Hirst Wood Nature Reserve
📍 Hirst Ln, Bingley, Shipley BD18 4BY, UK
About Hirst Wood Nature Reserve
Hirst Wood Nature Reserve is a beloved natural sanctuary nestled by the picturesque River Aire in Bingley. Renowned for its tranquil atmosphere and abundant wildlife, this beautiful reserve offers a perfect escape into nature. With an excellent Google rating of 4.7/5 stars from 579 reviews, visitors consistently praise its serene paths and rich biodiversity.
The reserve features a diverse landscape, from lush woodland with dappled sunlight to a variety of flowers and small shrubs. Explorers can enjoy peaceful strolls along its well-maintained paths, spotting numerous bird species, ducks, geese, and even otters if lucky. A charming pond teeming with dragonflies and pond skaters adds to the reserve's ecological appeal, providing a fantastic spot for nature observation. It's a popular choice for dog walkers and anyone seeking a refreshing outdoor experience.
Visiting Information
Hirst Wood Nature Reserve is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing visitors to enjoy its beauty at any time. The reserve is committed to accessibility, featuring wheelchair-accessible parking and entrances. Please note that the reserve does not accept credit cards, debit cards, NFC payments, or cash directly, as it is a free-to-access public space.
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📍 Hirst Ln, Bingley, Shipley BD18 4BY, UK
from 579 reviews
Google Reviews
Reviews from Google Maps.
Showing 5 of 579 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 7 February 2026.
Absolutely gorgeous area! Walk every morning here with my two dogs! Loads of wildlife! If your lucky you may see the Otter
Great small nature reserve next to the hirst locks. It has a large variety of flowers and small shrubs. Plenty of seats an small paths to explore. Fairly quite, has a pond which had a couple of dragon flies. Also a lot of pond skaters. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
Absolutely beautiful, my favourite walk, Dowley Gap to Baildon Green. Has everything you could wish for, birdsong, dappled sunlight falling through the trees, the river, the occasional canoeist or rower, cows in the open fields, ducks, geese, sometimes a heron. Lovely old mossy gnarled trees, little streams joining the river, a weir with the loud noise of rushing water.
Lovely place to go for a walk. You can walk to the canal and then cross to the other side of the canal to walk back to Hirst locks or Saltaire. Nice and quiet early on.
Nice but small. Good to tie in with a walk at the river or canal