Skip to main content
Woodland Trust home page
Become a member

College Wood (Oxfordshire)

Visit in spring to admire a carpet of bluebells.

Credit: James Stevenson

Steeped in rich history, this enchanting ancient woodland dates back at least 600 years and once belonged to King Henry VIII.

Wander along pathways under towering oak and beech trees and spot fascinating relics of this woodland’s past, including wood banks and infrastructure from the Second World War. Visit in spring to admire a sea of vibrant bluebells carpeting the forest floor.

Features

  • Public access
  • Good views
  • Spring flowers
  • Ancient woodland

How to get to College Wood

Located south of the village of Woodcote, within the Chilterns National Landscape area, College Wood covers 69 hectares (170 acres) of ancient semi-natural woodland. The site sits within a much larger wooded area, dotted with villages as well as small arable and pasture fields.  

College Wood is 10.6km (7 miles) north of Reading, 12.8km (8 miles) south of Wallingford and 7.7km (5 miles) east of Goring. 

The A4074 Reading to Oxford Road forms the eastern boundary of the site, and features an informal unsurfaced layby with space for one or two cars. Deadman’s Lane (B4576) runs along the southern boundary and also has an informal layby with space for one car.

The nearest station is 7.3km (4.5 miles) away at Pangbourne. Goring and Streatley stations are also 7.9km (4.9 miles) away.

Visit National Rail for more information. 

The River Rapids X40 Oxford to Reading bus service stops at the Co-op in Woodcote. From here, walk 1.7km (1.1 miles) along road edge paths and a public bridleway (228/53/10) to the northwest wood entrance.  

Visit Traveline for more information. 

Explore the site along a network of permissive pathways.

Credit: James Stevenson

Facilities and access

There are almost 7km (4.3 miles) of paths and tracks in College Wood, many of which have an unimproved surface. Explore along 1.6km (1 mile) of public bridleways, 3.6km (2.2 miles) of improved vehicle accessible track and 1.7km (1.1 miles) of maintained unsurfaced permissive footpaths. Access from the A4074 entrance is restrictive to mobility aids due to the presence of a horse stile, to prevent access by motorbikes.

Parking is restricted to the unimproved, informal layby on Deadman’s Lane (B4576) and another on the A4074 road, both of which are suitable for approximately one car.

There are no public toilets within easy access of College Wood. The nearest facilities are at Pangbourne recreation ground and the railways stations at Goring, Streatley and Pangbourne.

Wildlife and habitats

Animals

The rides, glades and ancient woodlands of College Wood are teeming with native wildlife. Along the path edges, spot butterflies like the purple emperor, brimstone and speckled wood. The woodland is also home to a vibrant array of birdlife, including woodlark, fire crest, woodcock and tawny owl. Keep an eye on the sky for the chance to see buzzards performing aerial manoeuvres between the towering trees, as well as red kites circling overhead. If you are very quiet, you might spot roe deer picking their way through the foliage.

Look out for:

Trees, plants and fungi

The ancient woodland is dominated by mature beech, oak and wild cherry, while other species include sycamore, sweet chestnut, birch, holly and hazel. Some non-native conifers remain (Douglas fir and Norway spruce), but many have been removed to open up space for peaceful woodland glades to flourish.

Look out for swathes of heather along the wide rides, creating woodland edge habitats loved by insects and birds. In the spring, bluebells carpet the ancient woodland floor, while brambles are laden with blackberries in late summer.

Look out for:

Habitats

The mature beech and oak woodland of College Wood is at least 125 years old, with records showing that this site has been wooded for more than 600 years. This ancient semi-natural woodland is broken up by woodland glades and wide rides which provide vital habitat for rare native wildlife. Look out for a small pond, too.

Explore:

History of College Wood

In 1546, Henry VIII gave College Wood (then known as Abbots Wood) along with the manor of South Stoke to Christ Church, University of Oxford. The woodland has been actively managed since then, as beech and oak woodland which was regularly coppiced.  

Keep an eye out along the road boundaries and you may spy the remains of building bases, ammunition walls and a water container from the Second World War period. 

In 2023, we were generously gifted this site, along with New Copse near Sonning Common. 

Things to do at College Wood

College Wood is a tranquil oasis for quiet walks and wildlife spotting. It has a network of maintained paths and two bridleways, all of which are connected to longer routes through the surrounding countryside that you can explore on foot, bicycle or horseback.

Other woods nearby