Forest Path – Chaddesley Wood loop from Bournheath
Forest Path – Chaddesley Wood loop from Bournheath
5.0
(1)
3
hikers
Forest Path – Chaddesley Wood loop from Bournheath
04:15
16.0km
170m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: August 21, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
1.17 km
Forest Path
Highlight • Forest
3.24 km
View of the Malvern Hills
Highlight • Viewpoint
3.65 km
Chaddesley Wood
Highlight • Forest
Tip by
4.28 km
Chaddesley Wood
Forest
4.70 km
Chaddesley Wood National Nature Reserve
Highlight • Natural Monument
Visitors to the eastern half of the nature reserve will find themselves in ancient woodland that is predominantly mature oak with hazel coppice. The understorey also contains holly, rowan and other berry-bearing shrubs that are popular with winter thrushes such as fieldfares. Midland hawthorn thrives here – a rare shrub that is identified by the two seeds in its berries as opposed to the normal one. Open glades are important for invertebrates and encourage shrubby growth, which provides nesting cover for birds. Some old and dead oaks are retained for hole-nesting birds, fungi and invertebrates. At the right time of year the wood is full of birdsong and lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the elusive woodcock.
There are also two areas of meadow, although these are only accessible on special open days. Hockley Meadow and Black Meadow are old pastures with wildflowers such as knapweed, dyer’s greenweed, pepper saxifrage and adder’s-tongue fern. The meadows are grazed to maintain their floral interest.
The western half of the reserve is a largely planted woodland of broad-leaved species and extensive areas of conifer. The conifers wouldn’t normally grow here and we’re gradually clearing these and replacing them with native hardwoods that are more suitable to the local geology and attract summer migrants like chiffchaff and blackcap. Crossbills sometimes breed in the conifer plantations – their unusual beak structure of crossed tips allows them to feed on the seeds.
A Worcestershire speciality, land caddis, occurs at Chaddesley Woods. A national rarity, this is the only one of almost two hundred species of caddis fly that spends its entire life-cycle on land. It burrows in leaf litter and adults only live for a couple of weeks in autumn.
Tip by
15.5 km
Monarch's Way
Highlight • Trail
Tip by
16.0 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
6.82 km
4.46 km
3.52 km
1.17 km
< 100 m
Surfaces
8.81 km
3.26 km
2.41 km
489 m
427 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Highest point (130 m)
Lowest point (80 m)
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Wednesday 2 September
23°C
17°C
17 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
Comments
Want to know more?
Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.
Sign up for free