Launde Woods

Made up of two of the most ancient woodlands in Leicestershire, stepping into Launde Woods is like stepping back in time. Oak, ash, hazel and field maple dominate Big Wood to the west, whilst Park Wood to the east was once a Forestry Commission plantation. The atmosphere is awe-inspiring, with a feeling of peace and grandeur.

Location

Launde, Leicester

*Click on the map below to get directions*
LE7 9XB

OS Map Reference

SK 788035 - Launde Big Wood SK 800033 - Launde Park Wood (Sheet 141)
A static map of Launde Woods

Know before you go

Size
99 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

See below
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Walking trails

What3Words location for the entrance to each of the woods for the start of the walking trails:

Launde Big Wood: ///movie.nutty.carbon

Park on the road (see parking information below), follow the gravel track down the hill and across the field, along the public right of way to the gate into the woods—on the hedge line to your right.

Launde Park Wood: ///metro.amazed.boxer

Park in the gateway entrance to the woods (see parking information below) and walk along the hard track to the centre of the woods.

 

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Access

The reserves are situated between Launde and Loddington, in east Leicestershire. On the road between Tilton on the Hill and Oakham, take any of several roads signposted to Launde. Continue through Launde park with the Abbey on your left, to the top of the hill and pass over the cattle grid. 

Continue for approximately 300m to a crossroads with two tracks. The public footpath signposted to the right leads to Launde Big Wood and the bridle way to the left leads to Launde Park Wood. 

Waterproof footwear is always recommended.

The size of each wood is: 

Launde Big Wood: 42 hectares

Launde Park Wood: 57 hectares

Parking information

Parking for Launde Big Wood: 

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Park on the grass verges of the road at the top of the gravel track that leads to the woods.

Please be very careful not to block any gateways  - access is needed for farm vehicles at all times.

Parking for Launde Park Wood: 

What3Words: ///defrost.spark.helpers

Parking is permitted in the gateway entrance to Launde Park Wood. Where possible, please park off the track, either side of the gate entrance. To avoid blocking the gateway.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlNo dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Always open

Best time to visit

Spring

About the reserve

The parish of Launde lies in one of the most attractive and unspoilt areas of countryside in Eastern England. The landscape is made up of rolling hills, pasture, small streams, woods and numerous fox coverts, straight out of a children’s fairy-tale. Rich in history and wildlife, Launde contains an old priory set in parkland, a possible Norman motte and bailey castle site, medieval fish ponds (now re-flooded), the earthworks of a medieval deer park, two ancient woodlands and two Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

A trip to Launde Woods is sure never to disappoint. Whether you’re admiring wildflowers or listening for nightingales, enjoying butterflies in the summer, indulging in a spot of ‘Shinrin-yoku’ (forest bathing) or looking for signs of badgers, the ancient atmosphere of this magical forest will soothe you and give you a truly wild experience. Give one of the oaks a hug -can you fit your arms around it?

The Big Wood is one of the largest and most important semi-natural ancient woodlands in the East Midlands. It is situated on a hill top, with superb vistas of the surrounding countryside – a walk to admire the view is a must. Beneath the trees, you’ll see amazing displays of wildflowers in the spring. Wood anemone, bluebell, wood-forget-me-not, sweet woodruff, early-purple orchid and primrose are just a few of the more noticable species, while rarer ones include bird’s-nest and greater butterfly-orchids, nettle-leaved bellflower, herb paris and toothwart.

Badgers have excavated at least two setts, so keep an eye out for their tracks, paw prints and latrines. Other mammals include stoat and weasel. Nuthatch can be heard singing in the spring, and purple and white-letter hairstreak butterflies will make the most of the dappled glades.

Park Wood has largely been planted with conifers in the past, however where conifers have been removed you can now enjoy plants like ramsons, sweet woodruff and primrose. Towards the end of the summer the rare fragrant agrimony grows beside the main ride.

The Park Wood is now larger than the Big Wood, although it’s wildlife has suffered greatly in the last 50 years. Many of the rides have become narrow and overgrown, and the coppice has been neglected. A major project to restore the ancient woodland has been undertaken which, it is hoped, will encourage other woodland owners to do the same. We have started to reintroduce traditional management to these woods, to benefit wildlife.

Both the Park Wood and the Big Wood are very old, with massive boundary earthworks, huge coppice stools clearly centuries old, and many plants known to be confined, or nearly so, to ancient woodlands sites. Visitors are able to participate in practical work, guided walks and educational visits, learning about the history and wildlife of Launde.

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust does not control the shooting rights to these reserves.