If you go down to the woods today... You’ll be in for a right old treat! Inspired by the best-selling Julia Donaldson storybook, The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo Trail features a number of curious hand-crafted characters from Squirrel, Snake, Fox, Owl, Mouse, Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s child. Each trail is set against the landscapes of the UK’s most beautiful woodlands.
This nationwide activity currently has 15 locations. If you are wondering how to find your nearest one then wonder no more! We’ve found all 15 Gruffalo Trail locations which you can find down below but first let’s get to grips with the iconic 20-year-old storybook…
What is the Gruffalo?
How does the Gruffalo Trail work?
Kids can follow orienteering maps and discover new parts of the forest while they search for each sculpture. It’s perfect for kids who love mystery and problem-solving aside from the beloved story.
There are plenty of adorable photo opportunities to cease during these trails too. Come head to hip with the Gruffalo himself and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Your little ones will feel as if they’ve landed at the centre of the novel surrounded by their much-loved characters.
Is the Gruffalo Trail free?
Gruffalo Trails Near You
Cannock Chase Forest
Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Rugeley, WS15 2UQ
Open every day from 7.30am except Christmas Day
Parking: £3 (up to 1 hour), £5 (up to 2 hours) and £8 (all day)
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Northwich, CW8 2HZ
Every day from 8.00am except Christmas Day
Parking: £3 (up to 1 hour), £5 (up to 2 hours), £8 ( all day)
Fineshade Wood
Fineshade Wood, Top Lodge, Fineshade, Near Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BB
Open every day from 9.30am except Christmas Day
£2 (up to 1 hour), £4 (up to 2 hours), £6 ( all day)
High Lodge Thetford Forest
Fineshade Wood, Top Lodge, Fineshade, Near Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BB
Open every day from 9.00am except Christmas Day
£2 (up to 1 hour), £5 ( up to 2 hours), £8 (up to 3 hours), £10 (up to 4 hours), £12.50 (all day)
Sherwood Pines
Sherwood Pines, Kings Clipstone, Nottingham, NG21 9JL
Open every day from 8.00am except Christmas Day
£3 (up to 1 hour), £5 (up to 2 hours), £8 (all day)
Wendover Woods
Wendover Woods, Upper Icknield Way, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury, HP22 5NQ
Open every day at 8.00am except Christmas Day
£2.70 (up to 2 hours), £5 (up to 4 hours), £10 (over 4 hours)
Alice Holt Forest
Why stick to paths and hills when you can enjoy the calming water’s edge in the Farnham Angling Society at Lodge Pond? Just make sure to get a permit before you go fishing!
Alice Holt Forest has lots of great activities to try out and there is also a Go Ape Alice Holt centre for cheeky monkeys who wish to reach the treetops.
Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, GU10 4LS
Opening times are seasonal but from 8.00am
Parking: £3 (up to 1 hour), £5 ( up to 2 hours), £7 (up to 3 hours), £9 (up to 4 hours), £12 (all day)
Bedgebury Pinetum
Grab a set of wheels and head for the hills on your mountain bikes. Channel your inner monkey at Go Ape Bedgebury and finish your day of action in the Bedgebury Cafe – you can feast on Full English Breakfasts & more!
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ
Open every day from 8.00am until 8.00pm except Christmas Day
Parking: £14 (Peak times all day), £10 (Off-peak times all day), £3.50 (Any day early bird 8am – 11am)
Dalby Forest
Dalby Forest, Dalby Visitor Centre, Low Dalby, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering
Open every day from 8.00am except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day
Parking: £9 (Until 4pm), £5 (After 4pm), £5 (All day)
Hamsterley Forest
Tired from all the walking? Have a cuppa with a view in Hamsterley Forest’s delightful picnic areas. There are even BBQ stations to use too which are perfect for during the Summer time.
Hamsterley Forest, Bedburn, Hamsterley, DL13 3NL
Everyday dawn to dusk
Parking: £2 (Up to 1 hour), £6 (All day ), £10 (Peak – Bank holiday weekends)
Wyre Forest
There are plenty of stunning nature walks to make nature lovers happy. Did you know Wyre Forest is the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in the country? If you’re based in the West Midlands you must visit one of your most impressive destinations. Head to the Wyre Forest today!
Wyre Forest, Callow Hill, Bewdley, DY14 9XQ
Open every day from 8.00am to 9.00pm except Christmas Day
Parking: £4 (Up to 2 hours), £5 (Up to 4 hours), £7 (All day)
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Nr Ringwood, BH24 2ET
Open every day from 8.00am to 9.00pm except Christmas Day
Parking: £4 (Up to 1 hour), £8 (Up to 2 hours), £11 (Up to 4 hours), £12 (Up to 5 hours), £15 (All day)
Whinlatter Forest
With orienteering trails and walking trails threw into the mix too, it’s a recipe for fun. If you are the type of person or family who is drawn to the water you’ll be elated to know there is Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwent Water nearby! These make for beautiful backdrops in family photos – just saying!
Whinlatter Forest, Whinlatter Pass, Keswick, CA12 5TW
Open every day from 10am
Parking: £2.20 (Up to 1 hour), £0.50 (Each additional 20 minutes), £8 (All day)
Westonbirt National Arboretum
You can take plenty of trails throughout the arboretum, which will fire your kids’ imaginations. Go on a plant-hunting orienteering adventure, or take on the Nature Play trail and see your young adventurers build a den of their own.
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS
Open every day except Christmas day from 9.00am
Parking: No parking charges at Westonbirt Arboretum
The following entry fees apply:
Spring / Summer / Autumn (March – September & November)
Adult: £11
Students: £7
Child (5-18 years): £4 – Under 5’s go free
Peak Autumn (October 2021)
Adult: £15
Students: £10
Child (5-18 years): £4 – Under 5’s go free
Winter (December – February)
Adult: £8
Students: £5
Child (5-18 years): £3 – Under 5’s go free
Kielder Castle
There are lots of things to explore at Kielder Castle once you’ve completed the Gruffalo Trail but which activity will you try out first?
Kielder Castle, Kielder, NE48 1ER
Opening hours are yeet to be announced for 2023!
Parking: Main Car Park – £1.50 (Up to 1 hour), £5 (All day)
Unsure where to start your next adventure? We’ve got plenty of outdoor activity articles to point you in the right direction. From horse riding trails in The Highlands in our Horse Riding Near Me article to the perfect family days out at RHS Gardens, we’ve got so many nature-related blogs for you to choose from.
If you are looking for activities to do near you make sure to head over to our things to do pages to find top UK attractions and a few unique ones too!