What can I say about Hazelborough Woods. It was the first place I took Monty out to back in early 2015 when he could go out.
First a little history.
Whittlewood forest covering 400acres over several woods is a former medieval huntimg forest east of Silverstone. There are tracts of ancient woodland with the old ditch boundaries found at the edges of each individual wood that made up the forest.
Hazelborough wood itself is an SSSI and is one of the very best places to see bluebells in the county which you can see from mid to end of April onwards. The wood is also home to a small enclave of orchids that can be seen from mid May. There are many types of birds in the woods and in the spring you will hear woodpeckers setting up for the season. Traditional coppicing is not really practiced anymore in ancient woodland but there is plenty of evidence to show that it was common years ago.
It is a lovely wood for walking in most of the year but the spring is the best in my opinion.
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First a little history.
Whittlewood forest covering 400acres over several woods is a former medieval huntimg forest east of Silverstone. There are tracts of ancient woodland with the old ditch boundaries found at the edges of each individual wood that made up the forest.
Hazelborough wood itself is an SSSI and is one of the very best places to see bluebells in the county which you can see from mid to end of April onwards. The wood is also home to a small enclave of orchids that can be seen from mid May. There are many types of birds in the woods and in the spring you will hear woodpeckers setting up for the season. Traditional coppicing is not really practiced anymore in ancient woodland but there is plenty of evidence to show that it was common years ago.
It is a lovely wood for walking in most of the year but the spring is the best in my opinion.
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The wood entrance can be found on the edge of Silverstone village itself next to the main A43 .The carpark can be found off the A43 north sliproad into Silverstone immediately on the left after exit, see the dropped pin on the picture.the carpark is large and is well away from the road so is pretty safe. Like any wood, it has it's moments with the seasons and can get very muddy in winter but also can be surprisingly dry after a week or so of dry weather.From the carpark you can walk through the sad and tired looking picnic area and along the main ride, which will loop around back to the carpark giving 45mins of walking. If you want to stay mud free, then stay on the hard cored track from the steel gate and head up the track past old abandoned buildings on the corner and follow it around a loop cutting back through a small area of woodland back to the carpark. Around the abandoned building be mindful of Silverstone archery club who operate mainly on Saturdays, they are an odd lot but probably think we are weird with our gingers.
Obviously summer is fair game and you can walk all over the extensive network of tracks that can get a little confusing but google maps will save the day( other online maps are available)
Keep a lookout for Roe and Muntjac deer which are both plentiful feasting on the spring and summer bounty .
All in all a good venue better suited to better weather days but also suprisingly good in wintertime.
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