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South Mimms motte and bailey castle

2 ha

📷 John Walton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

51.70826, -0.22103

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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
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕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

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Jackdaw +61 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Robin, Jackdaw +61 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Cock's-foot, Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed +24 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Cock's-foot, Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed +24 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Garlic Mustard, Hawthorn, Pedunculate Oak +3 more foraging species

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Marmalade Hoverfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly +3 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Eristalis pertinax, Marmalade Hoverfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly +3 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

19 signed routes nearby · 18 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Red TrailWalking route
Named routeListed length 1.2 miRound tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Parkfield, Oakmere & Beyond 4 mile walkWalking route4 km
Named routeLength 4 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Parkfield, Oakmere & Beyond 1 mile walkWalking route1 km
Named routeLength 1 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Tykes Water & BeyondWalking route

Tykes Water & Beyond explores the greenspaces along the Tykes Water Brook through Borehamwood, gets out into the wide open countryside and provides sweeping views across the town and out to Elstree.

Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

41 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN12 proposed reroutingCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Route 12Cycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
Shenley CircuitCycling route
Named routeRound tripLocal cycle route
Route 61Cycling route34 km

Route 61 travels from Maidenhead to Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before arriving near Hoddesdon.

Named routeRef 61Length 34 kmNational Cycle Network
NCN12 Proposed extensionCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
NCN12 Proposed alternative routeCycling route
Named routeRef 12National Cycle Network
🐴

Horse riding

11 public paths nearby

Public paths
Love Lanerestricted byway · 172 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 172 mPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Ford at South Mimms

📷 John Walton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ford at South Mimms

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱ParkfieldUrban park3.1 km→🌱Oakmere ParkUrban park3.6 km→🌱Oakmere ParkUrban park3.6 km→✦WROTHAM PARKHistoric site3.9 km→🌱Morven ParkUrban park3.4 km→🌱Morven ParkUrban park3.4 km→

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