Top Lodge Fineshade Wood

 

Top Lodge at Fineshade Woods is an ambitious partnership redevelopment project, which has used local and natural materials and the latest renewable energy design, to develop 18th Century buildings into a state of the art recreation and information complex. The site offers visitors a unique opportunity to get inside the local environment, to explore it, to see local wildlife up close, and learn about local crafts and the heritage of the area. The new visitor centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm. You can walk the new trails then refresh yourself at the Lodge Cafe, or browse in the RSPB shop. There are a host of activities and events throughout the year for people of all ages to enjoy. The vast majority of the materials used for the development were local and naturally sourced, including green oak and ash timber from sustainably-managed ancient woodlands. Sheep's wool has been used as eco-friendly roof insulation material. The site also has one of the biggest reed bed sewerage systems in the country, with an organic five-tier cleansing process, as well as a rain water collection system, and a wood-fuel heating system supplied from the surrounding forest.

Dales Wood Trail
Mill Wood Trail
The Smelters' Walk

Cycling trails

Family Cycle Trail

How to get there:

Stamford (Lincolnshire) is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SP 980 983

Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)

Top Lodge and Fineshade are signposted from the A43, between Stamford and Corby, opposite the turning for Wakerley Woods.

Other places to go in Fineshade Wood

• The Little Barn Conference and Meeting Room
  

Facilities:

	The new visitor centre is open from 10am to 5pm daily (except Christmas Day).The RSPB centre sells a range of goods from binoculars to bird feeders. Outside are places to picnic and an exciting Wildplay area. The Little Barn, a beautifully restored Grade II listed building, is available for hire for talks, meetings and conferences. Please contact the district office for details.
	The Lodge cafe is open 7 days a week, serving a wide range of home cooked food.
	Toilets are located in the entrance atrium of the Visitor Centre.

Activities

	Dales Wood Trail Mill Wood Trail The Smelters' Walk
	Family Cycle Trail
	A joint Forestry Commission and RSPB education programme is run from Top Lodge Visitor Centre. For more details please contact the office on the details below.
	Caravan Club Site
	Red kites can be seen most days throughout the year. Live footage from Red Kite nesting sites can be seen in the on site RSPB shop during the breeding season. There is a wildlife hide in the woods - please note the hide will be closed for maintainence work on Tuesday 2nd October.
	The wood has been mapped for orienteering and is available for club events.
	The Little Barn, a beautifully restored Grade II listed building, is available for hire for conferences, meetings and talks. Please contact the district office for details.

Contact:

Northants Office

01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk