Name: Hatfield Forest
Rating: 5.0

Hatfield Forest

Bush End Road, Bishop's Stortford, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve is the best surviving example in Britain of an almost complete Royal Hunting Forest. It has seen many owners, from Kings to commoners. No other Forest on earth evokes the atmosphere of a medieval hunting Forest so completely.

Hatfield Forest is a managed landscape, which has been created by centuries of human intervention. The traditional woodland management techniques of coppicing, pollarding and grazing are continued today. It is home to over 3,500 species of wildlife, some of which are rare and threatened. The ancient trees, some over 1000 years old, provide the perfect habitat for some of the Forest's rarest insects, lichens and fungi.

If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Lake Area: Jacob Houblon commissioned Capability Brown to design this 18th-century pleasure ground with lakes and open picnic areas.
Shell House: This ornate Georgian pavilion was built for entertainment in the 1750s and the shell decorations were designed by 15-year-old Laetitia Houblon.
Visitor Hub: Located within the Lake Area, with property information, second-hand books and seasonal activities.
Ancient woodland: Traditionally managed coppice woodland and historic rides featuring rare wildlife and the wild fallow deer herd.
Wood pasture: A working landscape of grass plains, seasonally grazed by cattle and with an important population of veteran trees and associated wildlife.
Archaeology: Portingbury Hills and The Warren are visible manmade earthworks made up of banks and ditches, and both of historic significance.
Family-friendly things to do at Hatfield Forest: There's plenty for families to do at Hatfield Forest in Essex. Let off steam running around the wide-open spaces or exploring the trails between the wooded areas, on foot or by bike. When it's time for a break, tuck into tasty snacks from the lakeside café.
Things to see and do at Hatfield Forest: Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve is more than a medieval Royal hunting ground with ancient oaks and hornbeams. It’s also home to a vast array of wildlife, a range of special trees and archaeological remains from its 1,000-year history.
Deer at Hatfield Forest: Wild deer are wonderful creatures and a natural part of the British landscape. Although shy and elusive, they can often be seen at Hatfield Forest in the early morning or at dusk when they're most active. Hatfield Forest is home to herds of fallow and muntjac deer. In the autumn, listen out for fallow deer rutting in the wooded areas of the Forest.
Outdoor activities at Hatfield Forest: Explore the best surviving example of a medieval royal hunting forest. The forest trails are ideal for walking, running, cycling or horse riding, best enjoyed in the drier months of summer. You can also visit the lake for a spot of birdwatching or simple relaxation at the water's edge.

Facilities

Parking: Free parking for National Trust members, please remember your card. Follow the 'P' signs to two large grass car parks and a central access-friendly tarmacked car park near facilities. Exit Gate is locked at Dusk. Smaller Entrance Car Park is open until 4pm.
Food & Drinks: Our cafe has no indoor seating, but there's plenty of picnic tables in the lake area to enjoy your tasty treats.
Toilet: Toilets are found next to the cafe in the lake area.
Dogs allowed: Dogs are welcome across the Forest. We ask you check out our Doggy Dos and Don'ts for further information, but please put your dog on a lead near our livestock, thank you.

What to see

History of Hatfield Forest: Hatfield Forest is the most complete example of a medieval royal hunting forest surviving today. With over 1,000 acres of ancient coppices and wood pasture and a 1,000 years of continuous management, it provides a unique glimpse of how the countryside was shaped in the years following the Norman Conquest.

For more upcoming events information please visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/hatfield-forest/a-brief-history-of-hatfield-forest

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Non-member Car: £9.00

Pricing URL: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/hatfield-forest#place-prices

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Please note that Forest access is pedestrian access only outside of car park opening times. Car park closing times shown are ‘time of last entry’. Once parked, cars are permitted to remain on site until dusk.

Address: Bush End Road, Bishop's Stortford, UK

Post Code: CM22 6NE

Council: Uttlesford

County: Essex

By road: From the west: From M11 exit 8 roundabout, take B1256 towards Takeley. From the east: From the A120, take the junction for Takeley. Once in Takeley, turn into the road opposite the Green Man pub (at the brown sign). Follow this straight road for 3/4 mile to the entrance car park which will be on your right.
On foot: Flitch Way footpath runs along nothern border of Hatfield Forest. Three Forests Way and Forest Way permissive paths pass through Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve
By train: The nearest railway stations are Bishops Stortford (5 miles) and Stansted Airport station (3 miles). From there, take a bus, Arriva service 508, to The Green Man, Takeley Street.
By bus: The closest bus stop is The Green Man, Takeley Street, on the northern border of Hatfield Forest. This can be reached by Arriva bus service 508 which runs from Harlow, via Bishops Stortford to Stansted Airport bus station. Walk through the Forest approximately 1.5 miles (2.1 km) to visitor facilities. The bus stop at the Four Ashes, Takeley is served by a wider range of buses. The Forest can then be reached by walking along the Flitch Way (about 1 mile (1.5 km)).
Cycling: The Flitch Way (a disused railway track which is now a country park, National Route 16) runs from Braintree to Start Hill (near Bishop's Stortford). There are 2 entrances to Hatfield Forest off the Flitch Way, at the eastern and western ends, which bring you into the northern end of Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve. You can leave your bike in the storage racks located in the main lakeside area.
Parking: Free parking for National Trust members, please remember your card. Follow the 'P' signs to two large grass car parks and a central access-friendly tarmacked car park near facilities. Exit Gate is locked at Dusk. Smaller Entrance Car Park is open until 4pm.