Glade
← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Shepherdswalk Covert

163 ha

📷 Helen Steed · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome163 ha

Getting here

52.25031, 1.60223

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • ☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking on site — 8 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌳Large woodland — room to roam
Bike parkingParking· Paid

Best for

10 activities

Bird watching

Reedbeds — bitterns, marsh harriers, bearded tits and reed warblers; Birds — Teal, Blue Tit, Robin +86 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

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

Free

Insect spotting

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Minotaur Beetle · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Waterside walks

Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking

Varies

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby · 27 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Sandlings WalkWalking route89 km

Southwold to Rushmere Heath on the outskirts of Ipswich

Named routeLength 89 kmRegional walking route
Suffolk Coast PathWalking route80 km
Named routeLength 80 kmRegional walking route
St Helena TrailWalking route

St Helena Trail, Dunwich Forest. Signposted with orange arrows

Named routeLocal walking route
Grey Trail, Dunwich HeathWalking route1.6 km

Mixed terrain, with some uneven slopes and exposed tree roots. Please wear appropriate footwear for the terrain. Dogs on leads March 1st to August 31st.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:30Round tripLocal walking route
Orange Trail, Dunwich HeathWalking route4.8 km

The longest trail with heathland, woodland and grassland, filled with nature. Mixed terrain, with some uneven slopes and exposed tree roots. Please wear appropriate footwear. Dogs on leads March 1st to August 31st.

Named routeLength 4.8 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 42Cycling route
Named routeRef 42Regional cycle route
Wolf WayCycling route400 km
Named routeRef Wolf WayLength 400 kmRound tripLocal cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

14 public paths nearby

Public paths
Black Sloughbridleway · 258 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 258 mPath type: bridleway
Black Sloughbridleway · 701 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 701 mPath type: bridleway
Black Sloughbridleway · 5 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 5 mPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Footpath up Vault Hill

📷 Helen Steed · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Footpath up Vault Hill

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Cliff House Holiday ParkUrban park2.1 km→✦Greyfriars, DunwichHistoric site3.4 km→✦Leiston Abbey (first site) with later chapel and pill boxHistoric site1.9 km→🌱Village GreenUrban park2.5 km→🌱Beer GardenUrban park2.6 km→✦Leiston Abbey (second site) and moated siteHistoric site3.6 km→

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