OUR VISIT
This is one of our favourite woods to take the children to. We discovered it as it’s part of one of my husband’s mountain bike trials and has all the great elements for a mini walker, sticks, logs, leaves and bark, the odd tractor, horse riders, big holes to run down – they love it! It also became our sanctuary during lockdown as there can be lots of people there and plenty of space.
One of the great joys of this walk is it’s flat which makes it easy for little legs. We usually work our way round anticlockwise, starting with running down the ‘bomb holes’, large craters. Then a picnic and balancing on the logs in Ranger Wood.
Pipley Barn has a café with drinks and sandwiches and some seating to refuel. It’s in the top corner of Rangers Wood and the golf course, so is popular with both walkers and golfers, and a good halfway-ish point of the walk.
For a long time I had no idea what these woods were called and still can’t find a very good map. Somebody posted this one up recently to help walkers and I’ve included a map of the route we take. Still not sure if it’s Slate or Sleight?.
Our circular trail isn’t very long but you can extend off many nearby routes. It’s hard to get lost but easy to get disoriented in the woods as there are so many paths. The edges are walled or you come to a grassy field, so you know you have to head back.
Here’s a few longer walks nearby, be prepared for hills but the views are worth it –
- A 5 mile, 3 hour circular walk by the Walking Englishman looks good – Upton Cheyney, Hanging Hill, Prospect Stile and North Stoke
- A scenic 8 mile Swineford Beckford’s Tower Circuar
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ACCESS: Off Landsdown Road, past the golf club and enter the car park on the left. Further Slate Wood is on the right and Rangers Wood on the left.
PARKING: There’s a fairly large, free car park and additional parking a bit further down on the verge. It gets busy but we’ve always found a space.
TERRAIN: Mostly flat woodland paths. Only the parking and entry paths get really muddy after rain. Great for shelter from the sun or light rain. Further Slate Wood has big craters. Rangers Wood is flat with large logs.
CAFE: Pipley Barn Cafe is lovely and about halfway round the route, serving sandwiches and toasties, snacks and hot and cold drinks. *Sadly Pipley Barn Cafe has now closed*
BIKES & BUGGY: The terrain is fine for a buggy if a bit bumpy in places. The woods are great for a bumpy, off-road bike ride and a lot of fun if you dare brave the craters. Follow the trails
DOGS: Popular with dog walkers.
