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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Southfield Wood

✦ Ancient woodland4 ha

📷 Steve Bayley · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeDogsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

51.78150, -0.10935

Open directionsv
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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
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

Deciduous woodland priority habitat; Ancient woodland

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Bird watching

Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Cycling

Named cycling route nearby: Route 61

Varies

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

10 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Short TrailWalking route
Named routeListed length 1.3Round tripLocal walking route
Hertfordshire WayWalking route267 km

Long distance path

Named routeLength 267 kmRegional walking route
Hertfordshire Chain WalkWalking route

Not waymarked

Named routeRegional walking route
New River PathWalking route
Named routeRef NRRegional walking route
WGC100 Centenary WalkWalking route20.2 km

Created for Welwyn Garden City's 100th anniversary, a circular walk around the whole town

Named routeLength 20.2 kmRound tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

34 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
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
Main RouteCycling route550 m
Named routeRef 61Length 550 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route59 m
Named routeRef 61Length 59 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route588 m
Named routeRef 61Length 588 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route103 m
Named routeLength 103 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route91 m
Named routeRef 61Length 91 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
🐴

Horse riding

9 public paths nearby

Public paths
Cole Green Waybridleway · 662 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 662 mSurface compactedPath type: cycleway
Cole Green Waybridleway · 523 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 523 mSurface compactedPath type: cycleway
Cole Green Waybridleway · 6 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 6 mSurface compactedPath type: cycleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Grotto Wood

📷 Steve Bayley · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Grotto Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Castle GroundsUrban park2.5 km→✦Hertford Castle: a motte and bailey castle south of the River LeaHistoric site2.5 km→🌱Moneyhole Lane Playing FieldsUrban park4 km→✦BAYFORDBURYHistoric site1.2 km→✦PANSHANGERHistoric site2.3 km→✦BALLS PARKHistoric site3.3 km→

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