Visitor information

Whether you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, or you want something more adventurous, Wyre Forest has something for everyone.

Wyre Forest is the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in the country and can be found to the west of Birmingham.

Explore the arboretum to find the unusual Whitty Pear and don't forget to refuel in our on-site cafe. Our Go Ape course will keep the kids (and adults!) entertained and we've even got a dog wash on-site to keep your pooch pampered.

With a variety of walking, cycling, running and horse trails available, there's plenty of ways to explore the forest. We also have a tramper available to hire for those with limited mobility.

Those looking for a more peaceful time can enjoy the more remote spots in the heart of the forest.

boy interacting with a Gruffalo activity panel

Gruffalo Party Trail at Wyre Forest

The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday and to celebrate, everyone is invited to take part in a brand-new forest adventure.

What's on

A group of older adults doing pilates with weighted balls
Join Core Pilates Worcestershire for weekly pilates at Wyre Forest every Tuesday and Friday.
Forest event
Wednesday 3 April
Sessions at 10am, 12.15pm or 2.30pm
Wyre Forest Discovery Centre

Join us for a day of Gruffalo-themed fun at Wyre Forest!

Head down to the Discovery Centre meeting room (located next to the Forestry England offices) where we will be hosting some fun arts and crafts with our ranger team.

Whilst you're here, make sure you visit our Gruffalo Party Trail, which celebrates The Gruffalo's 25th birthday. Help us find the missing party items and pick the perfect present for the Gruffalo!

You'll get a free activity pack to help you explore the trail, and be sure to look out for our Gruffalo sculptures along the way. You may also enjoy a bit of Gruffalo orienteering.

Tickets cost £6.50 per child (adults go free). Please book your space via the link below. There are three sessions available:

10:00am - 12:00pm12.15pm - 2.15pm2:30pm - 4:30pm

Gruffalo © 1999/2004 & TM Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler. 

Food and drink

Outside of Wyre Forest cafe

Wyre Forest Café

Refuel your family from our on-site café which offers a range of food and drinks freshly prepared each day.

Visitors with permanent or temporary limited mobility can hire one of our Trampers.

Trampers are off-road mobility scooters, which are easy to use and able to tackle a range of surfaces and gradients come rain or shine.

Our Tramper is suitable for:

Easy Access, Giants and Arboretum Trails  Our extensive network of forest roads

Our tramper hire is available thanks to our partnership with the Countryside Mobility Scheme. You do not have to be registered disabled to hire a Tramper.

Hire rates

Our Tramper is available to hire seven days a week, 10am - 4pm. Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment (minimum of 72 hours prior to booking)

Prices are per Tramper:

Up to 1 hour

£2.50

Up to 3 hours

£5

Up to 6 hours

£10

We also have a loyalty scheme for tramper hire. Pay for five hires and you'll get the sixth free. This sixth hire is for three hours and worth £5. Please note that the scheme requires a minimum hire of £5 per purchase (excluding the Annual Countryside Mobility Membership).

If you are not already a member of Countryside Mobility, becoming one is quick and easy and will be part of your induction (£3 for one-off hire, £5 for 2 weeks, £15 for 1 year). You can then use Trampers at around 50 other beauty spots around England.

Wyre Forest has a variety of trails linked to the Public Bridleway network. Take a ride past majestic old oaks, along forest tracks and narrow paths.

There are three waymarked horse-riding trails which allow over 12 miles of off-road riding, sections of which are shared use trails. The three numbered loops join in the middle of the forest, complementing and adding to the Public Bridleway network. Our trails are marked with white plaques, labelled “Horse Trail Loop 1, 2 or 3”.

No permit is needed to ride at Wyre Forest, however parking charges apply.

Riders can pay a daily rate to park at the Callow Hill public car park and ride into the forest. Alternatively, frequent riders at Wyre can purchase a yearly Membership which will offer unlimited horse box parking and access to the designated members' horse box parking area. Horse box parking is found in the far right of the car park. The access code for this can be gained by pressing the call point on the side of the café between the hours of 9am - 5pm and supplying your membership number. Please note however, that this area is also opened to the public at busy times.

The main access point to the trails for horse boxes/lorries is from the Callow Hill visitor centre, where there is a map of all the trails. Alternatively, riders can hack in via any of the public bridleways. 

There are no gates on the bridleways or waymarked horse trials within the forest, however if riding in via the bridleways there may be gates to pass through.

Please be aware that, as much of the forest is environmentally sensitive, horses should stay on waymarked horse trails and bridleways. Horses are not allowed in the visitor centre area, or on any other waymarked walking or running trails.

For more information on our facilities, opening times and contact details, please see our visitor information.

When running in Wyre Forest you’ll experience clean outdoor air to keep your body and brain happy, and a traffic-free environment with stunning and varied scenery.

1km running trail 

This trail is ideal for getting you started. An “out-and-back” that uses wide and hard-standing forest roads, this run is relatively flat and a great introduction to running in Wyre Forest.

2km running trail

This trail will get your legs and lungs working, with an incline at the start which then flattens off, before declining back to the finish. The trail is a mixture of forest roads and paths, sections of which can get muddy when wet.

3km running trail 

After the initial incline, this trail flattens out and takes you along forest paths which will get muddy when wet. You will then re-join the wider forest road network where you will soon see our arboretum to your right and then enter the ‘Valley of the Giants’ as you gradually descend to the finish.

5km running trail

This trail presents a challenge with steeper incline and decline gradients. Based on hard-standing forest roads and paths, this loop will take you furthest into the forest. As you pass Park Pool and start the climb uphill you will pass one of our SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific Interest) where, through the oak and beech trees, you may spot some deer.

Wyre and its surrounding woodlands are fantastic places to enjoy the fresh air and and have fun outdoors. There are three waymarked walking trails to explore, or you can head out into the wider forest using the network of public rights of way and forest roads.

Our work

Person using pruning saw on bare tree branch

Our Work at Wyre Forest

Forestry England work in partnership with Natural England to manage the forest sustainably, ensuring it continues to thrive for future generations. We care for the forest, its visitor facilities and also carry out lots of conservation work to look after the wildlife.

Our history

Aerial photo of Wyre Forest in the winter

The History of Wyre Forest

Did you know that Wyre Forest has been around for over 1000 years? The history of Wyre is as rich and diverse as the forest itself.
Signpost showing directions to Wyre Forest

Trail maps

Need some help getting around? Get ready for your next forest adventure by taking a look at our trail maps.

Nearby forests

A woman and two boys walking in a forest, next to a large, ancient tree

Explore Haughmond Hill and follow in the footsteps of history. Follow the trails out to the front of the hill for commanding views across the River Severn and Shrewsbury to the South Shropshire and Welsh hills beyond. Discover the Iron Age enclosure or visit the viewing platform over the quarry; a must for any budding geologists or anyone who likes dumper trucks!

Man walking through grassy woods

Come and escape in Mortimer Forest! Straddling the Shropshire and Herefordshire border this thousand hectare forest is a perfect place for some breathing space.

Although originally made up of ancient royal chases and deer parks, the forest we see today was largely planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s. It was named after the Mortimer Family, Norman Lords who held power over the region for some 300 years.

Easy pacers walkers

Eastridge Woods is enjoyed by visitors on foot, on horseback or on two wheels. Passing through the forest is the Shropshire Way, a long distance walking route covering over 200 miles of beautiful Shropshire countryside, which can be tackled in smaller sections.

Autumnal forest scene with golden leaves on the trees and ground

With way marked trails for woodland walks, children’s play areas, Go Ape, orienteering trails and even a dog activity trail, you will not be stuck for something to do at Cannock Chase Forest, located north of Birmingham in the West Midlands.

Membership invitation - click to find out more about membership
Volunteer with us invitation - click to discover volunteer opportunities across England