Wellesley Woodlands

  • Free parking (1.9m height restrictions at some of the car parks)
  • Dedicated parking for disabled visitors at Laffan’s Road car park
  • Bins
  • Benches
  • Surfaced paths including a 1km easy-access trail
  • Green Flag Award
  • Extensive woodlands with network of waymarked routes
  • Incorporating a long stretch of the Basingstoke Canal towpath
  • Walks of various lengths, with longer routes of 10km or more possible
See route…

 

 

Where you’ll find it…

This is huge place, with several free car parks in the Aldershot area:
Bourley Road, nearest postcode GU11 1PT. Grid reference SU 85615 51455. What3Words: eagles.office.shares.
Fleet Road, nearest postcode GU11 2HL. Grid reference SU 85153 52468. What3Words: nerve.horses.crass.
Laffan’s Road, nearest postcode GU11 2HJ. Grid reference SU 86190 52327. What3Words: sorters.couches.hogs.
Chalk Farm Lake, Camp Farm Road, nearest postcode GU11 2PF. Grid reference SU 87902 52248. What3Words: improving.papers.lanes.

N.B. We’ve given the nearest postcodes, but recommend using the links to look up the exact location. The centre of a postcode may be up to half a mile from your destination.

What you’ll find there…

Wellesley Woodlands is a fantastic greenspace for the Wellesley development in Aldershot. Once a military training area, the woodlands have been transformed by the Land Trust, Grainger plc and the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership into an inviting public space. Take a look at the dedicated Wellesley Woodlands website for a detailed map showing all the trails and car parks. You can also keep up with what’s happening on their Facebook page. There’s a lot to explore, including Duke’s Wood, the Basingstoke Canal and Chalk Farm Lake. Plus two smaller areas called Heather Hill and Thorn Hill. Each with its own distinct character.

The whole area is open to the public, for everyone to enjoy. Most areas have surfaced paths suitable for walkers, runners, cyclists, wheelchairs and buggies. And a wheelchair-friendly footpath, spanning more than 1km, laid out along the Basingstoke Canal from the Laffan’s Road car park.

So why Wellesley? The woodlands and the development are named after Arthur Wellesley, better known as the 1st Duke of Wellington. He of Battle of Waterloo fame, the Iron Duke himself. A leading military figure with a string of victories to his name, he also served as Prime Minister and was Commander in Chief of the British Army. An appropriate choice then for Aldershot, Home of the British Army.

A colossal statue of Arthur Wellesley, mounted on his faithful charger Copenhagen, stands on Round Hill in Aldershot, just off the A325 Farnborough Road, next to the Claycart Road car park.

Gallery…

Autumnal photo looking down the Canal. Leaves float prettily on the water.
The Basingstoke Canal at Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
TPhoto showing the last of the Beech leaves turning orange.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo shows a large flat sports field, with goal posts in the distance.
Recreation ground on the edge of Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo looks through the bare branches of Beech trees to a relic of past Army training days. A brick built firing wall stands amongst the trees.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo shows a tall, brick built firing wall standing amongst the trees.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo taken looking down a path, with the last of the autmn colours lighting up the trees either side.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023

Photo taken looking down a path, with the beautiful colours of Beech trees light up by the sun.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo taken looking down a path, with the last of the autmn colours lighting up the trees either side.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
An autumnal photograph taken looking towards the statue of the Duke of Wellington that stands on a small knoll at Claycart Road.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo of a brass plaque showing a bumble bee, mounted on top of a short post.
Wellesley Woodlands, November 2023
Photo taken head on of the huge statue of Sir Arthur Wellesley mounted on his horse.
Wellington Statue, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a path leading through an open area in the woodland. Spring greens.
Duke’s Wood, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023

Photo of tall beech trees, with fresh green leaves.
Duke’s Wood, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a spring scene. Fresh green leaves fill the woodland.
Duke’s Wood, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a spring scene, with fresh green leaves. A wooden bridge crosses a stream.
Duke’s Wood, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of metal gates either sade of a road crossing
If walking from Bourley Road to the Basingstoke Canal, two road crossings are necessary, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a canal, seen through the metal structure of a military bridge
Claycart Bridge makes a good objective for a walk, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a post with an oak leaf relief on top - for brass rubbing / nature trail.
Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023

Photo of a small green meadow.
Small meadow at Thorn Hill, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo looking out across a large fishing lake. Two geese swim.
Chalk Farm Lake, Wellesley Woodlands, May 2023
Photo of a view across a lake, with blue sky behind.
The view from the upper path at Chalk Farm Lake, August 2022
Photo of picnic benches in a clearing.
Picnic area at Chalk Farm Lake, August 2022
Photo of the light catching the fronds of a fir tree, and a woodland path.
Wellesley Woodlands, June 2022
Claycart Bridge built in 1915, near the Fleet Road car park, June 2022

Photo of a pretty view down the Canal.
The view from Claycart Bridge near the Fleet Road car park, June 2022
Photo of a dog trotting along the Basingstoke Canal, with yellow iris in flower along the bank.
A stretch of the Basingstoke Canal, June 2022
Photo of an area of grass and scrub, lined by pine trees.
Open space at Puckeridge Hill, next to the Fleet Road car park, June 2022
Photo shows a large brick built wall in the woodlands.
Relics of the past are encountered in Wellesley Woodlands, here an old firing wall, June 2022
Photo of a beech tree with a daube of red paint on it.
Red paint marks the route of an assault course, once used for training, June 2022
The statue of Sir Arthur Wellesley, The 1st Duke of Wellington at Wellesley Woodlands
The statue of Sir Arthur Wellesley, The 1st Duke of Wellington, at Wellesley Woodlands, February 2019

Open space at Wellesley Woodlands
Open space at Wellesley Woodlands, February 2019

 

This ‘Greenspace on your doorstep’ is managed by…

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