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Rendlesham Forest Centre

(Average user rating5 unrated 4.3/5)
 

Rendlesham Forest Centre is the main recreation area for the Sandlings Forests. The play equipment and cycle park will give you a fun Forest Experience! See below for more details. There are 3 circular walks including a trail for the less able, the special UFO trail, and forest cycle trails. There is also a large picnic area. Take a walk and see if you can find the giant nightjar play sculpture, or the animal sculptures in Tangham Wood!  A parking charge of £3.10 for all day car parking.

 

Owing to extensive harvesting around the car park, limiting use of the amenities, parking in the car park will be free for a short period. This work has been planned to take place in the quieter months of January and February to minimise disruption for the public.

Due to the above work, Rendlesham's Car Park and Play Area will be closed weekdays for the foreseeable future. However, they will be open at weekends.

We apologise for this inconvenience while essential forest management takes place.

The Bike Park is now closed until the Easter holidays owing to annual maintenance.

Would visitors to Rendlesham be mindful of the husky training area and the times when the area is used. During these times please have your dog on close control.

Forest operations and harvesting work is almost complete in North Tunstall Forest, but will continue in parts of Dunwich Forest until the end of March 2012. For detailed information on closures, please check the CROW website.

 

How to get there:

Rendlesham Forest Centre is in Rendlesham Wood.
Follow the B1084 Woodbridge to Orford road. Rendlesham Forest Centre is approx 4 miles along this road on the right hand side.
Woodbridge is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: TM353484
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Other places to go in Rendlesham Wood

User Comments

4 Stars 4 Stars

Great place,campsite the best for peace & quite cannot beat it we all had a lovley time lots to do all around. Good hot water & washing up facilitys. Hope to come again

A & L Mcdonald, 6/Jul/2011
5 Stars 5 Stars

we only live a short distance away but come camping here ever year for our family holiday . A great place to escape with plenty to keep everyone entertained. The campsite is fantastic , and we managed to be there for the meteor shower last year which was a fantastic sight :0)

Marie Malkin, 1/Jun/2011
5 Stars 5 Stars

An absolutely fantastic place! my family and i often enjoy coming to the forest for a day out, a great way for children to realise all that enjoy and learn about our wildlife. We love it!!!!

shara, 18/Apr/2011
More user comments

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

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Family at a wildlife pond on the Phoenix trail in Rendlesham forest

Facilities and Activities

ToiletsParking ChargeInformationEasy Access
WalkingCyclingHorse RidingEducationalCampingOrienteeringOther ActivitiesBarbecuePlay Area
Walking
The Phoenix Trail was named to commemorate the great storm of 1987. There are two circular walks, the Blue easy access trail of 1.2km/0.75 miles and the Red longer trail of 5km/3miles. Each allows you to see the unique flora and fauna of the Sandlings. The longer trail will take you through plantations, heathland and wetlands. The UFO trail is a 5km/3mile walk to stimulate your imagination and visit some of the areas connected to the UFO sighting in December 1980. A separate leaflet is available.
Phoenix Trails
UFO Trail
Cycling
Rendlesham Forest now has a brand new challenging bike park with two routes which include a variety of 'table tops', 'rhythm bumps', ramps, North Shore area and a tunnel. The two main cycle routes are available. The long 16km/10mile trail is waymarked in green and the shorter 9.5km/6mile trail waymarked in white. A leaflet showing waymarked cycle trails and walks is available from the Forest Office. Cycle events and skills sessions are planned for all ages. For more info telephone Steven Edwards, the Cycling Contractor on 07706 479965.
Rendlesham Forest Cycle Trails
Educational
Rendlesham Forest Centre is where our EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES are based. All the activities are curriculum linked and a wide range of ages and abilities can be catered for. Example activities include, shelter building, natural art and forest sense. School visits to Rendlesham Forest are a partnership programme with Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Both led and self led sessions are available each day throughout the year for up to 30 pupils. For more details see the web link on the right of this page. Sessions must be booked in advance. To assist with self led visits a CD entitled 'Rendlesham Forest Teachers' Resource CD' is available. Please telephone the Recreation Ranger on 01394 450164 for a copy.
Camping
There is a privately run caravan and campsite located next to Rendlesham Forest Centre. Facilities include toilets, showers, laundry room and small shop. For more details please call (01394) 450707. For information about group/club camping please ring the Forest Centre on 01394 450164 for details and a booking form. Wild camping is generally not permitted by the FC, but our campsite offers groups a taster of overnight forest camping.
Play Area
OUT OF THIS WORLD the new play area has just opened. Wooden play structures include Log Tunnels, a Bug Maze, a 3m high Climbing Wall a Crashed Bomber and a UFO Landing Zone. Come and have fun in the forest!!
Other Activities
Group Visits - Schools Ranger-led in association with Suffolk Wildlife Trust, follow the link on th right of this page. For self-led school visits and othe group visits to the Forest contact the Recreation Ranger, Nigel Turner on 01394 450164 or eail to nigel.turner@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Contact:

Nigel Turner
01394 450164
e-mail: nigel.turner@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

What's of interest

Rendlesham Forest Centre Map
Downloadable map

Sandlings Forest Recreation Strategy
[PDF 2.3MB]
Current role and aspirations for the forests at Rendlesham, Tunstall and Dunwich over the next 15 years.


Related pages

Useful sites