Superworm Trail: Our Review + Where to Find One Today

If like me you're a parent to young children, you'll be familiar with Superworm, the Gruffalo and Zog. All three are lead characters in Julia Donaldson story books and all three have their own dedicated woodland trails commissioned by Forestry England. The Superworm trail is a great way to get outdoors with your children.

We originally visited the Superworm Trail at Guisborough Forest in January 2022. Although this particular trail is no longer running, families still search for woodland trails year upon year as Forestry England introduces them at different forests around the country. I've kept our review below so you can see what to expect, along with information about finding current Superworm trails.

What Is The Superworm Trail?

The Superworm Trail is a family-friendly woodland trail created by Forestry England in partnership with Magic Light Pictures, the producers of the Superworm animation.

It's a self led trail which runs for around a mile through the woodland where you'll you'll discover large illustrated activity boards featuring characters from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much-loved book. Each board encourages children to complete simple challenges, answer questions or learn fascinating facts about woodland wildlife.

Activity packs can be bought which will makes the trail that bit more fun, transforming them into forest superheroes.

Most families complete the trail in an hour or so depending on how long children spend at each activity.

What's Included In The Superworm Trail Activity Pack?

Activity packs can be bought at the beginning of the trail. In our case at Guisborough forest this was from the visitor centre located by the old railway carriage.

Superworm trail activity packs can be purchased for £3.50.

In the activity pack you will receieve the following:

• Kraft bag to colour in.
• Forest superhero mask.
• 7 creature facts cards.
• Activity sheet.
• Stickers.
• Pencil and crayon.
• Trail leaflet.

What Age Is The Superworm Trail Suitable For?

The Superworm Trail is designed primarily for children aged 3 to 9 years old, making it an ideal family activity for preschoolers and primary school-aged children. However, we found that the trail can be enjoyed by the whole family, with younger siblings, older children and even adults getting involved in the fun.

We visited with our toddler, who absolutely loved searching for the next character and completing the activities on each board. The character rubbings included in the Superworm activity pack were a particular highlight and kept her engaged throughout the walk. Rather than feeling like a long woodland walk, the trail became an exciting adventure as she eagerly searched for the next clue and familiar face from the story.

Even if your child is already familiar with Julia Donaldson's books, seeing Superworm, Wizard Lizard and the other characters brought to life around the forest adds a whole new level of excitement. It's a fab way to encourage children to spend more time outdoors, explore nature and enjoy some fresh air while making family memories together.

If you're planning a visit with younger children, it's worth remembering that every child is different. While many children will happily complete the full trail, you may want to allow extra time for little legs, snack stops and plenty of opportunities to explore the woodland along the way. That's all part of the fun and what makes the Superworm Trail such a fantastic family day out.

Our Review Of The Superworm Trail

The Superworm Trail in Guisborough Forest was super easy to follow and made for a lovely family day out. The mile-long woodland trail started near the old railway carriage before following the old railway lines and then heading a little further off the beaten track through the forest. It was a nice mix of wide paths and woodland scenery, making it feel like a real outdoor adventure without being too challenging for little legs.

Our toddler absolutely loved spotting the much loved Superworm characters and taking part in the activities on each of the illustrated boards along the route. Every stop featured a different character from the story, along with fun facts and interactive challenges to keep children engaged. At each board there was also a wooden rubbing post where she could use the crayon from her Superworm activity pack to reveal a character on her activity sheet. Watching the pictures magically appear was definitely one of her favourite parts of the trail and something she couldn't wait to do at every stop.

As expected, her favourite part of the Superworm Trail was finding the evil Wizard Lizard and helping to search for his lost hat. She was so excited every time she spotted another familiar character that it kept her happily walking the whole route without any complaints.

She also turned out to have a brilliant eye for spotting the Axel Scheffler illustrations hidden around the woodland. Time after time she managed to find them before either her Dad or I had even noticed they were there! It became a bit of a family competition to see who could find the next one first, which made the trail even more fun.

One thing that's worth mentioning if you're planning a visit is the accessibility. The final section of the trail heads further into the woodland and the paths become much more uneven. We had our toddler walking and the baby in a carrier, so it wasn't a problem for us, but I don't think we would have managed with our off-roading pushchair. If you're visiting with a buggy or anyone with limited mobility, it's something to bear in mind before setting off. That said, the woodland setting is part of what makes the Forestry England Superworm Trail feel like such an adventure, and for us it was a brilliant way to spend a couple of hours exploring the forest together.

Find A Superworm Trail Near You

We really enjoyed our visit to the Superworm Trail at Guisborough Forest and would highly recommend this type of Julia Donaldson woodland trail if you're looking for a fun family activity and a way to spend a couple of hours outdoors with the kids.

At the time we visited in January 2022, the Forestry England Superworm Trail was running at selected forests across the UK. The trail was a brilliant combination of outdoor adventure, storytelling and nature exploration, with children able to follow the route, spot their favourite characters and take part in interactive activities along the way.

Currently, there aren't any Superworm Trails running through Forestry England, although that may change in the future as their popular family trails are often brought back or replaced with new seasonal experiences. If you're searching for a Superworm Trail near you, it's worth keeping an eye on the Forestry England website for any future announcements.

If your children love Julia Donaldson stories, don't worry. There are still other woodland trails available. Forestry England is currently running the Gruffalo Trail, which offer a very similar experience with character spotting, outdoor activities and the chance to explore the forest as a family.

Where Can I Find a Gruffalo Trail Near Me?

If you're looking for a Julia Donaldson woodland trail to enjoy with your children, the Gruffalo Trail is a brilliant alternative to the Superworm Trail. Forestry England's Gruffalo experiences allow families to explore the forest while searching for much-loved characters from The Gruffalo, including the Gruffalo himself, Mouse, Fox, Snake and Owl.

Before travelling, it's always worth checking the Forestry England website for the most up-to-date information. But as of July 2026 these are the current Gruffalo trails around the UK:

• Grizedale Forest (Cumbria)
• Whinlatter Forest (Cumbria)
• Delamere Forest (Cheshire)
• Hamsterley Forest (County Durham)
• Dalby Forest (North Yorkshire)
• Cannock Chase Forest (Staffordshire)
• Bedgebury National Pinetum (Kent)
• Alice Holt Forest (Hampshire)

Superworm Trail FAQs

1. Is the Superworm Trail still running?

At the moment, there are no active Superworm Trails running through Forestry England. However, their family woodland trails can return in the future, so it's worth checking the Forestry England website for any updates. In the meantime, families who love Julia Donaldson stories can still enjoy other woodland experiences, including the Gruffalo Trail.

2. Where can I find a Superworm Trail near me?

The original Superworm Trails were held at selected Forestry England forests across the UK, including Guisborough Forest where we visited in 2022. As the trails are seasonal and locations can change, there isn't currently a permanent Superworm Trail location. If a new trail launches in the future, Forestry England will share details of participating forests on their website.

3. How long is the Superworm Trail?

The Superworm Trail is approximately one mile long, making it a great length for families with younger children. Depending on how much time you spend completing the activities, taking photos and exploring the woodland, the trail usually takes around one to two hours to complete.

4. What age is the Superworm Trail suitable for?

The Superworm Trail is aimed at children aged around 3–9 years old, although children of all ages can enjoy the experience. Younger children will love spotting the colourful characters and taking part in the simple activities, while older children can enjoy the woodland adventure and nature facts along the route.

5. Are there other Julia Donaldson woodland trails like Superworm?

Yes. If your children enjoyed Superworm, there are other Forestry England woodland trails inspired by Julia Donaldson stories. The Gruffalo Trail offer similar family-friendly experiences, combining outdoor exploration, character spotting and interactive activities in the forest.