Puddletown Forest

Visitor information

Explore Puddletown Forest

We are the tenant of Puddletown Forest, located near Dorchester. It's leased to us for the purpose of growing timber and public access to the area is restricted to public rights of way only.

People can walk or cycle along the public rights of way and rediscover the beauty of the conifer tree without having to abandon any love of the broadleaf, as here they exist harmoniously side by side, branches softly creaking in the wind together.

The Forest has historic and ecological importance - it's home to rare insects, ground nesting birds such as woodlark and native reptiles in particular sand lizards and smooth snakes.

At a glance

Well behaved dogs welcome 
17/05/2022 13:21

Things to do

Cycling at Puddletown Forest

Although looked on favourably by some from the mountain biking community, the trails they’ve built in Puddletown Forest have created serious issues, often with unseen hazards for other woodland users. Also, many of these trails are inherently dangerous to inexperienced riders. Forestry England has supported off-road and road cycling for many years. Elsewhere, we have extensive networks of family and cross-country trails, with other facilities ranging from skills areas for complete beginners through to expert level experienced riders across the nation’s forests. 

A sustainable approach can only be achieve at Puddletown Forest when people work together to protect the environmental value of the area and take into account all local users, the terms of the woodland’s lease and the local wildlife.

Forestry England is the tenant of Puddletown Forest, it’s leased to us for the purpose of growing timber and public access to the area is restricted to public rights of way only.

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Walking at Puddletown Forest

Walking in the forest is the perfect way to get some fresh air and explore some of the area's most beautiful views.

Puddletown Forest is restricted to access only on the public rights of way that cross through the landscape. 

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Nearby forests

sunlight through conifers along woodland path

Affpuddle

Situated to the east of Puddletown, Affpuddle offers an interesting landscape of both forest and heathland as well as views across the Purbeck Hills.

Popular with local dog walkers, the forest can be explored on its open paths and bridleways. 

 

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Woman in woodland

Moreton Forest

Comprising of mainly coniferous trees, Moreton Forest is located to the west of Poole.

Explore the varied scenery on the interesting public trails that run through Moreton Forest.

We advise visitors, particularly dog walkers, to keep their dogs under close control at all times and keep a safe distance from the livestock that graze here.

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Butterfly on leaf

Hethfelton Wood

Located five miles west of Wareham, Hethfelton Wood lies at the core of the Dorset Heaths. There’s a mixture of conifer woodland, some broadleaf trees and lowland heathland.

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Generic woodland

Wareham Forest

Wareham Forest is a great place to explore and discover the famous heaths and woods of the Dorset countryside.

Many miles of tracks take you through beautiful and ancient landscapes, where if you are lucky, you’ll see some of its special wildlife. The cycle trail takes its names from the famous Sika deer and the walking trail is named after the rare ground-nesting birds, Woodlarks, who's lovely song you may hear on your walk.

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