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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Softlow Wood

✦ Ancient woodland1 ha

📷 Andrew Tatlow · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeForaging
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

53.01714, -1.83954

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦68+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Linnet
  • 🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Linnet, Woodpigeon +65 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Linnet, Woodpigeon +65 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

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

Free

Foraging

Plants — Elder, Common Nettle, Beech +14 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Eristalis tenax +62 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Eristalis tenax +62 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Cowslip, Early-purple Orchid, Red Campion +91 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Cowslip, Early-purple Orchid, Red Campion +91 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

17 signed routes nearby · 14 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Limestone WayWalking route74 km

Castleton to Rocester

Named routeLength 74 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Circular Park WalkWalking route1.6 km

https://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/content/assets/website/national/regions/peak-district-derbyshire/places/ilam-park-dovedale-and-the-white-peak/pdf/230525-property-access-statement---ilam-park.pdf

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:40Round tripLocal walking route
Hinkley Wood Route, Ilam ParkWalking route1.2 km

https://nt.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/content/assets/website/national/regions/peak-district-derbyshire/places/ilam-park-dovedale-and-the-white-peak/pdf/230525-property-access-statement---ilam-park.pdf

Named routeLength 1.2 kmDuration 00:20Point-to-pointLocal walking route
Walk from Dovedale to Milldale, DovedaleWalking route5 km
Named routeLength 5 kmDuration 03:00Point-to-pointLocal walking route
Manifold TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

13 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Route 550Cycling route
Named routeRef 550National Cycle Network
Churnet Valley CyclewayCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Route 549Cycling route
Named routeRef 549National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route13.8 km
Named routeRef 550Length 13.8 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route140 m
Named routeRef 549Length 140 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route36 m
Named routeRef 549Length 36 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface other
🐴

Horse riding

3 public paths nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

North east from the Weaver Hills

📷 Andrew Tatlow · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

North east from the Weaver Hills

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Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦ALTON TOWERSHistoric site4.8 km→🌱The LawnsUrban park4.7 km→🌱The GardensUrban park4.8 km→✦Ilam CrossHistoric site5 km→✦Thorswood MinesHistoric site500 m→🦉HOFTEN''S CROFT MEADOWSNature reserve3.9 km→

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