Hornecourt Wood spring walk
This walk takes you along quiet roads, across open fields and through the ancient Hornecourt woodland. Here you'll find displays of delicate spring flowers – bluebells, celandines and wood anemones.
Total steps: 13
Total steps: 13
Start point
Outwood Common National Trust car park, grid ref: TQ326456
Step 1
From the car park just off Scott's Hill/Outwood Lane, walk back towards the road and cross over to Gayhouse Lane. Walk along Gayhouse Lane with the windmill on your left.
Step 2
54yd (50m) along Gayhouse Lane you'll reach a track going off to the right just past a cottage (Wilmots Lane). Take this turning and follow the hedge on your left to a kissing gate.
Step 3
22yd (20m) along this lane is a kissing gate on your left and footpath across a field. Go through the kissing gate and follow the well-worn footpath until you reach the hedge on the far side. Turn right and follow the hedge line along to the entrance to Hornecourt Wood.
Step 4
You should start to see displays of spring flowers as you enter the woods. Head off along the path to your left and walk along the top of the ridge.
Step 5
The path bends around to the right. At the T-junction turn left. Keep straight ahead and you'll see some steps. Go down, walk the plank across the stream and climb up the other side. Once at the top, take a left turn and then immediately turn right (so that you have the field on your left).
Step 6
After around 109yd (100m), you'll reach a T-junction. Turn left here and follow the path up to the top of the hill.
Step 7
You'll see a path to your left and two to your right. Take the top path on the right (at about 2 o'clock heading east). You should have the field close to you on your left as you head along this path, with old coppice stools of hornbeam and beautiful woodland flora beneath.
Step 8
Continue along this path for around 219yd (200m), passing a small footbridge on your left and then a path heading at right angles on your right.
Step 9
As you head down to the corner of the wood you'll see wonderful country views looking south, through the hornbeam hedge line. Keep an eye out for roe deer passing across the fields.
Step 10
Follow the path along the bottom of the wood.
Step 11
Continue to follow the path at the bottom of the wood, passing over a couple of footbridges.
Step 12
The path will start to ascend, with a few smaller paths turning off to your left. Where it forks by an old tree trunk, take the path to the right.
Step 13
Keep on the main path until you reach a small bench made of part of the trunk of the tree. Keep this on your left, and head straight up the hill with the field on your left. After around 109yd (100m), you'll reach the corner of the wood where you first entered (Step 4). At this stage retrace your steps out into the field and cross back over to Wilmots Lane, where you can then follow Gayhouse Lane, past the windmill, back to the car park.
End point
Outwood Common National Trust car park, grid ref: TQ326456
Trail map
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