Are your kids fans of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler books? Well, there’s a brand new trail based everyone’s favourite not-so-scary woodland monster coming to 20 Forestry England sites in 2024. In this post I’m sharing where to find the new Gruffalo Trails, as well as places that have the Gruffalo Sculpture Trail too.
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If you’ve followed any of the Forestry England and Magic Light Pictures trails before you’ll know they are full of a fun activities and facts to help keep your kids motivated during lovely woodlands walks.
We’ve had great fun doing the Gruffalo, Stickman Highway Rat and Zog Trails in Devon and Cornwall in previous years.
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The new Gruffalo Party Trail
In this latest trail based on the popular picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, Forestry England and Magic Light Pictures are celebrating 25 years of this award-winning book.
It’s available at 20 forests across England and challenges families to work together to find missing party items while enjoying fun and games along the trail.
And of course there’s an educational twist with information about the intricate ways plants and animals look after each other.
Follow the route to find five activity boards, two of which have interactive elements, and 15 smaller panels in which you can find missing party essentials.
There’s also five rubbing stations along the trail.
The new trail launch at selected Forestry England sites from 24 January 2024.
How long is the Gruffalo Trail?
The trail should keep children entertained for around an hour.
We know from experience that the trail near us at Haldon Forest Park is 1.5 miles long, so isn’t a huge challenge for little legs.
Gruffalo activity packs
While it is free to walk the trail and find the activity panels, you can also buy a Gruffalo activity pack.
If you buy a pack at a Forestry England site it costs £4 and includes:
- a party headband
- an activity leaflet
- stickers
- pencils and crayons
- and a woven Gruffalo sew-on patch.
When is the Gruffalo Trail open?
The Gruffalo Trail will be open every day based on each forest’s opening times.
I have included a list of the participating sites and links to their websites ordered by English county below.
Where to find the Zog Trail around England
Here’s where to find participating Forestry England sites:
Buckinghamshire
Wendover Woods, Upper Icknield Way, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury, HP22 5NQ
Cheshire
Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Northwich, CW8 2HZ
Devon
Haldon Forest Park, Bullers Hill, Kennford, Exeter, EX6 7XR
Dorset
Moors Valley Country Park, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, BH24 2ET
Gloucestershire
Beechenhurst, Forest of Dean, Speech House Road, Coleford, GL16 7EL
Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS
Kent
Jeskyns Community Woodland, Henhurst Road, Cobham, DA12 3AN
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ
Leicestershire
Hicks Lodge, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Swadlincote, LE65 2UP
London
Thames Chase Forest, Pike Lane, Upminster, Essex, RM14 3NS
Northamptonshire
Salcey Forest, Wooton Road, Northamptonshire, NN7 2HX
Fineshade Wood, Top Lodge, Fineshade, Near Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BB
Nottinghamshire
Sherwood Pines, Kings Clipstone, Nottingham, NG21 9JL
Shropshire
Haughmond Hill, Newport Road, Shrewsbury, SY4 4PW
Staffordshire
Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Rugeley, WS15 2UQ
Suffolk
High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, IP27 0AF
Surrey
Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, GU10 4LS
Worcestershire
Wyre Forest, Callow Hill, Bewdley, DY14 9XQ
Yorkshire
Dalby Forest, Dalby Visitor Centre, Low Dalby, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering
Guisborough Forest, Pinchinthorpe, Guisborough, TS14 8HD
Where to find Gruffalo sculpture trails
And here’s some places to find Gruffalo sculptures in England:
Cornwall
Cardinham Woods, Cardinham Woods, Bodmin, PL30 4AL
County Durham
Hamsterley Forest, Bedburn, Hamsterley, DL13 3NL
Dorset
Moors Valley Country Park, Horton Road, Ashley Heath, BH24 2ET
Gloucestershire
Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS
Kent
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ
Northamptonshire
Fineshade Wood, Top Lodge, Fineshade, Near Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 3BB
Nottinghamshire
Sherwood Pines, Kings Clipstone, Nottingham, NG21 9JL
Staffordshire
Cannock Chase Forest, Birches Valley, Rugeley, WS15 2UQ
Suffolk
High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Brandon, IP27 0AF
Find more days out in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in my big round up of 101 UK attractions for families.