2020
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2020
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata2020
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2020
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata2020
Beech Fagus sylvatica2020
Beech Fagus sylvatica2020
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2020
Ash Fraxinus excelsior2020
Holly Ilex aquifolium2020
Holly Ilex aquifolium2020
Bramble Rubus fruticosus2020
Bramble Rubus fruticosus2020
Box Buxus sempervirens2020
Box Buxus sempervirens2020
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima2020
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima2020