The Wix Wood walk at Hatchlands Park
Hatchlands Park is one of the largest country estates in the green belt surrounding Greater London. This circular walk cuts across the centre of the estate through woodland and open parkland, passing the children's adventure area and providing good views of the house. The route is waymarked with purple arrows.
Total steps: 10
Total steps: 10
Start point
Hatchlands Park visitor reception, grid ref: TQ0662351842
Step 1
Leave the car park, passing through visitor reception and head straight on through the iron kissing gate into the parkland. You'll see the house and garden on your right. Continue straight ahead following the blue waymarkers up to the brow of the hill, then down a slight incline towards the driveway.
Step 2
Upon reaching the driveway, take a sharp right and follow the drive uphill across the parkland. As you reach the crest of the hill some of the best views of the house will come into view. Continue straight ahead, down the incline as the house disappears from view and the driveway starts to turn.
Step 3
As the driveway curves to the right, leave the tarmac and bear left on to the grass path, following the blue waymarkers. Keep following this track as it rises over the brow of the hill, a favourite hangout for Hatchland Park's herd of Dexter cattle. The path turns slightly to the right and then back downhill towards a large gate at the entrance to Great Wix Wood.
Step 4
Enter Great Wix Wood through the wooden gate and follow the long, straight path through this area of ancient woodland. Some of the oaks here are over 400 years old. Exit the wood through the next gate and cross the parkland field towards the barn.
Step 5
Just before you reach the gate that forms the boundary to the picnic area on the edge of Little Wix Wood, turn right to follow the blue waymarker. Skirting the edge of this woodland fence line, continue uphill along the grass parkland path to reach the highest point on the estate. Alternatively, you can take a brief detour and loop through Little Wix Wood, especially if it's bluebell season, returning to the blue route a short way up the hill.
Step 6
As you reach the crest of the hill, take a minute to turn around and admire the view. Once you've caught your breath, continue on along the grass path as it curves slightly to the right through open parkland and then turning sharp right at the blue waymarker back towards the house.
Step 7
Here you'll reach a crossroads. Head straight on, going through the two gates in the fence, and on across the park towards the house.
Step 8
As you see the house drawing nearer, follow the grass track and the blue waymarker as the trail turns to the left to meet the driveway. Pass through the iron gate next to the cattle grid and continue up the driveway as it curves to the right and into the courtyard.
Step 9
Enter the cobbled courtyard through the large double gate. Keep going straight ahead, directly through the courtyard, then follow the path straight ahead until you reach the iron gate at the end.
Step 10
As you exit the gate back out into the parkland, immediately bear left and up the slight incline. As you reach the tree-line, pass back through the large iron kissing gate to complete the loop and arrive back at reception.
End point
Hatchlands Park visitor reception, grid ref: TQ0662351842
Trail map
More near here
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