{"id":31678,"date":"2023-10-18T13:24:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T11:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/d94e6a77-4382-43d1-bfbd-dac5c0aeabfd"},"modified":"2023-10-18T14:39:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T12:39:34","slug":"7-most-magical-gruffalo-trail-forests-in-britain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/7-most-magical-gruffalo-trail-forests-in-britain\/","title":{"rendered":"7 most magical Gruffalo Trail forests in Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enter the ‘deep, dark wood’ with BBC Countryfile Magazine’s pick of the best Gruffalo Trail days out in the UK <\/p>

By Fergus Collins\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 18 October 2023 at 11:24 AM<\/p>

\n\n

The Forestry Commission have created 15 enchanting Gruffalo Trails across England \u2013 and there are similar trails in Wales and Scotland. <\/p>

The walks lead into the \u2018deep, dark wood\u2019 where you can discover beautiful wooden sculptures of the Gruffalo and other characters. <\/p>

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 \u2013 a great introduction to map reading for youngsters.\u00a0<\/p>

10 most beautiful Parkrun routes in the UK<\/a><\/li>
Enchanting forests and woodlands to visit in Britain<\/a><\/li>
How to make walking with children fun and easy<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Take on a Gruffalo Trail for the perfect family day out\/Credit: Peter Turner, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Gruffalo Trails – seven of the best<\/h2>
Alice Holt Forest Gruffalo Trail, Surrey<\/h3>
Alice Holt Forest<\/a> 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.\u00a0Opening times: 8am daily. There is also a caf\u00e9 and toilet.<\/p>
$\"Alice$
Alice Holt Forest\/Credit: Robin Webster, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest Gruffalo Trail, Kent<\/h3>
Bedgebury<\/a>\u2019s 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\u2019s recommended that you take a map as they can be tricky to find. Opening times: 8am daily (except Christmas Day). Caf\u00e9 & toilets.<\/p>
$\"Walker$
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest\/Credit: Andrew Curtis, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Sherwood Pines Forest Park Gruffalo Trail,\u00a0Nottinghamshire<\/h3>
Located on the edge of Mansfield, Sherwood Pines Forest Park<\/a> contains all of the carved wooden Gruffalo characters along a 2-mile trail. Opening times: 8am daily (except Christmas Day). Caf\u00e9 & toilets.<\/p>
$\"Sherwood$
Sherwood Pines Forest Park\/Credit: Chris Morgan, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Kielder Castle Gruffalo Trail, Northumberland<\/h3>
Kielder Castle<\/a> is in the heart of England\u2019s 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.\u00a0Opening times: 9am daily. Caf\u00e9 and Toilets.<\/p>
Kielder Forest walk<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
$\"Kielder$
Kielder Forest\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Moors Valley Gruffalo Trail, New Forest<\/h3>
This short trail in Moors Valley Country Park<\/a> on the Dorset side of the New Forest has carvings of the Gruffalo and Gruffalo\u2019s 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. Caf\u00e9 and toilets.<\/p>
$\"Moors$
Moors Valley\/Andrew Mitchell, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
National Botanic Garden of Wales Gruffalo Trail, Carmarthenshire\u00a0<\/h3>
Located just off the M4, north of Llanelli, the National Botanic Garden of Wales<\/a> 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.\u00a0Opening times: 10am daily. Caf\u00e9 and toilets.<\/p>
$\"National$
National Botanical Garden of Wales\/Credit: Michael Garlick, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Ardkinglas Estate Gruffalo Trail, Argyll and Bute<\/h3>
The short Ardinglas Estate Gruffalo Trail<\/a> 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. Caf\u00e9 and toilets.<\/p>
$\"Ardkinglas$
Ardkinglas Estate\/Credit: John Ferguson, Geograph<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Gruffalo Trails – seven of the best<\/h2>