If you go down to the woods today…

Wayland Wood is one of the largest woods in South Norfolk, and has been on our to-do list of areas to visit for a while. Like with any walk, it needs a bit of thought before going. For us, it’s about a 25 minutes journey away from home, so we like to factor in having somewhere to grab a bite to eat nearby, locate some toilets and have alternative plans too. Wayland Woods is only a mile away from Watton town centre, so that ticks several boxes right away. This knowledge is particularly handy in this case because there are no facilities at the woods at all.

What’ can you see? Well, from a botanical point of view, there are several species of trees present such as oak, ash, birch, hazel, hornbeam, and bird cherry. In the spring, for those of you that enjoy a walk amongst the bluebells, well, there’s bluebells, but there are also other flowers to spot during the year such as yellow archangel, wood anemone, early purple orchid and the rare yellow star of Bethlehem. There are birds nesting and small mammals present too, including roe and muntjac deer, and pipistrelle bats.

For those who enjoy places of cultural and mythical significance, Wayland Wood is the location of the centuries-old tale of Babes in the Wood, the folktale of a brother and sister who were abandoned to die in the woodland. The tale tells of how the children were abandoned in the woods by their uncle so he could to stake his claim to their inherited wealth. If you’re susceptible to paranormal beliefs, perhaps don’t go when it’s getting dark as tall tales suggest their ghosts haunt the forest! This traditional English children’s tale, is probably most well known in pantomime format, though it has also been the name of some other works, including a short animated film by Walt Disney. The observant amongst you may note the Watton sign depicts the two infants leaning against a tree.

So, as is the norm with any NorfolkPlaces walk, there’s a bunch of pictures. As usual I take a ton of them as I wander around, so have a hard job selecting which ones to use. We took the circular outer route going clockwise from the carpark, so the photos are in that order.

Above, if you look at the top-middle of the fungi, above, you can see a little insect. I don’t know the exact species, but it is some kind of grass bug.

We visited in early November, so it was starting to get a little boggy under foot, however, the timing did also increase the chances of it being quieter. Indeed, there was only a couple of other cars while we were there, so that was nice. However, the spring and summer are probably the best times to visit so that you can see the array of flowers in bloom.

Personally, I really enjoy an autumnal walk. The leaves fluttering to the ground, the rich colours, the crunch of leaves under foot, the crisp air and the low sun dancing through the trees.

A note on getting here: There are no pedestrian paths to the wood, so you’ll need to drive. However, the car park is very small and access to the car park is from the fast moving traffic of the A1075. There is a brown sign pointing to the entrance, however, if you don’t know where it is you can drive past it before your realise. Take care entering as the entrance is concealed, and narrow, so is not suited for vehicles entering and exiting at the same time.

Field Notes

FACILITIES – There are no facilities at Wayland Wood. However, Watton is a mile away, with lots of shops (including supermarkets with toilets!)

DOGS – Dogs are not allowed. The website of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (who manage the woods) states assistances dogs only.

SAFETY – There may be ditches, which could contain open water risks. There can be some unstable ground too. Visitors should stay on the paths and should not encounter any significant safety issues, with the exception of the odd trip hazard, uneven terrain or fallen branches/trees blocking the path.

WHEELCHAIRS – The access routes around the wood are generally trodden paths, which can be a bit rough in patches and can get a bit muddy.

CLOBBER – Any footwear should be fine. As we mentioned, it can get a bit muddy, therefore suitable footwear such as wellies or sturdy boots may be needed depending on recent weather.

DISTANCE AND DURATION – Following the outer circular walk of the wood is approximately 1.2 miles. There are other paths that cut through the woods, so you could easily double or triple your distance walked by covering them all (though keeping track of which paths you’ve been down may be tricky)