Follow the Gruffalo and Friends Through Alice Holt Forest
What would you discover if you, “took a stroll through a deep dark wood”?
In Alice Holt Forest, it could be almost anything – play trails, cycle tracks, table tennis, adventure play areas and even story book characters like the Gruffalo…
The Trails
Various trails criss-cross Alice Holt Forest. Some are easy access, others are wilder. Some are flat, others have steep hills. They are all marked and there are free maps available.
Story Book Trails
Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog. At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.
You buy a map bursting with activities to try along the trail – drawings to colour, puzzles to ponder and woodland things to spot.
Along the way you also come face to face with characters from the stories, including the Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Gruffalo’s child.
The Timberline Play Trail
The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas
and also hides huge play sculptures.
The Adventure Play Areas
Alice Holt has two adventure play areas.
Playwood Adventure Play Area is next to the cafe and has large wooden climbing frames, slides and swings.
Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with wooden climbing frames, slides, bridges and nets.
Other Activities
Alice Holt also has an Activity Centre and Shop that offers cycle hire
There is also orienteering
and lots of picnic spots to try.
The Cafe
This is located next to the main entrance and Visitor Centre. You can its picnic tables to eat food you have bought there or brought from home.
Visit the Alice Holt Forest website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS
Opens: Daily
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, hire a barbecue or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic tables, barbecue hire, cafe, ice creams, drinks, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.
How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly
Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour.
Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.
Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: February 2025
Ratings
Our visit to Alice Holt Forest and the Alice Holt Adventure Play Areas in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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Before taking part in any activities or visiting any places listed, you should make appropriate checks to ensure high quality provision, a safe environment is provided and to check all these details are up to date before you visit and/or take part. We accept no liability (to the fullest extent permitted by law) for the quality of the activities provided or places listed or for the accuracy of any information given.
