Bentley Wood Walks & Route Maps

This short walk around Bentley Wood offers a gentle introduction to one of southern England’s most atmospheric ancient woodlands.

It weaves through mixed woodland and quieter corners of the forest, where centuries of woodland management have shaped the landscape.

The ground can be softer underfoot in places - so wellies can be a sensible choice after wet weather.

This second walk option at Bentley Wood stretches things just a little further while keeping the same off-track, natural feel.

As well as an abundance of lovely woodland, you'll also emerge into Barnridge Meadow, adding a more open, airy contrast to the surrounding forest.

This route is a gentle extension rather than a step up in difficulty - a small adventure that mixes woodland shade with open space and seasonal change.

This third route around the heart of Bentley Wood is a good choice for anyone who prefers firmer footing on their woodland adventure.

It follows broad forestry tracks, with a gravelly surface that feels more stable underfoot than many of the other woodland paths featured on our routes.

The walk keeps a steady, unhurried feel as it moves through managed forest, offering a sense of scale and structure to the woodland landscape.

This longer walk explores the southern reaches of Bentley Wood and leans back into a more natural, off-track feel.

Paths on this route are quieter and less formal, with softer ground and a stronger sense of being tucked away in the forest.

It’s a good choice for stretching the legs a bit more and experiencing Bentley Wood at its most immersive and unpolished.

This longer walk takes you through the northern side of Bentley Wood and drifts away from the main tracks into softer, more natural paths that give a stronger sense of depth and scale.

During the walk, the trees open out at Barnridge Meadow, where wider skies and open ground contrast neatly with the surrounding forest. The shift in landscape adds variety, especially in spring and early summer when the meadow feels most alive.

It’s a rewarding longer route that balances woodland immersion with open space, ideal for a few unhurried hours exploring Bentley Wood’s northern reaches.

Our final walk across Bentley Wood is an epic adventure that offers the most complete way to experience the entire forest.

It links its quieter corners, gravel tracks, managed plantations, open meadows and more remote, off-track sections into a single, absorbing woodland journey.

It’s a proper woodland adventure that rewards time and curiosity, offering a deep sense of Bentley Wood’s scale, history and variety for those keen to explore it in full.