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Wilstead Wood

✦ Ancient woodland66 ha

📷 Dave Thompson · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome66 ha

Getting here

52.07051, -0.43596

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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
  • 🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
  • 🐕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
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Robin +64 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Robin +64 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Yarrow, Small Nettle, Lords-and-Ladies +90 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Plants — Small Nettle, Elder, Common Nettle +11 more foraging species; Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Insect spotting

Lowland meadows — marbled white, meadow brown and pollinating insects; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Rhyparochromus vulgaris, Harlequin Ladybird +29 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 8 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
John Bunyan TrailWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Greensand Ridge WalkWalking route64 km
Named routeLength 64 kmRegional walking route
North Bedfordshire Heritage TrailWalking route70 km
Named routeLength 70 kmRegional walking route
Katherine’s WalkWalking route13.6 km
Named routeLength 13.6 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Marston Vale Timberland TrailWalking route21 km

A 13 mile / 21 km circular walk around the Forest of Marston Vale - https://www.marstonvale.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=8eb96757-1ae3-4db0-a66f-830ab1081402

Named routeLength 21 kmLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

18 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Bedford Green WheelCycling route
Named routeRef GWRound tripLocal cycle route
Route 22Cycling route
Named routeRef 22Local cycle route
Route 25Cycling route
Named routeRef 25Local cycle route
NCN 51Cycling route
Named routeRef 51National Cycle Network
Greensand CyclewayCycling route59 km
Named routeLength 59 kmRegional cycle route
Route 26Cycling route
Named routeRef 26Local cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

View from path near Wilstead Wood

📷 Dave Thompson · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

View from path near Wilstead Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱St Mary's ChurchUrban park1.3 km→🦉KINGSWOOD AND GLEBE MEADOWS, HOUGHTON CONQUESTNature reserve3.6 km→🌱Shocott SpringUrban park3.1 km→✦Houghton House: a 17th century mansion and associated courtyard and formal garden remainsHistoric site4.6 km→🌽Bedford Road AllotmentsAllotments1.6 km→🌱Wixams GreenwayUrban park2.6 km→

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