Nestled within Gloucestershire’s renowned Cotswolds, a lesser-known but enchanting location awaits discovery: Voltaire’s Wood. This privately-owned ancient woodland spans 120 acres between Nailsworth and Avening, offering a tranquil escape from the busier nature spots popular in the area.
Unlike manicured parks, Voltaire’s Wood remains a working woodland with just a handful of footpaths tracing the top ridge and paths through the trees. For those seeking an immersive outdoor experience, Oak & Ash & Thorn manage small, low-key campsites during weekends from May to October. These campsites provide a unique chance for bushcrafters, wild campers, families, and small groups to enjoy a more natural setting free from the usual crowds and facilities.
A spokesperson described the camping experience as ‘‘an amazing and secluded space for those seeking something wild, beautiful and unique.’’ Visitors can expect no rows of tents or brightly-lit facilities-instead, individual camps are tucked away among the trees, with streams, valleys and woodland trails nearby. Evening activities might include lighting a fire and listening for owls beneath the canopy, sharing the space with Voltaire, the family’s Hungarian vizsla dog who roams freely around the site.
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The woodland itself is rich in biodiversity, containing oak, ash, beech, hazel, wild cherry and sweet chestnut trees. Since 2015, owner Joy Lo Dico has overseen active management to restore the wood, opening light-filled glades, coppicing, and addressing ash dieback to ensure the forest’s resilience. Historic features include the Old Bristol Road, a disused packhorse track weaving through the woodland, harking back to an era when these routes facilitated trade across the Cotswold hills.
By-products of woodland management are put to use locally, producing maker boards, milled wood and traditional coppice products such as pea and bean sticks. The site also hosts courses designed to impart practical woodland skills.
For visitors preferring a shorter exploration, free guided fungi walks are available most Saturdays until 28 November. Led by resident ecologist Clair Cartwright, these two-hour sessions introduce beginners to the fascinating world of fungi without any foraging or collecting. Participants learn to identify species and understand fungi’s vital role in woodland ecosystems. Potential finds include 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 and sometimes muddy paths. Facilities include covered seating, composting toilets, hand-washing stations and a boot-washing area.
These free tours require advance booking online. Additionally, in October, Voltaire’s Wood will offer a woodland management course featuring expert tutors from the Woodland Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. This course is ideal for new woodland owners, land managers, conservationists and anyone interested in woodland habitat stewardship.
Voltaire’s Wood remains a tranquil retreat, preserving ancient woodland heritage and offering immersive natural experiences away from the usual crowds in the heart of the Cotswolds.