Whitman's Hill Coppice

Wood, Forest in Herefordshire

England

Whitman's Hill Coppice

Norrest Wood from the footpath The footpath entrance stile was somewhat overgrown when visited, but can just about be negotiated by those with long legs or decent balance. Look for a small gap in the hedge back from the road surface. — Norrest Wood from the footpath Credit: Peter Whatley

Whitman's Hill Coppice is a picturesque woodland located in Herefordshire, England. Nestled in the heart of the county, this captivating forest spans over a vast area, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.

The coppice is characterized by its diverse ecosystem, boasting a rich variety of plant and animal species. Towering oak, beech, and ash trees dominate the landscape, creating a dense canopy that offers shade and shelter to the woodland floor below. Lush ferns, bluebells, and wild garlic carpet the ground, adding a vibrant burst of color to the forest during the spring and summer months.

Visitors to Whitman's Hill Coppice can enjoy a tranquil and serene atmosphere as they meander through the well-maintained pathways that traverse the woodland. Along the way, they may encounter an array of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and a plethora of bird species, making it a haven for birdwatchers.

The coppice also holds historical significance, serving as a remnant of the ancient woodlands that once covered the region. Its age-old trees bear witness to centuries of human activity, and remnants of old charcoal kilns can still be found, serving as a reminder of the area's past use for charcoal production.

Overall, Whitman's Hill Coppice is a stunning natural gem that showcases the beauty and diversity of Herefordshire's woodlands. Whether one seeks solitude, nature exploration, or a glimpse into the area's past, this enchanting forest offers an unforgettable experience for all who venture within its leafy embrace.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Whitman's Hill Coppice Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.131304/-2.3707723 or Grid Reference SO7448. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Norrest Wood from the footpath

The footpath entrance stile was somewhat overgrown when visited, but can just about be negotiated by those with long legs or decent balance. Look for a small gap in the hedge back from the road surface.

Peter Whatley

Driveway to Birchwood House

Peter Whatley

Birchwood Common from Birchwood Lane

Peter Whatley

Birchwood Lane

This shows the 40 metre stretch of the lane used by the Geopark Way, which has just joined from the right, and turns right into a field at the track junction ahead, although it rejoins the lane for a while about a kilometre ahead.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way leaves Birchwood Lane

Larger sizes of this may reveal the pencil of light coming through the right-hand hedge where the Way follows Cradley footpath CD64 rather than the track to Birchwood House.

Derek Harper

Birchwood Common

From the junction where the Geopark Way leaves the lane as shown in SO7550 : Geopark Way leaves Birchwood Lane. This field is on a ridge.

Derek Harper

Birchwood Common

The field and trees are seen from a different direction in SO7450 : Birchwood Common.

Derek Harper

Birchwood Common

Looking right from SO7450 : Birchwood Common. The clump of tree on the left hides a pond.

Derek Harper

Birchwood Lane

Looking right from SO7450 : Birchwood Common along a lane in shadow from the wooded grounds of Birchwood Hall.

Derek Harper

Field on Geopark Way

Taken looking right from SO7549 : Stile on Geopark Way, on Cradley footpath CD62. The Way, having followed Birchwood lane for 40 metres (see SO7550 : Birchwood Lane and SO7550 : Geopark Way leaves Birchwood Lane), re-enters the same field on Cradley footpath CD64. However, electric fencing suggests that it is not permissible to take a short cut across the field.

Derek Harper

Stile on Geopark Way

On Cradley footpath CD62, with the Geopark Way logo visible on the waymark.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way at Old Norrest

The Way takes a rather eccentric course as it follows Cradley footpath CD62 around Old Norrest; see SO7550 : Geopark Way at Old Norrest, for instance.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way at Old Norrest

A reverse view of SO7550 : Geopark Way at Old Norrest. A damaged Geopark Way gives some semblance of authority to this route, the hand-painted directions over a stile lacking a cross-piece perhaps less so. This is Cradley footpath CD62.

Derek Harper

Old Norrest

The listed cottage Link

is also seen in SO7550 : Old Norrest.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way at Old Norrest

The Way follows painted arrows along Cradley footpath CD62.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way at Old Norrest

Looking right from SO7550 : Old Norrest past a willow as Cradley footpath CD62 - or 61, not quite sure which here - makes its way around the farm.

Derek Harper

Geopark Way at Old Norrest

Looking right from SO7550 : Geopark Way at Old Norrest, as the Way, following Cradley footpath CD61, seems to vanish in a sea of bracken. Ahead is a walnut grove.

Derek Harper