Hello! Once again, I have been on another walk. This time to Salcey Forest, just seven miles outside of Northampton. It's very easy to get to although parking is currently limited due to repairs being done on the other car park. Prices are £1.50 an hour and £4.00 for the whole day. This is quite reasonable when all proceeds go to maintaining the forest and the facilities around it.
In the main car park, there is a toilet block , children's playground and cafe serving hot food and drinks - as a bonus, this is open for 364 days a year! All of the walks available start at the same point. These are:
- The Elephant Trail = The easiest trail that there is around 3/4 of a mile long and it takes around 45 mins to an hour. It also includes the tree top walk way which takes you up to the height of the trees so you can look out over the forest. You can see for miles on a beautiful day, if this isn't the case, the atmosphere that can be created by low cloud and fog can be amazing to experience too.
- The Church Path Trail = This walk veers off the main path at several points and therefore is slightly more difficult due to the terrain. It can get extremely boggy and muddy! It is 1.5 miles long so can take up to an hour and a half to complete depending on how quickly you walk and how much exploring you do. This walk also includes the tree top walk way which takes you up into the trees. It is likely that if you stand and watch the trees quietly, a squirrel will run past for a perfect picture opportunity.
- The Woodpecker Trail = This trail is the longest and most difficult of them all. It's 6 miles long and will take at least three hours. The route takes you around the outside of the whole forest and, as the name might suggest, its most interesting feature is the possibility of coming across the many woodpeckers that have made the forest their home.
I took the Church Path route as it gives you a flavour of all the forest has to offer. The most striking thing about this route is the variety of trees that you come across. One minute you may be walking through oak trees and the next you will have moved into a thicket of ash or hazel trees.
There are also a few bridges around the trail to protect the ground below. These mark where there are medieval wood banks and therefore need to be maintained for archaeological reasons. There is also a famous oak tree thought to be over 400 years old. Although it has fallen down, it has been left for people to see and a plaque explains its significance (see pictures below).
The tree top trail is about 3/4 of the way round the walk and you have to temporarily leave the trail to access it. At the bottom of the trail is what's called 'The Elephant Pond'. During the Second World War, elephants were recruited to help with logging in the forest. This pond is where they bathed.
Following the walk way up into the trees, it ascends to a height of 20 metres. From the top you can see the landscape all around. On sunny days, you can see for miles. On cloudy or foggy days, the views are not so great however you get a sense of atmosphere from the weather. It can get very windy on top so be careful, and the wind can be fierce too.
Also be careful of the squirrels too! They can be cheeky and you may find half eaten pine cones littering the walk way, and it can become increasingly slippy, particularly if it has been raining as well.
If you have watched the video then you will see that this time my walk was not unaccompanied. This walk is brilliant to bring famliy along to as you can interact with the environment together and discuss what you can see and hear. Many times along the walk we stopped and talked about what we had spotted. At some points someone would notice something that no one else would and so discovery played a big part.
The history of Salcey Forest goes back further than the Second World War as it is said that Henry VIII used it as his hunting ground, hoping to catch some of the many deer that can be found hiding in the trees.
The walk isn't suitable for anyone using wheelchairs or pushchairs as the terrain can be very boggy due to the clay soil of the forest. There are other routes that may be more suitable such as the cycle trail as this is a concrete pathway.
Near the end of the route, there are a few wooden huts built for children to hunt for fairies and explore the forest. They are great for getting children to use their imagination to enjoy and feel part of the outdoors.
The end of the walk finishes back at the car park.
You can explore the trails around Salcey Forest by yourself or get involved with some of the many activities that are available. Most of them aim to get children involved, however there are some things to do for the older ones. More information can be found through this link - http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-82bj2q
Difficulty - 1-3 (Depending on the route you take).
Terrain - 1-2
Duration 1-3
