Approved by Fieldfare

Fir and Pond Woods is widely thought to be the best remaining part of Enfield Chase – an ancient royal hunting ground that covered over 3,000 hectares. The reserve contains diverse habitats including oak-hornbeam woodland, an ancient meadow, and a medieval fish pond. The woods are rich in birdlife including woodpeckers, warblers and tits. The ancient meadow features a large number of old anthills and is rich in invertebrates, including butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets. There are two benches, one overlooking a small pond and the other overlooking the meadow. The path follows consistent steep gradients, especially after route passes the meadow; most severe gradients are steeper than 1:6 (16.7%).

Surveyed by: Sarah Buckingham, July 2014 (Summer)
Accessibility Rating: 4
Distance: 0.8 km

Full Profile

Small car park, space for around 7 cars. No delineated spaces; no disabled spaces.

Location sign at woodland gateway

Route starts through kissing gate off the car park. Level entrance.

Entrance gate of 1.2 metres square.

Immediately as route begins surface becomes uneven. Surface was hard when surveyed in summer. Surface is composed of compacted soil.

Less than 10 metres in surface becomes softer even in summer. Vehicles tracks have easily cut up the ground.

Short slope to pond and information board at 1:9 (11.1%); path flanks tree; surface becomes hard again.

In front of a small pond there is an information board with a map and details about the woods and its wildlife. This is positioned on level ground.

One of two benches, to the right of path up a mound at 1:9 (11.1%). Low bench with low back.

Path continues either side of tree, surface hard but not always clean, occasional protruding roots. Slight gradient to left of tree, no more than 1.12 (%); steeper gradient to right of tree 1.9 (%).

Path maintains a relatively flat course on hard soil based surface.

Path deteriorates into soft muddy surface, vehicle tracks are visible.

Path continues at slight downhill gradient of 1:16.4 (6.1%).

Surface becomes more uneven towards gate with small embedded rocks.

Kissing gate.

Very tight gap between gate and short wooden bridge, distance of 0.5 metres.

Path continues on hard, uneven surface down gradient of 1.12 (8.3%) for ten metres before next gate.

Kissing gate.

Path curves to right on relatively flat surface for 20 metres.

Surface of path is hard soil with occasional protruding roots. Further down path surface can be boggy.

Path descends over 30 metres with varying gradient of between 1:12 (8.3%) and 1:6.5 (15.3%).

Path quality occasionally deteriorates and becomes uneven with camber of 1:20 (5%).

Path continues to descend for another 40 metres with a gradient that varies between 1:8 (12.5%) and 1:10 (10%).

Photo looking back up path. Path bends to left before end of long slope.

Route goes along bottom of wood on a flat path. Surface is hard but scattered with leaf mould, twigs and other debris.

Path continues straight and flat with uneven surface. Slight rise with gradient over 1:20 (5.5%).

Second bench on route. 1.5 metres off path, up slight slope, grassy and uneven surface. Nice views over meadow.

Path narrows to less than a metre. Surface becomes uneven.

Path turns to left back into woods.

Route into woods begins with steep ascent with a gradient of 1:6 (16.7%). Surface is composed of loose small rocks in places.

Gradient continues into wood but lessens to between 1:8 (12.5%) and 1:10 (10%).

Surface composed of soil, hard but not compacted; quality compromised by debris.

Path curves to right continually rising ; gradient 1:8 (12.5%).

Path opens up and flattens briefly.

Path, again, continues to rise at previous level of between 1.8 (12.5%) and 1.10 (10%). No change in surface - hard soil littered with wood, leaf litter and small rock debris.

Path narrows to less than 1 metre wide. Accumulated leaf mould.

Steeper gradient as path bends to right up slope of 1:6 (16.7%).

Path again meets steep slope of 1:6 (16.7%).

Path continues to rise through woods, gradient lessens to 1.8 (12.5%). Undergrowth often encroaches onto path.

Path begins to level as route reaches the area where bottom woods were originally entered through kissing gate.

Path continues to suffer from narrow points and uneven surface.

Path opens and widens.

Little or no gradient leads to route back to the second kissing gate encountered on the way down.

Turn right and retrace path through the two kissing gates and back to the start.