Wayford Woods easy circular walk, 1.1 miles
Wayford Woods is an easy, circular family-friendly walk in South Somerset. Managed by a charitable trust, the site’s 29 acres features well-maintained paths, a large central meadow, a lake, a tiny stream to splash in and seasonal highlights like blooming rhododendrons, azaleas, and bluebells.
The woods once drew fame for whimsical fairy doors placed at tree bases, enchanting children and attracting visitors from far and wide. Though the fairy doors have been removed to preserve the tranquility and protect the environment (it’s not big enough for hoardes of visitors), the magic of the woods remains.
The route description below follows this OS Map in a clockwise direction from the green place marker (car park). You can shorten this walk, or vary it, by taking different paths, which criss-cross around the woodland.
WALK DISTANCE: 1.83 km / 1.14 miles
TYPE OF WALK: a roughly circular woodland walk, with soft, hard and meadow paths. Small uphill. Choice of paths which loop and cross around an open, grassy meadow.
PARKING: Free, limited parking at Holvert Lane, Wayford, postcode TA18 8QH. Click here for Google Maps point.
Please respect local residents and park with consideration.
DIRECTIONS: Once in Wayford Village, follow the road past the old manor house, and some terraced houses on your right. Don’t panic when the road seemingly runs out! Continue for another 1/4 mile along a small track and you will see a small car park on the right, with a Wayford Woods sign on the gate.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE: Without kids, this is around a 30-minute walk. Allow up to an hour with young kids.
ACCESSIBILITY: Not wheelchair friendly. In dry weather, you might get away with a pushchair on the hard paths. Some small inclines.
TOTAL ASCENT: 33.8 metres
FACILITIES: There are no public toilets. You may want to tie in a visit afterwards to The Bell Inn in Winsham.
The walking route
START: Wayford Woods car park, Holvert Lane
Click here for Google Map point
Grid reference: ST 39957 06388
Postcode: TA18 8QH
What3words: ///youths.hers.satellite
1. Walk through the gate next to the car park (signed Wayford Woods). There are several paths to choose from. To follow this route, turn left and take the path furthest to the left.
2. Follow the track until you reach the fairy door tree stump. There is a choice of paths here, take the left hand one (straight on).
3. The path will lead you to a stream with a small bridge (with small steps down to splash in the water). Once again, you’ll be faced with a choice of paths. You will see a bench on the right hand side, where you can see some lovely hillside views. To continue on the longest version of this circular walk, head straight on from the stream (the path on the left).
4. The path will start circling back now, so just continue to follow the track, past some handmade wooden benches, past the Volunteers HQ car park.
5. You will probably recognise where you are now and should see a large ornamental lake straight ahead. Choose to skirt the left hand side of the lake, crossing a small bridge and waterfall until you reach the car park. Alternatively, you can make your way round the lake on the right hand side, back to the car park.
For those that prefer a much longer walk, or hike, you could link up with the Liberty Trail, which is part of a long distance footpath route covering 28 miles from Ham Hill Country Park to Lyme Regis. The route goes through West Chinnock, Haselbury Plucknett, Misterton and Wayford Woods before coming to Forde Abbey.
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Want more ideas for family walks? Check out these 14 Buggy and pram friendly walks in Somerset.
