Gloucestershire is renowned for its captivating natural attractions such as Puzzlewood and Clearwell Caves, drawing visitors keen to experience its scenic beauty. Within the world-famous Cotswolds, celebrated for rolling hills and historic villages, there remains a lesser-known treasure that continues to escape the usual tourist trail.
Voltaire’s Wood, a privately owned expanse of ancient woodland located between Nailsworth and Avening, covers some 120 acres yet remains relatively undiscovered by many locals and visitors alike. Unlike more commercialised sites, this area retains a working woodland character, with just a handful of footpaths tracing the top ridge and winding through the trees.
From May through October, weekends see Oak & Ash & Thorn organise low-key campsites across four distinct camps catering to bushcrafters, wild campers, families, and small gatherings. These sites promote a wild and tranquil experience, free from clusters of tents or flashy facilities. Campers enjoy the simple pleasures of lighting fires, listening to owls at night, and waking beneath the leafy canopy. Adding a personal touch, Voltaire-the landowners’ Hungarian vizsla-is often seen roaming, seemingly the woodland’s proud guardian.
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The forest composition includes oak, ash, beech, hazel, wild cherry, and sweet chestnut, with stewardship by owner Joy Lo Dico since 2015. The Old Bristol Road cuts through the woods, once a bustling packhorse route, now reclaimed by nature and adding historical significance to the site.
A decade ago, parts of Voltaire’s Wood had grown dense and overgrown, less inviting for wildlife. Dedicated management efforts have since revitalised the woodland: veteran trees are cared for, canopies opened to create glades, coppicing performed, and ash dieback addressed to enhance resilience. Timber harvested through these sustainable practices is put to good use, producing items ranging from maker boards to traditional coppice products like pea and bean sticks.
Woodland skills courses and events further enrich the visitor experience. For those preferring a shorter visit, Saturday guided fungi walks run by resident ecologist Clair Cartwright offer a free, two-hour introduction to the woodland’s fungal life. These beginner-friendly sessions, running until 28 November, focus on observation rather than foraging, teaching identification and the ecological importance of fungi. Participants may encounter species such as turkey tail, ink caps, jelly ear, scarlet cups, dryad’s saddle, artist’s brackets, honey fungus, and King Alfred’s Cakes.
Visitors are advised to wear long trousers and sturdy footwear due to uneven, sometimes muddy paths. Facilities on site include covered seating, compost toilets, hand-washing stations, and boot-cleaning areas. Although the tours are free, booking is essential.
Looking ahead, an October course on woodland management is planned, featuring expertise from a Woodland Trust specialist and a former Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust woodland manager. This course is designed for new woodland owners, land managers, conservation professionals, and enthusiasts eager to deepen their knowledge of woodland habitats.