Wytham Woods was gifted to the University in 1942, and are now one of the most studied areas of woodland in the world. The ffennell family made the gift after the death of their only child, Hazel, with the expectation the University would preserve and maintain the Woods, using them primarily for education and research, with a further hope that the woods could be sympathetically enjoyed by the people of Oxford. A permit system now allows walkers access to over 32 km of rides and paths, and there are guided walks to enable visitors to see and learn about the Woods’ wildlife.
To apply for your permit, please visit our walking permit application form page. We remind visitors to read our rules carefully, noting that no dogs or bicycles enter the Woods.
