High Woods Country Park Colchester Park Guide - NEW accessible play area coming soon!

Essex Parks
Oct 16
3 min read

Updated: Oct 27

High Woods Country Park is a popular country park in Colchester. High Woods Country Park is a popular destination for walkers due to the wonderful meadows, lakes and woodlands. Highwoods Country Park also has nature inspired children's play areas.

There are currently bouldering rocks close to the car park. There are also two play areas further into the woods, which were refurbished and reopened in December 2023. The play areas are seperated - the smaller being suitable for toddlers and preschoolers and the large play area suitable for school aged children to junior aged children.

Bouldering Rocks at High Woods Country Park — Bouldering Rocks

NEW Accessible Play Space at High Woods Country Park

In October 2025 Colchester Council annouced that there are plans to remove the bouldering wall and replace it with a new, accessible play area. Colchester Counvil are keen keen to hear from parents, carers and children about what would make these spaces more fun, inclusive and valuable for local families. Consultation is currently open and will close in November.

Where is High Woods Country Park

📍High Woods Country Park

Turner Road

Colchester

CO4 5J

Maps Links

🅿️ Parking - Where to park for High Woods Country Park

There is a large car park with 70 spaces at High Woods Country Park.

Up to 2 hours £1.40

2 - 4 hours £3.70

Pay at machine or via MiPermit app - Code 737837

There are no designated disabled parking bays. Blue badge holders have free parking for up to 3 hours in any bay, when displaying a Blue

Playground at High Woods Country Park

There are several play areas at High Woods Country Park.These playground are set in the woods so the grounding is naturally muddy and wet most of the year. The first piece of play equipment is a large climbing rock, located just next to the car park.

The playground at Highwoods Country Park has kept within the natural wooden play theme. There are seperate play areas, with equipment suitable for toddlers as well older children. Across the play areas there are several climbing frames with slides, a seesaw, swings and balancing equipment including a rope bridge.

There are some sensory boards. There is no accessible play equipment. There are benches surrounding the play areas.

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Pond at High Woods Country Park

There is a separate pond dipping area, which is fenced off and accessed by through a gate. There is a jetty, perfect for pond dipping. You can buy nets from the visitor centre.

Lake at High Woods Country Park

There is a large lake with plenty of ducks to feed.

🌳 Community Garden High Woods Country Park

There is also a community garden. It was closed today. Check the Visit Colchester website for open days, events and volunteering opportunities.

Walking Trails at High Woods Country Park

There are plenty of walking trails at High Woods Country Park - trails range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

ℹ️ Visitor Centre at High Woods Counry Park

Open every day 10am - 4pm

Visitor centre has a small gift shop with nature based gifts. There is also a table with lots of nature and bird identification books, taxidermy animals and interesting animal skulls and antlers.

Cafe at High Woods Counry Park

There is also a small cafe inside the visitor centre serving hot and cold drinks, snacks, pastries and sausage rolls. The only alternative milk available is oat milk sachets for tea and coffee.