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Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve

(Average user rating4 unrated 4/5)
 
Bedford Purlieus is an historic ancient woodland in the Soke of Peterborough. The wood was declared a National Nature Reserve by English Nature in 2000, in recognition of its importance as a species-rich semi-natural native woodland. The wood is home to more plant and insect species than most other woods in this country. Limited car parking facilities are available, and the wood is open for quiet recreation.

How to get there:

Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is part of Rockingham Forest. Wansford In England is the nearest town or village.

There is a car parking area on the farm track between the A47 and the Wansford to Kings Cliffe road, just off the A47, on the left hand side.

OS Grid Reference: TF038005
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Start your visit from:

Bedford Purlieus Gateway

Other places to go in Rockingham Forest

What's on in Rockingham Forest

April

  • Craft Fayre
    Sunday 1 April 2012
    Sunday 6 May 2012
    Sunday 3 June 2012
    Sunday 1 July 2012
    Sunday 5 August 2012
    Sunday 2 September 2012
    Sunday 7 October 2012
    Sunday 4 November 2012
View all events

User Comments

5 Stars 5 Stars

Lovely - but despite having maps (including one recently downloaded from the Internet) we always lose our way! An accurate footpath map would be great.

Bill Young, 4/Dec/2011
5 Stars 5 Stars

I love Bedford Purlieus! We spent over 6 hours there the other day and saw all kinds of interesting wildlife including lots of deer and lovely displays of ramsons, bluebells and early purple orchids. Well worth a visit, and much quieter than Fineshade and Wakerley in terms of people!

Anonymous, 3/May/2011
2 Stars 2 Stars

Although I printed the map of the wood from the site, the total lack of signs on the ground made a compass necessary. The webpage should warn visitors. We got lost.

Beth Morgan, 6/Sep/2010

Please tell us about your visit

Please email us at northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk if you have an enquiry or would like a reply to your comments.

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Barn Owl

Facilities and Activities

WalkingEducationalWildlife Activities

Contact:

Northants Office
01780 444920
e-mail: northants@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Bedford Purlieus is full of archaeological features, such as wood banks, and the remains of a large roman dwelling place. The wood has been surveyed using LiDAR, after which volunteers have helped to "ground truth" some areas where unusual features showed up.

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