Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, a 600-acre arboretum is home to a world renowned collection of trees and shrubs from around the globe. It lies about 3 miles south west of the town of Tetbury in Gloucestershire and whilst probably best known for its autumn colour when its acers are at their best, however spring is also a magical time at the arboretum with bluebells, azaleas, cherry blossom and a host of spring bulbs on show. The arboretum is divided into two main areas with the Old Arboretum containing the majority of azaleas and magnolia whilst Silk Wood is more informal and a great place to see bluebells. Westonbirt is managed by Forestry England and there is currently an admission charge of £13 per adult on weekdays, which includes parking. Members of Forestry England are entitled to one admission to the arboretum per year. As well as 17 miles of waymarked paths, there are a number of food outlets a shop, toilets and plenty of parking. The meeting point for the walk will be at the Pantry which is a short walk from the Welcome Building at 10am. Please see the Forestry England website further information.
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With 17 miles of marked footpaths to choose from, there are plenty of options. At the time of uploading this walk, one area is closed for essential maintenance and this should be finished by the beginning of March at which point, the exact route will be decided. The best place to see azaleas, rhododendrons and blossom is the Old Arboretum whilst bluebells are abundant in the Silk Wood. The Treetop Walkway is an interesting structure, both in terms of architecture and as a viewing point for the rest of the arboretum. The footpaths are generally well maintained and fairly flat with some slight inclines. They can occasionally become muddy so appropriate footwear should be worn.
Forestry England Arboretum Map
Forestry England Accessibility information
We will meet at the Pantry, which is a grab and go kiosk with tables and chairs, a short walk from the welcome building.