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*Postcode won't take you to the right place! The nature reserve has it's own small car park (signposted as national nature reserve when you're near), which is on Downs Road between Woodend and West Stoke. At busy times cars are parked all along the narrow roads nearby too.
Mainly chalk paths, with some woodland and grassy parts too. You can just walk around the ancient tree section and back again and it would be about a 4k route, but if you want to get to the top of the hill it is a very steep climb, with steps on one part. Couple of kissing gates but no stiles.
At the base of the valley past the ancient trees there's a small dew pond, so not a particularly massive draw here for water-loving dogs.
Poo bin in the car park.
A grade 1 nature reserve and Site of Specific Scientific interest, the ancient trees are said to be around 2000 years old!
We visited here on a sunny bank holiday, we arrived quite early and the car park was just about full, but by the time we got back it was heaving with cars park all along the local roads too so clearly a very popular place!
The first section takes you along a gravel track past a few fields and then you enter the gated nature reserve. From here we simply followed the small green arrowed posts along the Nature Trail. This leads you through the woods and the spectacular ancient tree trail. After about 2.5km it opens up and you enter the base of the valley (by the dew pond) with the large hill and steep stepped path in front of you. We took the steadier climb to your right through woodlands which leads you to the summit and some incredible views. We then made it down the stepped path and right back along the route we came in on.
At just under 2 hours (with several stops and lots of photo taking!) it's more of a day out walk that a quick stroll, and a popular place for dog walkers and families. Signs say there are livestock but we didn't see any at all today, but did see a deer running through the fields just in front of us so played safe and Hank was on the lead for most of the way.
