Enter the ‘deep, dark wood’ with BBC Countryfile Magazine’s pick of the best Gruffalo Trail days out in the UK
The Forestry Commission have created 15 enchanting Gruffalo Trails across England – and there are similar trails in Wales and Scotland.
The walks lead into the ‘deep, dark wood’ where you can discover beautiful wooden sculptures of the Gruffalo and other characters.
Of the 15, only a handful of trails have the full cast from the book. At most of these sites, you can also embark on Gruffalo Orienteering. After buying a map from the visitor centre, you can use it to locate Gruffalo markers along the trails – a great introduction to map reading for youngsters.
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Gruffalo Trails – seven of the best
Alice Holt Forest Gruffalo Trail, Surrey
Alice Holt Forest is 4 miles south of Farnham on the Surrey-Hampshire border. The trail is 1.7 miles long and has large wooden sculptures of all the Gruffalo characters. Opening times: 8am daily. There is also a café and toilet.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest Gruffalo Trail, Kent
Bedgebury’s 128 hectares of woodland are found near the town of Goudhurst in Kent. There are six large wooden sculptures along a 2.2-mile trail, though it’s recommended that you take a map as they can be tricky to find. Opening times: 8am daily (except Christmas Day). Café & toilets.
Sherwood Pines Forest Park Gruffalo Trail, Nottinghamshire
Located on the edge of Mansfield, Sherwood Pines Forest Park contains all of the carved wooden Gruffalo characters along a 2-mile trail. Opening times: 8am daily (except Christmas Day). Café & toilets.
Kielder Castle Gruffalo Trail, Northumberland
Kielder Castle is in the heart of England’s largest forest. The Gruffalo Trail has large carved sculptures of the characters and is about 1.5 miles long. As well as the Gruffalo Trail, visitors can enjoy the Minotaur Maze. Opening times: 9am daily. Café and Toilets.
Moors Valley Gruffalo Trail, New Forest
This short trail in Moors Valley Country Park on the Dorset side of the New Forest has carvings of the Gruffalo and Gruffalo’s Child along a 1.3-mile-long trail. There are lots of activities to enjoy, from cycling and fishing to steam railways and laser tag. Opening times: 8am daily. Café and toilets.
National Botanic Garden of Wales Gruffalo Trail, Carmarthenshire
Located just off the M4, north of Llanelli, the National Botanic Garden of Wales has 500 acres of gardens and parklands to explore. The Gruffalo Trail here features five larger-than-life sculptures created using a chainsaw. The trail is about 0.5 miles long. Opening times: 10am daily. Café and toilets.
Ardkinglas Estate Gruffalo Trail, Argyll and Bute
The short Ardinglas Estate Gruffalo Trail includes boards showing extracts from the Scot’s version of the famous book, linking the story to the estate’s Woodland Garden. Opens 8am daily. Café and toilets.
