# Holly Hayes Wood
**Type:** Walk | **Location:** Whitwick, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom
**Murphy Approved** ✓ — personally visited and approved by Murphy & Me
**Murphy & Me Rating:** 3.8/5 (space, sniff factor, facilities, ease)
## About
We took the wrong turn twice before we actually found Holly Hayes Wood. Worth knowing: come in from the Birch Avenue end and turn left for the proper circular route, rather than following your nose like we did.

Once we were actually in the trees it was lovely. Typical woodland path, mainly shady, mostly wide enough for passing comfortably with the odd narrower stretch. Dogs need to be kept on a lead throughout, so this isn't one for off-lead exploring, but Murphy didn't seem to mind — the accidental detour just meant extra sniffing before the walk had even properly started.

There's usually a stream running through, but it was bone dry when we visited thanks to the heatwave — a shame, because this is clearly a walk that'll come into its own once we get some rain and Murphy can actually get in it. Towards the end of the loop there's a children's play area and a bin, and free street parking is easy to find on Holly Hayes Road itself.

It only took us just under an hour including a stop for Greg to chat football with a local, so this is a short, easy loop rather than a big day out — but a genuinely nice and quiet one to have on the doorstep.

## Murphy's Verdict
*Reviewed by Murphy, Cavapoo and chief sniff tester at Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit*
> "Extra sniffing courtesy of two wrong turns was basically a bonus round, and I've already put in a formal request for rain so this wood can give me the splash it clearly owes me 🐾"
## Highlights
- 1.5 miles, under an hour — a short, easy local loop
- Dogs must be on lead throughout
- Enter from Birch Avenue end and turn left for the circular route
- Stream runs through but was dry during the heatwave — better after rain
- Children's play area and bin towards the end of the loop
## Dog-Friendly Features
Free-Parking, Woodland, Poo Bins
## About This Review
Holly Hayes Wood was personally visited by Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit, a trusted dog-friendly recommendation network covering Leicestershire and beyond. Every review is based on a genuine visit. No paid placements. Murphy approved where earned.
**Source:** [Holly Hayes Wood on Murphy & Me](https://murphyandme.co.uk/walks/holly-hayes-wood)
**Publisher:** Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit | murphyandme.co.uk
**Published:** 2026-08-24