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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

The Brakes Wood

✦ Ancient woodland12 ha

📷 Trevor Rickard · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome12 ha

Getting here

52.36965, -2.81420

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦77+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Woodpigeon
  • 🐕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

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +74 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +74 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

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

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, Spurge-laurel, Wall Lettuce · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Elaphrus cupreus, Abax parallelepipedus, Water Measurer +19 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Elaphrus cupreus, Abax parallelepipedus, Water Measurer +19 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 10 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Shropshire Way - stage 05Walking route17.1 km
Named routeRef ShW05Length 17.1 kmLocal walking route
Mortimer TrailWalking route48 km
Named routeLength 48 kmRegional walking route
Herefordshire TrailWalking route246.5 km
Named routeLength 246.5 kmRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

15 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 44Cycling route
Named routeRef 44National Cycle Network
National Byway (Herefordshire)Cycling route

National Byway in Herefordshire

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route325 m
Named routeRef 44Length 325 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose
Main RouteCycling route1.5 km
Named routeRef 44Length 1.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route87 m
Named routeRef 44Length 87 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route82 m
Named routeRef 44Length 82 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

The Brakes

📷 Trevor Rickard · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Brakes

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦DOWNTON CASTLEHistoric site1.1 km→✦OAKLY PARKHistoric site3.8 km→✦STOKESAY COURTHistoric site3.8 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds4 km→✦Saint Mary the VirginHistoric site4 km→⛪St Mary Magdalene ChurchReligious grounds4.3 km→

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