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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

West Wood

✦ Ancient woodland79 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome79 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦53+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blue Tit
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking 237m away — 6 car parks within reach

Good to know

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

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow +50 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow +50 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

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Marbled White +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

5 signed routes nearby · 5 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Cranborne Droves WayWalking route

The route of the Cranborne Droves Way walkers route between Win Green where it links with Wessex Ridgeway and Salisbury where it links with the Sarsen Way

Named routeRegional walking route
Fontmell Down walk, Fontmell and Melbury DownsWalking route1.6 km

The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces which become muddy and slippery after wet weather.

Named routeLength 1.6 kmDuration 00:45Round tripLocal walking route
Melbury Beacon walk, Fontmell and Melbury DownsWalking route3.7 km

The down has open access, so you can explore the whole area. The well-used paths and tracks include steep slopes, with uneven surfaces that become muddy and slippery after wet weather. Dogs are welcome under close control, as livestock grazes the down.

Named routeLength 3.7 kmDuration 01:30Round tripLocal walking route
Wessex RidgewayWalking route
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

10 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Wiltshire CyclewayCycling route155 km
Named routeRef WCLength 155 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
Route 25Cycling route
Named routeRef 25National Cycle Network
National BywayCycling route
Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
National Byway Dorset LoopCycling route
Named routeRef NB LoopLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route2.4 km
Named routeRef 25Length 2.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route
Named routeListed length 207km
Cranborne Droves Way TrailMountain bike route
Named route
🐴

Horse riding

6 public paths nearby

Public paths

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

Wildlife to spot

Photos

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