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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

The Coombe

✦ Ancient woodland50 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome50 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦71+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Steps Hill Car Park 36m away — 8 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Magpie +68 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Magpie +68 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

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

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Pyramidal Orchid, Cowslip, Small Balsam · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Kite-tailed Robberfly, Hairy Shieldbug, Common Red Soldier Beetle +51 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

28 signed routes nearby · 38 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The RidgewayWalking route140 km
Named routeRef RWLength 140 kmNational walking route
The Chiltern WayWalking route275 km

A waymarked long-distance footpath in southern England

Named routeRef CWLength 275 kmRegional walking route
Grand Union Canal WalkWalking route

Napton to Coy Carp section

Named routeRegional walking route
Icknield Way PathWalking route169 km

long distance footpath 169 km

Named routeLength 169 kmRegional walking route
Stone Age Walk, Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade EstateWalking route4.8 km

Take a stroll through history. This walk will take you past Five Knolls; a series of ancient burial mounds which are thought to have been here for over 4,000 years.

Named routeLength 4.8 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
Duncombe Terracepublic footpath · 337 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 337 mSurface compactedPath type: track
Hog Hall Lanepublic footpath · 904 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 904 mPath type: track
Duncombe Terracepublic footpath · 416 m

Can get muddy

Public pathpublic footpathLength 416 mSurface compactedPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Ashridge Estate Family Cycle TrailCycling route
Named routeRound tripLocal cycle route
NCN National Route 574Cycling route
Named routeRef 574National Cycle Network
Route 6Cycling route
Named routeRef 6Local cycle route
Chilterns CyclewayCycling route
Named routeRound tripRegional cycle route
Route 5Cycling route
Named routeRef 5Local cycle route
Main RouteCycling route1.3 km
Named routeRef 574Length 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Icknield Way Cycle TrailMountain bike route226 km

This is the off-road or mountain cycling route of the Icknield Way Trail.

Named routeLength 226 kmRegional cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Steps on the steep slope between The Coombe and Hanging Coombe

Steps on the steep slope between The Coombe and Hanging Coombe

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