M40 Junction 13 Oakley Woods dog walk, Warwickshire
27 May 2020
Perfect for an off-lead sniff and leg stretch
I discovered this gem on the southbound trip and loved it so much that I came again on my return northbound journey. The woodland is so close to the motorway junction and yet a whole world away from the travel stress.
There are no public toilets available, so stop first at the nearby services of Warwick North if you are northbound. Unfortunately there are no services close before Oakley Woods if you are southbound, so please plan your journey accordingly!
I parked in the well signposted crematorium car park and took the path on the left that runs parallel to the road. The car park is really close to the crematorium area, so don't let your dog off lead until you've moved away from this area and through the gate.
Once in the woods there are a few well trodden tracks to follow. The longest route will see you back to the car in less than an hour - and this includes lots of sniffing time! Basically all of the paths circle round the crematorium at different distances and there are a plenty of opportunities to cut back to a shorter path, so don't panic about getting lost. However, if you are navigationally challenged I would recommend taking a photo of the map of the woods as you pass the information board!
My dog loved her run around and I enjoyed the woodland walk too. I'll be coming back as I managed to miss the fort on both of my trips.