Woolslope Wander includes 9 caches and is a walk of just over 2 miles, mostly on a circuit, with a couple of spurs, For all the caches except number 9, the route is on made-up gravel paths. These are intended to be suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs but some parts may require an effort as the gravel may be a bit loose. Other parts have bedded down.
This area was once part of Woolslope Farm, some of which was used for housing some 30 years ago. The remaining land was opened to the public in 2013 as an area for walking. Gravel paths have been laid out to provide a firm walkway but most of the area is open grass, trees or hedges, bordered by the river, Uddens Water. The ‘Riverside Walk’, running from the A31 in the east to the former railway bridge in the west, runs along the southern side.
The purpose of the area is to provide an alternative green open space for walkers to relieve pressure on the nearby protected heathland. Please note that in extreme wet weather, such as the winter of 2013/14, the path along the riverside section may become flooded in places. It would still be possible to do a shortened circuit away from the river. The circular route from cache 8 to the final cache 9 crosses meadowland. The cache location is well-drained but the middle of the field can be squelchy at wet times and can be avoided, if desired, by taking the gravel path back via cache 1 and then out to 9.
Enjoy one of our favourite local walks!
Whilst the easiest place to start the walk is at cache 1 with parking nearby, it is also possible to park in Spinners Close to start at cache 8. This is in the housing east of Station Road, as it is not possible to park on the main road. From Spinners Close there is a short pathway through to Station Road quite close to the cache.
If the ground is dry, go across the meadow to cache 9. If the ground is too wet, or if the metal gate is locked to protect cattle grazing, walk back via the gravel riverside path to cache 1 which is a short distance from 9.