Chaddesley Wood – View of the Malvern Hills loop from Dodford
Chaddesley Wood – View of the Malvern Hills loop from Dodford
9
hikers
Chaddesley Wood – View of the Malvern Hills loop from Dodford
01:32
5.79km
60m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
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138 m
Chaddesley Wood
Highlight • Forest
Tip by
735 m
Bench Along the Forest Path
Highlight • Rest Area
Tip by
1.86 km
Chaddesley Wood National Nature Reserve
Highlight • Natural Monument
Visitors to the eastern half of the nature reserve will find themselves in ancient woodland that is predominantly mature oak with hazel coppice. The understorey also contains holly, rowan and other berry-bearing shrubs that are popular with winter thrushes such as fieldfares. Midland hawthorn thrives here – a rare shrub that is identified by the two seeds in its berries as opposed to the normal one. Open glades are important for invertebrates and encourage shrubby growth, which provides nesting cover for birds. Some old and dead oaks are retained for hole-nesting birds, fungi and invertebrates. At the right time of year the wood is full of birdsong and lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the elusive woodcock.
There are also two areas of meadow, although these are only accessible on special open days. Hockley Meadow and Black Meadow are old pastures with wildflowers such as knapweed, dyer’s greenweed, pepper saxifrage and adder’s-tongue fern. The meadows are grazed to maintain their floral interest.
The western half of the reserve is a largely planted woodland of broad-leaved species and extensive areas of conifer. The conifers wouldn’t normally grow here and we’re gradually clearing these and replacing them with native hardwoods that are more suitable to the local geology and attract summer migrants like chiffchaff and blackcap. Crossbills sometimes breed in the conifer plantations – their unusual beak structure of crossed tips allows them to feed on the seeds.
A Worcestershire speciality, land caddis, occurs at Chaddesley Woods. A national rarity, this is the only one of almost two hundred species of caddis fly that spends its entire life-cycle on land. It burrows in leaf litter and adults only live for a couple of weeks in autumn.
Tip by
2.93 km
View of the Malvern Hills
Highlight • Viewpoint
5.79 km
End point
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
2.80 km
1.62 km
1.29 km
Surfaces
3.86 km
1.29 km
566 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Friday 12 June
18°C
10°C
0 %
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Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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