Piercefield Woods Nature Reserve, Monmouthshire

Piercefield Woods Nature Reserve occupies the top and sides of a high spur of land inside the first big bend along the River Wye north of Chepstow, part of a larger forested area extending from the edge of town northwards to the adjacent woods around Wyndcliff. Within the reserve are two named woods; Pierce Wood is the largest, while to the south is the smaller Alcove Wood.

The area is known generally as Piercefield, and just west of the world is a fine neo-classical mansion, Piercefield House, built in the late 18th century though now abandoned and ruinous; set in the middle of a large estate, Piercefield Park, 1.5 miles across.

The geology of this area is varied, with limestone (from the Llanelly Formation) across the sides of the Wye valley and part of the plateau above, and the acidic Cromhall Sandstone Formation overlying in some places. Most is covered by ancient woodland, including ash, field maple and yew on the limestone - a relatively rare example of an ancient yew forest, with some trees up to 750 years old - and beech, oak and birch on the sandstone. The trees were not always here however, and a sizeable area of the plateau was in the Iron Age the site of a large hillfort which would have had uninterrupted, treeless views over the river.

Several paths cross the reserve, and while most areas are away from these, the undergrowth is generally light, allowing for cross-country walking; much of the land along the river is very steep but the land slopes down more gently towards the northeast, allowing a straightforward walk down towards the river's edge.

Paths into the Woodland

There are several possible entry points to Piercefield Woods Nature Reserve, the easiest at the south end, parking (free) at Chepstow Leisure Centre; from here a path runs close to the rim of the cliffs above the River Wye, past a fine viewpoint ('The Alcove') of Chepstow and its castle, this a partially constructed overlook, one of various modifications made in the 18th century for residents and guests of Piercefield House - others include a grotto, an elevated viewpoint ('The Platform') and a folly. The Chepstow viewpoint is within Alcove Wood, a relatively narrow strip of trees, after which the path passes through an ancient boundary wall into the much more extensive Pierce Wood, where it moves away from the valley, cutting across the wide promontory inside the great bend along the river, across one of the two components of the hillfort then continuing northwest, close to the river again, at the rim of Piercefield Cliffs, out of the reserve, heading towards Wyndcliff Wood.

Away from the Paths

The bulk of the woods, and the nature reserve, lies away from the path to the northeast; land which is flat or gently sloping, mostly covered with yew and other trees. Earthworks and piles of stones show the location of the ancient hillfort, which consisted of two adjacent structures, though the overall shape is now difficult to appreciate. Beyond, the wooded land slopes down towards the grasslands, saltmarsh and mudflats beside the River Wye, at the foot of the vertical cliffs of Wintour's Leap on the far side, part of the Lancaut Nature Reserve. The three contrasting habitats of the estuary, the woodland, and patches of grassland result in a wide range of wildflowers; the rarest species include herb paris, lily of the valley and wild daffodil.