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Rectory Wood - Woodland plantation

20 ha

📷 Roger Jones · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

DogsWildlifeBirds
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome20 ha

Getting here

51.91725, 0.79235

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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

Best for

5 activities

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Wildlife

Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Bird watching

Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Forest walks

Public woodland

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 23 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Colchester Orbital West BWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Margery Allingham WalkWalking route9.5 km
Named routeLength 9.5 kmLocal walking route
Colne Valley PathWalking route37 km
Named routeLength 37 kmLocal walking route
Round ChapelWalking route

Circular route around Chappel. Whilst it is not signed, it has been recorded on OSM in 'Name' fields for some time.

Named routeLocal walking route
Stour Valley Path part 2Walking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

33 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 8Cycling route
Named routeRef EV2International cycle route
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United KingdomCycling route
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
Lexden RouteCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route854 m
Named routeRef 1Length 854 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Boundary of Fordham Hall Estate

📷 Roger Jones · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Boundary of Fordham Hall Estate

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Marks Tey Recreational GroundsUrban park4.5 km→🌱Quilters GreenUrban park1.1 km→🌱Aldham ParkUrban park2.4 km→✦World War II Eastern Command Line at Chappel ViaductHistoric site2.5 km→🌱Fordham HeathUrban park2.8 km→🌱Jamsin ParkUrban park4.3 km→

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