Haugh Wood
Herefordshire
Haugh Wood is a large forested block on the Woolhope Dome south east of Hereford, nearly 850 acres of limestone and shale country that has been important woodland since at least medieval times, and its wide tracks give dogs room to range with no livestock about. Most of the wood is owned by Forestry England and managed as commercial plantation alongside surviving ancient sessile oak and silver birch, while the National Trust and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust hold smaller parcels within its boundary, including Pentaloe Glen. Forestry England has laid out waymarked trails through the wood, including butterfly trails through sunny rides and clearings where the high brown fritillary, pearl-bordered fritillary and wood white are found, some of the best butterfly habitat in the county. A typical circular walk covers around 6km on forest tracks and paths, with modest climbing as the tracks cross the low ridges of the dome.
This is a dog friendly wood with plenty of scope for a good walk, and the wide forest tracks give room for dogs to range while under control, though a lead is sensible during spring and early summer when ground-nesting birds such as woodcock and nightingale are present and fallow deer move through the wood year round. There is no grazing livestock within the forest itself. Shade is abundant under the canopy, though there is little open water for a dog to drink from, so bring some. Parking is at Forestry England car parks off the lanes around Woolhope and Mordiford, and both villages have dog-friendly pubs a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.0 km (3.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 50 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- None within the wood; dog-friendly pubs in Woolhope and Mordiford, a short drive away.
- Parking
- Forestry England car park(s) off the lanes bordering Haugh Wood near Woolhope (exact car park not confirmed from available sources).
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Haugh Wood, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
The Wheatsheaf Barn Park Farm
Sleeps 8 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,651 / 7 nights
The Garden House - Broadfield
Sleeps 6 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,050 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in HerefordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Haugh Wood dog friendly?
Haugh Wood scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness and is a genuinely welcoming spot for dogs. The wide forest tracks give plenty of room to roam, there's no grazing livestock within the forest itself, and the dense canopy provides good shade on warmer days.
Can dogs be off lead at Haugh Wood?
The wide forest tracks offer good scope for dogs to range, but it's worth keeping leads handy during spring and early summer when ground-nesting birds such as woodcock and nightingale are present. Fallow deer also move through the wood year round, so it's worth reading your dog's behaviour before letting them loose.
What should I know before visiting Haugh Wood with my dog?
The most important thing to pack is water — there's little open water within the wood for dogs to drink from, so bring enough for the walk. Parking is at Forestry England car parks off the lanes near Woolhope and Mordiford, though the exact car park locations aren't confirmed, so allow a little time to find them. If you fancy rounding off the walk with a drink, both Woolhope and Mordiford have dog-friendly pubs a short drive away.
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