This weekend the sun was out and we are trying to make more of an effort to get outside and explore, so we went for a walk around Howe Park Wood. I’ve taken Ivy here a few times for Tree Tots, but we’ve not had much of a chance to explore the woods properly.
Howe Park Wood is a woodland area located between Westcroft and Tattenhoe and is very local to where we live in Milton Keynes. There are lots of different walks you can do around the woods, and during our visit, we did the circular walk in the centre of the wood, which is a short 20-minute walk – great if you’re visiting with toddlers! There are longer walks you can take too, you can see them all on the Parks Trust website.
Howe Park Woods is home to lots of wildlife and over 200 different plant species. You can see anything from woodpeckers to owls, foxes and different species of butterflies. During our walk, we saw lots of squirrels in the woods, which really excited Ivy, as well as lots of different types of birds. As it’s still early February there wasn’t much around in terms of plants, and all the trees were bare still – but it’s worth visiting at different points in the year to see the scenery! I’ve heard that during bluebell season it’s lovely, so I’ll be making a visit back then.
It’s worth noting that if you visit after wet weather some parts can get quite boggy – and I would avoid visiting with a pushchair if that’s the case. Ivy did very much enjoy finding puddles along our walk for a good splash though! There’s also a large pond just outside the cafe, where we loved watching the ducks.
Howe Park Woods is the best woods around Milton Keynes in terms of available facilities. Next to the car park, you can find a visitor centre, cafe and toilets. There are frequently events that happen here, as I mentioned earlier in the blog post I’ve brought Ivy here for Tree Tots, and when she was much smaller I met here for a NCT baby walk. If you take a look on the Parks Trust website you can see other events that are taking place here.
There’s also a little play area at Howe Park Woods, there’s not much to it – it’s only really ideal for small children. There’s a little climbing frame with a tunnel and a slide, and a couple of log steps to walk across. It’s a great size for our 2-year-old as everything was at a good toddler-sized height, but if you’re coming with older children it’s not really suitable.
After we had our walk we visited the Grounds cafe, for a quick drink. We got Ivy a kids lunch bag, where you got a sandwich, veggie crisps, biscuit, raisins and a juice for £4.95. Chris and I both went for hot chocolates to warm up, and I got a biscoff millionaires shortbread which was amazing! The cafe also serves sandwiches, toasties, soups, and other snacks – so a great place to grab a bite.
Howe Park Wood is a lovely place to visit and walk around. Every time I’ve visited it’s been quiet, so it never feels overcrowded like some other popular areas of Milton Keynes can feel. It’s a great place to bring kids and explore, and there are loads of areas where you could build dens or search for woodland treasure!
How to Find it
Howe Park Wood can be found at, Tattenhoe Ln, Tattenhoe MK4 3GG – use the map below for directions. There’s free parking outside.
