Round Wood

Wood, Forest in Wiltshire

England

Round Wood

From a Swindon-Bristol train, fields near Sodom Lane Credit: Nigel Thompson

Round Wood is a picturesque forest located in the county of Wiltshire, England. Spanning an area of approximately 100 acres, it is renowned for its natural beauty and diverse range of flora and fauna. The wood is situated near the village of Wroughton and is easily accessible from the nearby town of Swindon.

The forest is predominantly composed of broadleaf trees such as oak, beech, and birch, which create a lush canopy and provide a habitat for numerous woodland creatures. It is also home to a variety of bird species, including woodpeckers, thrushes, and owls. The forest floor is adorned with an array of wildflowers, adding to the charm and serenity of the wood.

Round Wood offers visitors a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. It features well-maintained trails that meander through the forest, allowing visitors to explore its natural wonders at their own pace. These trails are suitable for both leisurely strolls and more vigorous hikes.

The wood is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, families, and dog walkers. It provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as picnicking, birdwatching, and photography. The forest also has designated areas for camping and provides basic facilities for those looking to spend a night under the stars.

Round Wood is a cherished local treasure, attracting visitors throughout the year who come to immerse themselves in its tranquil ambiance and soak up the beauty of the natural world.

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Round Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.515404/-2.0114947 or Grid Reference ST9979. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

From a Swindon-Bristol train, fields near Sodom Lane

Nigel Thompson

Farmland south of M4 near Dauntsey

Robin Webster

M4 passing under bridge near Dauntsey

A bridleway crosses.

Robin Webster

2011 : B4069 heading west toward Christian Malford

And Chippenham. Just made it round the bend, some of the bends on this hill are easy to misjudge.

Maurice Pullin

2011 : B4069 heading into Lyneham

Go to the top of the hill seen in SU0079 : B4069 towards Lyneham

Maurice Pullin

2011 : B4069 at the top of Lyneham Banks heading east

Half a mile to the A3102 and Lyneham. No more the sound of aircraft landing and leaving the RAF base a few hundred yards to the south.

Maurice Pullin

2011 : B4069 at the top of Lyneham Banks

Heading west and about to drop down to Dauntsey Lock on the way to Christian Malford and Chippenham.

Maurice Pullin

Turning to Bradenstoke in Lyneham Banks

David Smith

RAF Lyneham airfield

Ancillary buildings and a hangar on the disused RAF Lyneham airfield seen from the bridleway which runs alongside the perimeter fence. RAF Lyneham was closed in December 2012 when its functions were transferred to RAF Brize Norton.

Vieve Forward

Insured in Bradenstoke

An ancient house bears an insurance plaque, so marking it out as having some protection.

Neil Owen

Need a lift home?

The Cross Keys Inn is the last surviving pub in Bradenstoke (The nearby Jolly Trooper Inn is now a private residence). Outside is what appears to be a taxi, with graphics. Do they do home deliveries of drinkers?

Neil Owen

The Cross Keys

A large sign outside the pub.

Neil Owen

Providence Chapel, Bradenstoke

The Strict Baptist chapel was founded in 1777 and has a burial ground to the rear of the property. Built by Isaac Turner of Calne, it was adorned with a clock and bell of 1775, provided by John Broom of Castle Combe. The chapel is said to be the only one in Britain that has a bell to summon worshippers. Repair work and restoration was needed and in 1928 £500 was raised to carry out the work; the bellcote rebuilt around 1960. With dwindling congregations, the church shut for a time in 1997 but was re-opened a year later.

Neil Owen

Earthworks by the fishpond

The ancient sites of Clack Mount and Bradenstoke Abbey are physically close, if not historically. Their various extents meet and probably overlap around here, somewhere between the two major centres. The thick vegetation hides what is believed to be a fishpond, associated with the former abbey further to the west. Earthworks surround and link to the older 'castle' of Clack Mount, although the sheep are not that bothered as they can wander freely across the landscape.

Neil Owen

A Barrow and a motte

Clack Mount is an enigmatic ancient site. There are few solid details to draw from, but it appears to be a Bronze Age barrow mound, surrounded by later motte and bailey earthworks. Some writers have labelled the burial mound as Scufa's Barrow, and is mentioned in Anglo-Saxon documents, but this is not fully proven. Its location close to the ruinous Bradenstoke Abbey suggests that some of the earthworks here are much later, even perhaps that the area was landscaped as a prospect in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries. Certainly, there is a small mound that was built as a WWII pillbox.

Neil Owen

Keeping the brothers fed

Bradenstoke Abbey was founded in around 1142 by Augustinian Canons and dedicated to St Mary. It remained in use until the Dissolution in 1539 and to keep the monks in food two fishponds were dug to the east of the main buildings. Now heavily overgrown the two ponds are marked by the greenery and with sheep allowed to graze they are easy to find. The remains of the Abbey tower still stand in the background.

Neil Owen

The tower remains standing

Bradenstoke Abbey was founded in 1142 and continued to operate until the Dissolution in 1539. It then was used mainly as a farm and much of the original buildings altered or indeed became derelict over the centuries. However, the real losses occurred in the 1920s when the owner, American newspaper magnate Raldolph Hearst, took lots of stonework and moved it elsewhere. Some of it ended up at St Donat's in Glamorgan, the rest went to his estate in the States. Fortunately, the tower was not removed and is the principal survivor from the time.

Neil Owen