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Fineshade Woods

5 miles (8 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Top Lodge in Fineshade Woods has several waymarked cycling and walking trails. For cyclists there is a green graded easy route running through the main woodland block. It is a gentle ride perfect for families on largely flat paths. Running alongside the green route are 7 alternative blue grade sections. These are great for mountain bikers looking for more of a challenge.
Walkers can enjoy three colour coded, waymarked trails of varying difficulty.
The Smelters' Walk is an easy trail for abilities. It runs for 2 miles on flat well surfaced paths.
The moderate Dales Wood Trail visits the Wildlife Hide where can you look out for birds on the feeders and deer in the woodland. There is also a short climb to a viewpoint with great views over Rockingham Forest.
For a more challenging walk you can try the Mill Wood Trail which involves a few harder climbs.
Along the way you can look out for lots of wildlife including red kite, nightingale, nightjar, woodcock, grasshopper warbler, tree pipit, marsh and willow tits.
If you would like to continue your walk you can pick up the Jurassic Way which runs through the wider area of the ancient Rockingham Forest. Or head to the nearby Wakerley Woods which is just a couple of miles to the west. Here you'll find pleasant walking trails and a blue grade, single-track mountain bike trail.
Fineshade Woods is located close to Peterborough, Corby, Stamford and Oakham.

Postcode

NN17 3BB - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Fineshade Woods OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Fineshade Woods Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Grounds cafe is located right in the forest. They do a good range of meals and have seating indoor and out. You can find it at Top Lodge at postcode NN17 3BB.
In the nearby village of King's Cliffe there's the The Cross Keys for some rest and refreshment after your exercise. The pub dates back to 1732 and includes a charming old interior with oak beams and inglenook fireplaces. They serve a fine Sunday roast and also provide rooms if you'd like to stay over. You can find them on West Street at postcode PE8 6XA for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The forest is a great place for a dog walk so you'll probably see plenty of other dogs on your visit. The Grounds Cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Follow the Jurassic Way west and it will take you to the noteworthy Harringworth Welland Viaduct. The Grade II listed viaduct is about a kilometre long, and was completed in 1878. It contains 82 arches and is notable as the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in Britain.
Just to the east you'll find the pretty village of King's Cliffe where you can pick up the Kings Cliffe Railway Walk. The easy trail runs along a now disused railway line to the east of the village. King's Cliffe is also a pleasant place for a stroll with a Norman church, picturesque 17th century almshouses and nice views of the Willow Brook, a tributary of the River Nene. There's also a fine old 18th century pub for refreshments afterwards. Near here there's also Blatherwycke Lake to explore. There's some lovely waterside trails with lots of birdlife to see on the water at this scenic spot.

Photos

Track through Fineshade Wood - geograph.org.uk - 261599

Track through Fineshade Wood. The wood and the nearby Wakerley Wood are remnants of Rockingham Forest. 

Wildlife Hide, Fineshade Wood - geograph.org.uk - 261574

Wildlife Hide. Well off the main tracks. There were half a dozen people in here, with telephoto lenses, on the Sunday afternoon

Entrance to Top Lodge, Fineshade Wood - geograph.org.uk - 261551

Entrance to Top Lodge, Fineshade Wood

Top Lodge - The Fineshade Community Orchard - panoramio

Top Lodge

One cream and one blue - geograph.org.uk - 3124200

Cottage within Fineshade Wood

Observation Tower - geograph.org.uk - 2061076

Observation Tower in Westhay Wood

Jurassic Way ^ Westhay Wood - geograph.org.uk - 2388889

Jurassic Way Westhay Wood

Jurassic Way footpath in Fineshade Wood - geograph.org.uk - 4874560

Jurassic Way footpath in Fineshade Wood

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Fineshade Woods.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Fineshade Woods.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)