Northaw Great Wood
North of the village lies one of Hertfordshire's great woods. Northaw Great Wood is the surviving heart of a vast Norman forest that once covered much of the parish. Today about 120 hectares are a country park and local nature reserve, inside a wider Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Why it's special
- Ancient hornbeam: one of the most extensive areas of ancient hornbeam woodland in the county, with oak and birch
- Open bracken glades and wide rides, with Cuffley Brook winding through the trees
- Spectacular autumn colour, plus fungi and butterflies in season
- Wartime history: concrete anti-tank blocks from the Outer London stop line of the Second World War
Visiting
- Three colour-coded waymarked trails for different lengths and abilities
- Open all year; the pay-and-display car park and toilets close at 5pm in winter and 6pm in summer
- Car park on The Ridgeway; walkers can also enter from Carbone Hill
- Dogs welcome; waterproof boots recommended
The volunteers of the Friends of Northaw Great Wood coppice and care for the woodland. See Wild Northaw for the seasons, and five walks for routes.