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The Great Britain Guide

Forests & woodlands Β· East of England

Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve

In or near Thornhaugh.

ModernFree admissionβ™Ώ Wheelchair: limitedβ˜… 4.2 Β· 5 Google reviews

Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve, forests & woodlands in East of England

Wikimedia Commons contributors β€” see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Yarwell Junction (NVR) Β· 4.4 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Dog-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve, the nearest railway station is Yarwell Junction (NVR), located 4.4 km away. Entry is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is PE8 6NN.

Directions on Google Maps β†’

About

Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is a named forest, woodland or nature reserve in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 2000. Coordinates: 52.5847Β°, -0.4622Β°.

Photo gallery

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Bedford Purlieus SSSI
  • National Nature Reserve: BEDFORD PURLIEUS

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Bedford Purlieus is a 211-hectare (520-acre) ancient woodland in Cambridgeshire, in the United Kingdom. It is a national nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. In Thornhaugh civil parish, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Stamford and 14 km (8.7 mi) west of Peterborough, the wood is within the Peterborough unitary authority area of Cambridgeshire, and borders Northamptonshire. In Roman times it was an iron smelting centre, during the medieval period it was in the Royal Forest of Rockingham, and later it became part of the estates of the Duke of Bedford. Bedford Purlieus appears to have been continuously wooded at least from Roman times, and probably since the ice receded. The woodland may have the richest range of vascular plants of any English lowland wood. It acquired particular significance in the 1970s as an early subject for the historical approach to ecology and woodland management.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Description

For 400 years the woods were part of the Wansford Estate, itself a part of the vast land holdings of the Russell family, Earls, and later Dukes of Bedford. It is this connection that is responsible for the name, and under their management, profound changes have taken place to both the size and character of the woods.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
52.5847, -0.4622
District
Peterborough
Parish
Thornhaugh
Postcode
PE8 6NN
Parliamentary constituency
North West Cambridgeshire
Established
2000
Nearest railway station
Yarwell Junction (NVR) β€” 4.4 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Track through Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 3019606πŸ“· 5

Historic houses Β· East of England

Wartime buildings

Wartime buildings β€” a historic house in england-london, United Kingdom.

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Old Sulehay ForestπŸ“· 5

Wildlife reserves Β· East of England

Old Sulehay Forest

Old Sulehay Forest β€” nature reserve in the United Kingdom.

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Great Byards Sale - geograph.org.uk - 255925πŸ“· 5

Memorials & monuments Β· East of England

Glen Miller Pillar

Glen Miller Pillar is a memorial in the United Kingdom.

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Kings Cliffe Airfield memorial - geograph.org.uk - 4892635πŸ“· 5

Memorials & monuments Β· East of England

Kings Cliffe Airfield Memorial

Kings Cliffe Airfield Memorial β€” a memorial in england-london, United Kingdom.

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Manor HouseπŸ“· 5

Historic houses Β· East of England

Manor House

Manor House β€” historic building in Thornhaugh, City of Peterborough, England, United Kingdom.

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Wansford PastureπŸ“· 5

Wildlife reserves Β· East of England

Wansford Pasture

Wansford Pasture β€” nature reserve in the United Kingdom.

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Where to eat & stay near Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve

Places to stay

Bridge End, Wansford - geograph.org.uk - 6134704πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· East of England

The Haycock Hotel

The Haycock Hotel β€” a hotel in england london.

β†— thehaycockmanor.uk-hotel.info
Field with trees along the line of a stream - geograph.org.uk - 4218251πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· East of England

Sacrewell Farm

Sacrewell Farm β€” a campsite in england london.

β†— sacrewell.org.uk
River Nene, Yarwell - geograph.org.uk - 4962730πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· East of England

Yarwell Mill

Yarwell Mill β€” a campsite in england london.

Fields by the A1, Sibson - geograph.org.uk - 5329597πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· East of England

Sibson Inn Hotel

Sibson Inn Hotel β€” a hotel in england london.

β†— sibsoninn.com
St Martin's Church, Stamford - geograph.org.uk - 1948730πŸ“· 6

Hotels Β· East Midlands

The George

The George β€” a hotel in england london.

The George of Stamford - geograph.org.uk - 3578819πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· East Midlands

George Hotel, Stamford

The George Hotel is a hotel and former coaching inn on the route of the Great North Road in St Martin's, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. The hotel itself and numbers 68 and 69 St Martin's, which has

Places to eat & drink

St Mary and All Saints church Fotheringay - geograph.org.uk - 4218306πŸ“· 5

Restaurants Β· East of England

The Falcon Inn

The Falcon Inn β€” a restaurant in england london.

Free↗ thefalcon-inn.co.uk
Main Street, Ufford - geograph.org.uk - 2445606πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· East of England

Ye Olde White Hart

Ye Olde White Hart in England East, United Kingdom.

Stamford features (36) - geograph.org.uk - 7141490πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· East Midlands

Bull and Swan Inn

Bull and Swan Inn in England East, United Kingdom.

12 Water Street, Stamford - geograph.org.uk - 6393611πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· East Midlands

The Beehive Public House

The Beehive Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

Location of OS Flush Bracket 1035 - Ailsworth - geograph.org.uk - 8309413πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· East of England

Wheatsheaf Public House

Wheatsheaf Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

22 All Saints Street, Stamford - geograph.org.uk - 6410253πŸ“· 5

Historic pubs Β· East Midlands

Millstone Inn

Millstone Inn in England East, United Kingdom.

Other forests from this era

Angel's WingsπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· London

Angel's Wings

Angel's Wings β€” Public artwork by Thomas Heatherwick.

πŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— stpauls.co.uk
The London Wetland CentreπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· London

The London Wetland Centre

The London Wetland Centre is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— wwt.org.uk
The PreacherπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· London

The Preacher

The Preacher β€” Public artwork (statue) by Peter Lazslo Peri.

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Bisham WoodsπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· South East England

Bisham Woods

Bisham Woods is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

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More forests in this region

The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences - geograph.org.uk - 7058758πŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· East of England

Adams Road Bird Sanctuary

Adams Road Bird Sanctuary is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— adamsroadbirdsanctuary.com
Arthur's Meadow NRπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· East of England

Arthur's Meadow NR

Arthur's Meadow NR is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

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Ashwell Quarry & Quarry SpringsπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· East of England

Ashwell Quarry & Quarry Springs

Ashwell Quarry & Quarry Springs is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•πŸ‘Ά
Ashwell SpringsπŸ“· 5

Forests & woodlands Β· East of England

Ashwell Springs

Ashwell Springs is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•πŸ‘Άβ†— ashwellmuseum.org.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve?
Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is in London, United Kingdom (postcode PE8 6NN), in the parish of Thornhaugh.
What is Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve?
Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve?
The nearest railway station is Yarwell Junction (NVR), about 4.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode PE8 6NN.
When was Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve built?
Built or established in 2000.
Is Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve a protected site?
Yes β€” Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is part of the Bedford Purlieus SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the BEDFORD PURLIEUS National Nature Reserve.
Is Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve free to visit?
Yes, Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve is free to enter.
How do I get to Bedford Purlieus National Nature Reserve?
The nearest railway station is Yarwell Junction (NVR), about 4.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode PE8 6NN.