Northwood Trail Access Statement

Northwood Trail is an off grid, eco, fairy trail through the woods, incorporating rustic fairy and goblin houses, both on stumps and in trees. There are natural focal points along the way, such as Elven chairs, willow wall maze, and fairy ring, as well as fairy doors on trees and fairy treehouses and walkways. This is complemented by a low impact café / reception, toilets, storytelling and “fairy museum” (fairy and woodland creature artefacts from the collection of a Victorian professor, e.g. clothing, shoes, jewellery etc.)

Northwood Trail is an off grid, eco, fairy trail through the woods, incorporating rustic fairy and goblin houses, both on stumps and in trees. There are natural focal points along the way, such as Elven chairs, willow wall maze, and fairy ring, as well as fairy doors on trees and fairy treehouses and walkways. This is complemented by a low impact café / reception, toilets, storytelling and “fairy museum” (fairy and woodland creature artefacts from the collection of a Victorian professor, e.g. clothing, shoes, jewellery etc.)

Pre arrival

The trail is limited in size and car parking, so tickets must be booked through our website, this does mean limited availability and you may need to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Profoundly deaf and blind people do need to be accompanied because of the rustic nature of the trail.

Arrival

On arrival please head to the café / reception where your tickets will be checked. The paths and tracks are uneven in nature and as such can cause trip hazards to anybody, this is a rustic eco trail, we have avoided the use of tarmac and other materials not sympathetic to the woodland.

Facilities

There is car parking for approximately 60 cars in an existing woodland glade, to minimize disturbance to the woods. You will need a valid badge to park in the disabled parking spaces. From the car park it is approximately 200 – 300 metres to the start of the trail. In very busy periods it may be 400 – 500m walk from an overflow carpark)

The reception, café, toilets, storytelling space and fairy museum are housed in a simple single storey shed, painted black to blend into the woodland, this is set on a base of permeable terram and stone, so rain runs off into the ground. There is an entrance ramp and a disabled toilet in the café, toilets are also provided on the outside of the building.

Because of the magical nature of this experience (and the off grid limitations we face), light levels are kept very low in both the café and the museum. Lantern walks during twilight or darkness will also be very dark with little background lighting to disturb wildlife.

There are approximately 1.5 km of trails and paths, tracks are wide enough for wheel chair users and are permeable surfaces to allow rainwater to pass through. At certain parts of the trail at certain times of the year access to wheelchair users may be limited because of safety.

The woodland setting means the trail is off grid and minimal electricity is used, this is generated by a solar array and batteries. All effluent is dealt with on site with the construction of a reed bed system, so we ask that only toilet paper be put down the toilets.

Access is available to all users, young, old, disabled and able bodied alike, visitors not wishing to tackle the long walks, can still experience the woodland location and enjoy the fairy museum and café, which are located close to the vehicle track. There is disabled drop off if required close to the amenities, and the nearest parking bays to the entrance in the car park are for disabled drivers – a valid badge is required.

Assistance animals are welcome at Northwood but must be on a lead or harness at all times.

Emergency access – there is plenty of access to the proposed buildings for emergency vehicles, with a stoned track passing right by the café and fairy museum and a large turning area is at the front of the building.

Entrance access is from the existing entrance to the Jollydays glamping site, off the Stamford Bridge – Buttercrambe Road. This flat, straight, section of track is stoned and can become uneven and slightly muddy especially during the winter, the track splits to go into the Trail car park, or you can continue straight ahead for disabled drop off closer to the café – please email us first if you require this.

We do not have public wifi on site and mobile phone reception may be intermittent and can’t always be relied upon.