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Borthwood Copse
Paths wind through ancient oak woodland with sunny glades
near Winford, Isle of Wight, PO36 0LD
Opening times for 4 May 2024
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Parking is available in the Parish Council car park on Alverstone Road.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but please keep your dog on a short lead around livestock and under close control at all other times.
Parish Council car park on Alverstone Road. Dogs are welcome but please keep you dog on a short lead around livestock and under close control at all other times. Uneven terrain - can be muddy.
Steps/uneven terrain
Woodland - gently undulating but uneven terrain. Some kissing gates. Can be muddy.
By road
Borthwood Copse lies just north west of Winford, which itself is a mile (1.5km) north of Apse Heath on the A3056 Sandown to Newport road. The nearest car park is in Alverstone Road, just before Queens Bower.
Sat Nav: PO36 0LD
On foot
There are many footpaths on the Isle of Wight: consult Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 196 or OS Explorer OL29.
By bus
Southern Vectis buses from Newport or Ryde pass through Winford, within ¼ mile (0.5km) of Borthwood Copse. Alight at the hair-pin bend in Winford, between Arreton and Apse Heath. For details of bus timetables see www.islandbuses.info.
By bicycle
The 'Round the Island' cycle path passes along Alverstone Road between Winford and Queens Bower, alongside Borthwood Copse.
Highlights
Woodland
An ancient copse, once part of a much larger medieval hunting forest. Paths through ancient oak woodland; bluebells in spring, autumn colour and red squirrels.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see and do at Borthwood Copse
Stroll through Borthwood Copse’s dappled woodland and look out for a host of wildlife – including butterflies and the rare native red squirrel.
Places to stay
The Old Club House
This former clubhouse is now a quirky holiday cottage with a verandah great for wildlife watching.
Chert
A light-filled, 70s-styled home with impressive sea views from its large balcony.
Wydcombe Cottage
See if you can spot red squirrels when you stay at this former farm worker’s cottage.
Top trails
Trail
Borthwood Copse red squirrel walk
This short atmospheric walk in a secluded part of the Island takes you through woods that are home to an Isle of Wight speciality: the red squirrel.
About Borthwood Copse
Borthwood Copse is a delightful spot to wander amongst ancient oak and beech trees, sunny glades and chestnut and hazel coppice. You may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a red squirrel as it scurries through the upper branches in search of food.
Borthwood Copse used to be part of a much larger Medieval hunting forest in which the landscape would have been more open like parts of the New Forest. The landscape is more densely wooded now.
The wood features traditional coppice management of hazel and sweet chestnut and the produce is used at various locations on the island. Traditional woodland management helps to keep a variety of wildlife such as bluebells, red squirrels, dormice, woodland bats.
Borthwood Copse is noted for its many rare beetles and other insects which depend on the decaying wood in the older trees.