Woodcock Way (shorter loop)

Woodcock Way (shorter loop) is a 3.3-mile closed circular loop at Dalby Forest, measured as the full loop from the car park back to the car park rather than one way. The linked route comes out at 5.27 km with roughly 84 m of climbing, and most people finish in about 1.5 hours.

You start and finish at Staindale Car Park, which some listings call High Staindale. From there the loop strings together three clear payoffs: the bench at Yondhead Rigg for a sit and a breather, the open outlook at Crosscliff Viewpoint, and the green, enclosed feel of Grain Slack Gorge before you curve back to the car park. Add time on top of the walking hour if you want to linger at the viewpoint or poke around the gorge.

Call it about 4/10. It is not a technical mountain route, but it is not flat either. Expect varied gradients and uneven ground in places, which is why the official grading leans harder than the low-effort stats suggest. Underfoot it is mostly path with a stretch of narrower hiking path, largely gravel with a good amount of natural surface and a small paved portion. Elevation along the route runs roughly between 154 and 241 m, so think rolling forest rather than sustained climbing.

Park at Staindale Car Park at 54.301418, -0.643989, which is both the start and the finish. Follow the orange waymarkers around the loop. Trail maps are available from the visitor centre if you want a paper backup.

Dogs are welcome in Dalby Forest and on this walk. Keep yours under control and be considerate of other walkers and wildlife.

• Uneven surfaces and changing gradients mean it is more work than the easy label implies, and it is not a good fit for wheels or unsteady footing.
• There is a short shared road and street section, so you are not in the trees the whole way.
• Two route lengths are signed under the Woodcock Way name. This is the shorter loop only, so check you are not drifting onto the longer option.

The Lakeside Trail around Staindale Lake is far shorter, easier and more accessible if you want a gentle walk from the same area. The Ellerburn Trail options, at 2.8 km and 4.5 km, are a reasonable middle ground if you want distance without the rougher ground.