Woodpecker Trail, Salcey Forest
6 miles (9.7 km), circular. Starts and finishes at Salcey Forest, Wootton Road. About 2 hours, moderate.
Start: SP 794 517, and finish. OS grid.
Take it with you: download the GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 69 m of climbing and 78 m of descent; highest point 129 m.
Facts
- Code
- EM 1188
- Distance
- 6 miles (9.7 km)
- Publisher’s page
- forestryengland.uk
- Type
- Circular
- Walking time
- About 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate (how we grade)
- Designation
- Regional route
- Region
- East Midlands
- County
- Northamptonshire
- Total ascent
- About 69 m. Highest point 129 m
Getting there
Starts and finishes at the same place, marked by the dot on the map.
- Car parks
- Car park, 70 m from the start. Directions SP 793 516Car park, 100 m from the start. Directions SP 794 516Car park (pay), 140 m from the start. Directions SP 793 517
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at Kits Close (opp), 1.1 km away (Directions); Northampton station, 9.9 km away (Directions).
What to expect
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 21 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Café
- Salcey Forest Cafe, Hartwell: at the start. Seats outside.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
Walked it? Log it
Connecting routes
- SE 102Midshires WayShares 0.8 miles of path with this route.
- EM 111Northamptonshire RoundThis route finishes on it at Salcey Forest.
- EM 1197Church Path Walk, Salcey ForestShares 1 mile of path with this route. Starts and finishes on this route at Salcey Forest. This route starts on it at Salcey Forest.
- EM 1199Elephant Walk, Salcey ForestShares 0.8 miles of path with this route. Starts and finishes on this route at Salcey Forest. This route starts on it at Salcey Forest.
Walks nearby
- SE 128Three Shires WayLong-distance route, 49 miles, one way. Starts 3.5 miles away
- SE 117Milton Keynes Boundary WalkLong-distance route, 60 miles, circular. Starts 3.9 miles away
- SE 1137Olney Circular Walk4.3 miles, circular. Starts 5.2 miles away
- EM 1006Grafton Way11.5 miles, one way. Starts 7 miles away
- SE 1109Ouse Valley Circular Walk5 miles, circular. Starts 7 miles away
- SE 185Milton Keynes 25 Mile Challenge WalkLong-distance route, 25 miles, one way. Starts 11.1 miles away
Sources
Checked against forestryengland.uk on 12 October 2026.
- Route line: Forestry England, Recreation routes, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Forestry England).
- Facts: forestryengland.uk
Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this walk: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.