Slaley Forest

Wood, Forest in Northumberland

England

Slaley Forest

Line of grouse butts on Blanchland Moor An estate road alongside the grouse butt line heading east over the flat heather moor. — Line of grouse butts on Blanchland Moor Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Slaley Forest is a picturesque woodland located in the county of Northumberland, England. Covering an area of approximately 900 hectares, the forest is nestled within the stunning North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is situated near the village of Slaley, hence its name, and is easily accessible from the nearby town of Hexham.

The forest boasts a diverse range of tree species, including oak, beech, birch, and pine, creating a rich and vibrant habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. The woodland floor is adorned with an array of wildflowers and ferns, while the canopy provides a haven for numerous bird species, such as woodpeckers, owls, and finches.

Slaley Forest is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The forest offers a network of well-maintained trails and paths, allowing visitors to explore its beauty on foot, by bike, or even on horseback. The trails meander through the woodland, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside and glimpses of wildlife along the way.

In addition to its natural beauty, the forest also offers a range of recreational activities. There are designated picnic areas and barbecue spots, perfect for enjoying a leisurely lunch amidst the tranquility of nature. The forest also provides opportunities for camping, with designated campsites available for those looking to spend a night under the stars.

Overall, Slaley Forest is a true gem of Northumberland, offering a peaceful and idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and recreational activities make it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.

Show me another place!

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

Slaley Forest Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.892266/-2.0685204 or Grid Reference NY9555. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Line of grouse butts on Blanchland Moor

An estate road alongside the grouse butt line heading east over the flat heather moor.

Trevor Littlewood

Harvesting a section of Slaley Forest

Signs at the entrance to the eastern end of Slaley Forest warn of a number of closed tracks as a diamond-shaped section of the plantation was being actively clear-cut. The noise of chainsaws filled the air, which a tractor dragged cut logs on a trailer, using a crane to lift these into stacks. A big road-legal timber truck was the other side of the logpile using its own crane to take them off again and away to become glamourous new products like fenceposts or newsprint.

Andy Waddington

Regenerating Slaley Forest

Areas of the forest have been harvested on a cycle, and this patch seems to have been cut some years ago. Whilst much of the mature plantation is Sitka Spruce, this area has been repopulated with pine. Forestry does not feel obliged to stick with native species, and the trees aren't big enough yet that I could identify whether they are Scots Pine (which are native), Austrian/Corsican Pine (which have been widely used for shelter in the UK) or an American species like Lodgepole Pine (the coast range subspecies of which, Shore Pine, is used in forestry). They certainly aren't that widely planted and very fast-growing species much used for timber or woodpulp in somewhat warmer climes, Pinus radiata (Monterrey Pine).

Andy Waddington

Slaley Forest pond

A pool in a clearing surrounded by a greater diversity of tree species than found elsewhere in the forest, with a small island which no doubt provides a safer nesting spot for someone. However, this view is strictly time-limited as the diminutive conifer directly in front of the photographer is a volunteer seedling Sitka Spruce which, given considerably more light than the ones planted so densely in the plantation, will rapidly grow to occupy the foreground.

Andy Waddington

Rogue spruce, Slaley Forest

This area on the edge of Slaley Forest has been clear cut and not replanted, so the remaining stumps are rotting away nicely, providing habitat for numerous invertebrates and the birds which feed on them. The proximity of serried ranks of alien Sitka Spruce provides a much bigger input of seeds than do sparser and more distant natives, so this Sitka Spruce has taken advantage of the ungrazed space and daylight to establish itself.

Andy Waddington

Forest track branches off byway, Slaley Forest

The forest track to the left is guarded by a closed barrier to deter those who use the byway from straying where they are not permitted. Whilst signage implies a significant overuse of the byways by motor traffic, some of them shown on the map seem to have been erased entirely on the ground. The ones that still exist seem sufficiently straight that there can be little scope for noisy rally driving, but no doubt provide sport for mindless boy racers who think it fun to go very fast in a straight line. Signs advise calling Northumbria Police if you see bad behaviour taking place, but don't bother to mention where one might find a phone box to do so.

Andy Waddington

Forest track in Slaley Forest

A byway is shown on maps running roughly east-west for a kilometre and a half in this area of Slaley Forest, but on the ground, the line it supposedly takes is just densely planted forest. Instead, one is obliged to take a longer route via a number of SW-NE and SE-NW forest tracks such as this one, which are not rights of way of any description (though the bulk of the forest is CROW Access Land).

Andy Waddington

Forest track in Slaley Forest

Andy Waddington

Forest track branches off byway, Slaley Forest

The route to the right is supposedly a byway, though the line of that right of way some way ahead seems to have been wholly effaced by the forest leaving only rather longer routes on the forest tracks (with signage making clear that these are not for vehicles). The route to the left is one of these tracks, and the one we have just taken to reach this point (in the absence of any trace of the byway we'd intended to use starting about two kilometres away).

Andy Waddington

Acton Cleugh

The steep valley of Acton Burn.

Andrew Curtis

Archers Fold

A sheep fold on Acton Fell, South of Acton Burn. OS Namebook (c1860): Link

Archive Link

Andrew Curtis

Pit Sikes

Three small streams flowing into Acton Burn which derive their name from their proximity to some old coal workings. OS Namebook (c1860): Link

Archive Link

Andrew Curtis

Badly eroded hill road!

The road is at a southern tip of the plantations of Slaley Forest where a number of byways exist, two of them very close indeed. The byways are restricted in use by off-roaders to certain times in the year presumably the drier months when less damage is likely to be caused. This stretch of road however is not a byway; it's very close to some and it's likely that the way gets used either carelessly or accidentally in the assumption that its use is legitimate. It's also likely that estate vehicles use the road and contribute to the damage.

Trevor Littlewood