Spud Wood
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Lymm
What it’s like
A free woodland with a brook and canal to follow, plus a proper trail out to Lymm village and Dunham Massey.
The main draw here is just wandering under oak, ash and silver birch, with a decent chance of spotting squirrels in the canopy and, if you're lucky and quiet, a kingfisher or dragonflies near the wetland bits by the canal. There's a brook and a small pond tucked into the wood, and a wooden footbridge with a couple of steps to cross Helsdale Brook, which is the sort of thing a six-year-old will remember more than the trees themselves. Spring's the best time for it, apparently, when the great spotted woodpeckers start drumming and skylarks sing over the meadows.
It's free to get in and there's no booking, so you just turn up. The paths are unsurfaced, though, and some of the entrances are squeeze stiles rather than gates, which is a proper faff with a buggy or a wheelchair and worth knowing before you commit to a full loop. If you fancy going further, the 22-mile Mersey Valley Timberland Trail starts right at the car park, or there's a shorter canal-side walk into Lymm village that loops back on the Trans-Pennine Trail. Dunham Massey Hall is about an hour's walk alongside the canal if you want to turn the visit into a proper day out.
Parking is the catch: there are only 10 spaces on site, so if you turn up late on a nice day you may end up parking in Lymm itself and walking the mile in. Picnics are allowed and the wood's described as good for it, so pack a blanket rather than relying on finding anywhere to buy food, because there isn't anywhere on site.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free car park on site with space for 10 cars
- How long to allow
- Peaceful strolls at any time of year
- Picnics
- Allowed. Perfect site for summer picnics
- Getting there by bus or train
- Warrington's Bank Quay and Central railway stations just under 8km (5 miles) away
- Only 10 parking spaces on site, so arrive early on a nice day
- Squeeze stiles at some entrances make it awkward for buggies and wheelchairs
- No food on site, so bring a picnic
- The Mersey Valley Timberland Trail starts right from the car park if you fancy a longer walk
Plan your visit
Is it free to visit?
Yes, there's no entry charge and no booking needed, you just turn up.
Is there parking?
There's a free car park on site but only 10 spaces, so it fills up. Lymm itself has car parks about a mile away if you get there late.
Is it buggy or wheelchair friendly?
Not really. The paths are unsurfaced and some of the entrances are squeeze stiles rather than proper gates, so a pushchair will struggle in places.
Can we get there without a car?
The nearest bus stop is on Stage Lane, about a 10-minute walk to the wood. Warrington's train stations are just under 5 miles away.
Is there anywhere to get food?
There's nowhere on site to buy anything, but picnics are allowed and it's a good spot for one.
How long do people spend there?
It's really a wander at your own pace rather than a set attraction, so it suits a quick half hour stroll or a longer walk if you tie in the canal path to Lymm village.
Are there longer walks from here?
The 22-mile Mersey Valley Timberland Trail starts at the car park, and there's a canal-side route to Lymm village and on to Dunham Massey Hall, about an hour's walk.
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