Woodland Wanders
The Wye Valley is a wonderful place for woodland walks. Visit in Spring to find them carpeted with bluebells, wild garlic, primroses and wood anemones. Come back in Autumn to enjoy the golden seasonal colours. Much of the accessible woodland is managed by Forest Enterprise, with some significant sites owned and managed by the Woodland Trust. Here's a selection of favourites. Use the underlined links for more details.
Coppice Mawr Wood
A broadleaf woodland, rich in wildlife, and important as a feeding area for Greater Horseshoe Bats. Coppice Mawr Wood, owned by Forest Enterprise, is accessible from the car park on the B4235 3km west of Chepstow.
Cuckoo Wood
Forest Enterprise-owned woodland near Pen Y Fan, north of Llandogo on the A466 - Cuckoo Wood is glorious in autumn. A coniferous section of the woods (planted in 1950) has been felled this year (2006), opening up glorious views down the Wye Valley.
Beaulieu Wood
These woods are above Monmouth. Several public and permissive footpaths cross Beaulieu Wood which is accessible from The Kymin and the Offa's Dyke path which runs along the south-western margin of the wood.
Cadora Woods
Cadora Woods is between Redbrook and Bigsweir bridge, alongside the A466 from Monmouth to Chepstow. A number of public paths cut through the woods and the Offa's Dyke path runs through and along its edge. Also known as Bigweir Woods and owned by The Woodland Trust (see Nature Reserves).
Haugh Wood
A large area of ancient woodland near Woolhope in the north of the Wye Valley AONB, Haugh Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, nationally important for butterflies and moths. There are two butterfly trails through the woods.
Little Doward Woods
Between Whitchurch and Wyastone Leys, Little Doward Woods are owned by the Woodland Trust. The Wye Valley Walk leads through the woods, and there is an extensive network of rides and pathways, but it's quite a maze so take a good map (OS Explorer Series OL14 Wye Valley & Forest of Dean). This site is a real treasure trove, important for its flora and fauna, geology, archaeology and industrial history. A large part of it is a design ated Site of Special Scientific Interest. A large Bronze Age Hill Fort at the top of the hill offers spectacular views across the Wye Valley. Caves provide archaeological interest and roosting sites for greater and lesser horseshoe bats. Evidence of past use includes limestone workings and a well-preserved double limestone kiln.
Priory Grove
Priory Grove, near Monmouth, can be accessed from a small lay by along Hadnock Road. There's a special way-marked trail through the woodland, which takes about an hour to complete.
Whitemill Common and Roughets Wood
Whitemill Common and Roughets Wood, is a Woodland Trust site contains several public and permissive footpaths. It was the site of White Mill, an old paper works, of which remnants can still be seen.
