Uley Bury and the Ancient Owl Woods

Group enjoying the views

Ancient Owlpen Woods

Uley Valley from woods

Named as a Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty we visit Uley Bury, a fascinating Iron Age Fort with far reaching views. We then head off the beaten track to meander through ancient woodlands and some of the most stunning landscapes in our area.

The walk in more detail

From the meeting point in Uley we ascend a fairly steep path to Uley Bury, a fascinating Iron Age Fort named as a Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Far reaching views surround the fort, including Uley Valley and the Vale of Berkley - even to the River Severn on clear days.

After exploring the fort, we head off the beaten track to meander through ancient woodlands encompassing some of the most stunning landscapes in our area. Every season holds a surprise, bluebells and wild garlic in springtime, a plethora of life in the summer sunshine, colours to behold in the autumn, and continuous beautiful views through deciduous trees on crisp winter days.

A second and final climb brings us to Nymphsfield, where we can enjoy fantastic food and local ale at the Rose and Crown, or we’ll roll out some blankets for you to enjoy a packed lunch.

Once refreshed, we stroll across open fields before entering the beech woods of Owlpen. We are lucky to have access to a private path through Owlpen Woods. It skirts the valley, leading us into the hamlet of Owlpen, where we can pause to enjoy the atmospheric Holy Cross church, before heading back to our starting point in Uley.

Walk difficulty

This walk includes one long, steep climb to Uley Bury Iron Age Fort at the beginning of the walk. Halfway round there is a second steep climb to reach Nymphsfield. One final short uphill climb brings us back to Uley at the end of the walk. This is not a race, and is designed to be climbed in sections, with resting periods, however we still state this is a moderate to hard walk.