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Salcey Forest

Salcey Forest, Near Hartwell Village

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Photo: Salcey Forest

About Salcey Forest

Explore woodland pathways perfect for all ages and abilities at this accessible forest retreat near Hartwell, complete with children's activities, refreshments, and welcoming facilities for families.

What's nearby

  • Grounds Café Salcey next door

Distances as the crow flies, via Google

Good to know

Parking

  • ✓Paid car park
  • ✓Paid street

Accessibility

  • ✓Accessible parking
  • ✓Accessible entrance
  • ✓Accessible seating

Payment

  • ✓Credit cards
  • ✓Debit cards
  • ✓Contactless

Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.

Photos

Photos via Google

Opening hours

Monday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.

What visitors say

Joanna x

Absolute gem of a location! I do love Salcey forest! There is pretty much a lot to do there route wise, you can choose which walk you want to do they have different ones! I prefer the wellbeing trail out of all of them because wellbeing is so important to me 🤍 so it's lovely to do that trail! 🚶🏻‍♀️🌲🪾 It is an amazing location for walking 🚶🏻‍♀️ also there is a 6 mile walk which takes ages but if you want to spend all day walking then thats perfect! ☺️ And I also love seeing the gruffalo! Perfect photo opportunity 🤎🍂 The grounds coffee shop on site is amazing and so are the coffees! I've never had an issue with their drinks, their coffee is in fact amazing so I love going to the cafe when I get off the bus and at lunchtime when I visit ☕ Visible facilities so they aren't a problem to find, and they are not far to walk to either, literally opposite the coffee shop. Pretty surroundings and pretty trees, it's just lovely and I always enjoy myself when I go, not got anything bad to say about the lovely location 😊

· via Google

Leonard Powers

Visited Salcey Forest recently and had a really enjoyable day out. It's only a short drive from Milton Keynes and was very easy to get to. We chose one of the shorter walking routes, around 2.5 miles, which took us roughly 40 minutes to complete. The route was mostly flat throughout, making it suitable for most fitness levels, and there were plenty of shaded sections through the forest which made for a pleasant walk, even on a warmer day. The standout feature for me was the café. It's spacious, very clean, air-conditioned, and the furniture looked almost brand new. We had a flapjack, a cappuccino, and a latte. The flapjack was a decent size and felt like good value for money, rather than the tiny portions you sometimes get at visitor attractions. The coffees were served in proper mugs and were both very good. The only downside was the parking charges. The pricing structure seems a little odd and can feel expensive if you're only planning a short visit. We paid £7 for two hours, while four hours was £9 and all-day parking was only slightly more at around £9.50. Because of that, it doesn't really make sense to pop in just for a coffee, as the parking cost quickly outweighs the visit. That said, there is the option of joining the Forestry Commission membership scheme, which includes free parking and would likely be worthwhile for regular visitors. Overall, Salcey Forest is a lovely place to visit, with easy walking trails, good facilities, and an excellent café. I'll definitely be returning, although next time I'll make sure to stay longer to get better value from the parking fee.

· via Google

Jayita RayChaudhuri

walk surrounded by nature. The trails are well-marked, perfect for families, dog walkers, and nature lovers. The tall trees, birdsong, and fresh air make it a refreshing escape from city life. There’s also a nice café and plenty of spots to sit and relax. A lovely place to unwind and reconnect with nature!

· via Google

Heidi Adams

Our first visit here. Overflow car park was in use, which is a bit of a walk across the main road to get to the main car park/go ape etc so bear that in mind. The forest trail markers were very good, easy to follow and once you were a mile out, you barely saw anyone else until the last mile. Some of the "paths" on the 6 mile route could have done with a bit of trimming of the edges, you ended up walking like a T Rex to not get stung by nettles/brambles on parts of it. Also, for being a forest, I expected more shade, they seem to have put the trails though open spaces for most of it, meaning it wasn't the shady walk we had hoped for in the hot weather, we were having to seek out shade to have rest/water stops. Luckily we went early just in case and finished it by midday

· via Google

See all reviews on Google →

Visitors say this forest offers well-maintained walking, running, and cycling trails suitable for all fitness levels, including a Gruffalo route for children. They also highlight the clean and spacious cafe, which serves good coffee and food, and the spotless restrooms. Guests mention that joining the Forestry Commission membership scheme provides free parking, which is a practical benefit for frequent visits.

Summary via Google

At a glance

Address
Wootton Road, Northampton, NN7 2HX Get directions
Category
Parks & Play Areas
Guest rating
4.5 / 5 (1,163 reviews)
Suitable for
All Ages
Setting
Outdoor
Dogs allowed
Yes
Good for children
Yes
Destination
Quinton