18 Hartswood Road, Warley, Brentwood, CM14 5AE
Hartswood Ancient Woodland
Ancient woodland
Source image
5.7
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.7A 30-hectare semi-natural ancient woodland with recorded roots reaching at least to the 7th century, when it was owned by Barking Abbey. Its short waymarked trails pass through habitat noted for bluebells, lily of the valley, wood ants and green woodpeckers.
Hartswood combines a substantial ancient-woodland story with short, clearly waymarked routes and specific seasonal wildlife to look and listen for. Its strongest appeal is close-up woodland discovery rather than a dramatic landscape or a long wilderness walk.
Peaceful · Ancient-feeling
Find your way
Open map18 Hartswood Road, Warley, Brentwood, CM14 5AE
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Know this place a little better?
The experience
Choose one of three colour-coded woodland paths for a short visit, or use the adjoining sites to extend the walk. The council lists purple, green and black routes; its stated durations are 20, 35 and 45 minutes respectively. Paths can be muddy in wet weather.
Things to do
Follow a colour-coded woodland trail
Choose from the council’s purple, green or black suggested routes. The listed lengths are 0.75 km, 1.5 km and 1.75 km respectively.
20–45 minutes
Look for wood-ant nests
The council says wood-ant nests can form large mounds several feet wide.
Listen for green woodpeckers
The council notes green woodpeckers in Hartswood and describes their loud, laughing call.
Look for woodland flowers
Bluebells may be seen in May; the council says lily of the valley may appear in June.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 20 minutes
A short Hartswood loop
- 01
Choose the council’s purple, short route.
- 02
Follow the waymarked path through the woodland.
- 03
Pause to look for wood-ant nests and listen for green woodpeckers.
Half day · 45 minutes
Take the longer woodland route
- 01
Choose the council’s black, longest route.
- 02
Follow its waymarkers through the woodland, allowing extra time to stop and look for seasonal flowers and wildlife.
- 03
Expect muddy conditions in wet weather.
Verified history
Brentwood Borough Council describes Hartswood as a 30-hectare semi-natural ancient woodland. Its written records show the site dating back to at least the 7th century, when it was owned by Barking Abbey. The council says it forms part of the Thorndon Park Site of Special Scientific Interest complex.
Hidden details
A woodland with early recorded history — The council’s records place Hartswood’s history at least as far back as the 7th century, when it was owned by Barking Abbey.
Listen for the woodpecker’s call — Green woodpeckers are noted at Hartswood, where wood ants provide one of their favourite foods. The council describes their call as loud and laughing.
When to go
May · June · October · Check before visiting; the supplied sources do not identify a best time of day.
The council identifies May for bluebells, June for lily of the valley and October for sweet chestnuts. Dry weather is preferable for the surfaced access paths.
The walk listing warns that the woodland can become very muddy in wet weather. The council says the surfaced access paths were designed to be accessible in summer and dry weather.
The route
- surface
- The council describes wide, surfaced access-trail paths. Go Jauntly warns that the walk can be very muddy in wet weather.
- distance
- 0.75 km (purple); 1.5 km (green); 1.75 km (black), according to Brentwood Borough Council. Go Jauntly separately describes a 1.2 km circular walk.
- duration
- 20 minutes (purple); 35 minutes (green); 45 minutes (black), at a leisurely pace according to Brentwood Borough Council. Go Jauntly lists its separate 1.2 km walk as 40 minutes.
- difficulty
- Check before visiting; no formal difficulty rating is supplied.
- waymarking
- Three colour-coded routes are suggested and waymarked by the council.
- route shape
- The council lists three colour-coded routes. Go Jauntly describes its separate route as circular.
- start point
- The council source does not specify a trail start point. Go Jauntly’s separate 1.2 km circular walk starts at King George’s Playing Fields.
- parking start
- Check before visiting. Go Jauntly mentions a car park at King George’s Playing Fields for its walk; the supplied sources do not confirm parking at Hartswood itself.
- shorter alternative
- The council’s purple route is the shortest suggested circuit: 0.75 km, around 20 minutes at a leisurely pace.
- Semi-natural ancient woodland with records reaching at least the 7th century.
- Wood-ant nests and green woodpeckers.
- Bluebells in May and lily of the valley in June.
- Three council-suggested, colour-coded routes.
Worth pairing with
King George’s Playing Fields
The walk listing describes a Hartswood circular walk beginning at King George’s Playing Fields and continuing towards the woodland. Its route page mentions a car park there, but this should not be treated as confirmation of parking at Hartswood.
Thorndon Country Park
The council says visitors can link Hartswood with adjoining sites and continue further on to Thorndon Country Park for a longer walk. Check route details and access before setting out.
What to look for
- 01
Look for broad mound-shaped wood-ant nests, listen for green woodpeckers, and watch for bluebells in May and lily of the valley in June. Sweet chestnuts may be seen in October
- 02
check local rules before gathering anything.
The story
Ancient woodland; recorded ownership by Barking Abbey by at least the 7th century.
Best time to go
May for bluebells; June for lily of the valley; October for sweet chestnuts, where gathering is permitted.
May is the council’s suggested time for bluebells; June for lily of the valley. Visit in dry weather if you want the surfaced access paths to be at their most usable.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Families
Before you go
Address
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Brentwood Borough Council encourages responsible public enjoyment. The woodland has several colour-coded waymarked routes. Check current conditions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting. The supplied sources do not confirm parking at Hartswood itself.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Dogs
The supplied walk listing describes the route as dog-friendly. Check current local signage and restrictions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The council describes wide surfaced paths designed for wheelchairs, electric scooters and pushchairs in summer and dry weather. There are few slopes; the steepest stated gradient is 1 in 12. Wet-weather conditions may affect usability.
Cost
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Hartswood Ancient Woodland
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
