Horse Leys Wood

Wood, Forest in Wiltshire

England

Horse Leys Wood

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

Horse Leys Wood is a picturesque woodland located in Wiltshire, England. Covering an area of approximately 50 acres, it is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and walkers alike. The wood is situated in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful landscapes.

The woodland is predominantly composed of native broadleaf species, including oak, ash, beech, and birch trees. These trees provide a diverse habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. Bluebells carpet the forest floor in the spring, creating a stunning display of color and attracting many visitors.

Several walking trails wind their way through the wood, allowing visitors to explore the area at their own pace. These trails provide an opportunity to observe the abundance of wildlife that calls Horse Leys Wood home. Birdwatchers may spot species such as woodpeckers, thrushes, and owls, while small mammals like squirrels and badgers can also be seen.

Horse Leys Wood is managed by the local council, ensuring its preservation and maintenance for future generations. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), highlighting its importance in terms of biodiversity and conservation.

Visitors to Horse Leys Wood can enjoy a peaceful and tranquil environment, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The wood provides a perfect setting for nature lovers, walkers, and families seeking a day out in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

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Horse Leys Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.517076/-2.0073446 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

2011 : East over a ploughed field off the B4069

At The Banks. Landing lights (now redundant) for the nearby Lyneham Airfield line up on the far side of the field. Houses on the edge of Lyneham peer over the hill.

Maurice Pullin

Lyneham, Wiltshire

Sign on the B4069. As can be seen by the other sign, the C-130 Hercules aircraft flew over the road near here on approach to RAF Lyneham before they moved to RAF Brize Norton

Mike Gentry

Car dealer near Lyneham

David Smith

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

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Horse Leys Wood is located at Grid Ref: ST9979 (Lat: 51.517076, Lng: -2.0073446)

Unitary Authority: Wiltshire

Police Authority: Wiltshire