Gatcombe Wood ✦ Ancient woodland 73 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 73 ha
Places › England › South West › Stroud Getting here
51.69275, -2.18424
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking on site — 6 car parks within reach 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🌞 Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking on site — 6 car parks within reach £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🌿 Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +73 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +73 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Raspberry, Great Scented Liverwort, Rambling Tail-moss · last seen 2023
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Large Blue, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Hairy Shieldbug +58 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed — public woodland
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 6 signed routes nearby · 25 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Macmillan Way Walking route 290 km ▾
Named route Ref MWA Length 290 km Listed length 461 Regional walking route
Show on map Wysis Way Walking route 88.5 km ▾
Long distance footpath forming a link between the Thames and the Wye
Named route Ref WYS Length 88.5 km Regional walking route
Show on map Walk Around Stroud (The WAS Way) Walking route ▾
Named route Ref WAS Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Wheelchair Accessible (Thames & Severn Way) Walking route ▾
Wheelchair accessible towpath diversion around steps at Bowbridge Lock, officially signposted
Named route Ref (T&S W) Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map Cotswold Way (Selsley Common route) Walking route ▾
Alternative (longer and tougher, but more scenic) route from Ryeford to just south of Kings Stanley, over Selsley Common.
Named route Ref CW National walking route
Show on map 33 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Mercian Way Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 45 National Cycle Network
Show on map Mercian Way (Stroud branch) Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref (45) National Cycle Network
Show on map National Byway Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref NB Regional cycle route
Show on map Fosse2 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 48 National Cycle Network
Show on map Cotswold Cycleway Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref CC Regional cycle route
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 817 m ▾
Named route Ref 45 Length 817 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface asphalt
Show on map 5 public paths nearby
Public paths
No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.
✦ Ancient woodland — continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD. A rare and irreplaceable habitat, rich in biodiversity and historical character.
Photos Gatcombe Wood, Gloucestershire
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Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: 60e358c3-7b47-475f-97a7-78bf369fe966
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
Volucella pellucens
Volucella pellucens
Volucella pellucens
Volucella pellucens
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus
Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus
Oedemera femoralis Oedemera femoralis
Oedemera femoralis Oedemera femoralis
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major
Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax
Downland Villa Villa cingulata2024
Downland Villa Villa cingulata2024
Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis2024
Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis2024
Aphrophora alni Aphrophora alni2024
Aphrophora alni Aphrophora alni2024
Cryptocephalus moraei Cryptocephalus moraei2024
Cryptocephalus moraei Cryptocephalus moraei2024
Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalus Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalus2024
Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalus Phylus (Phylus) melanocephalus2024
Timothy Grassbug Stenotus binotatus2024
Timothy Grassbug Stenotus binotatus2024
Upright Hedge-parsley Torilis japonica
Upright Hedge-parsley Torilis japonica
Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Welsh Poppy Papaver cambricum
Welsh Poppy Papaver cambricum
Hairy St John's-wort Hypericum hirsutum
Hairy St John's-wort Hypericum hirsutum
Red Campion Silene dioica
Red Campion Silene dioica
Enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutetiana
Enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutetiana
Spindle Euonymus europaeus
Spindle Euonymus europaeus
Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana
Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana
Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria
Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria
Hedgerow Crane's-bill Geranium pyrenaicum
Hedgerow Crane's-bill Geranium pyrenaicum
Musk-mallow Malva moschata
Musk-mallow Malva moschata
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum
Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
Broad-leaved Willowherb Epilobium montanum
Wall Barley Hordeum murinum
Wall Barley Hordeum murinum
Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia
Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Autumn Hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis
Autumn Hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalis
Wood Millet Milium effusum
Wood Millet Milium effusum
Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica
Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica
Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Wilson's Honeysuckle Lonicera nitida
Wilson's Honeysuckle Lonicera nitida
Druce's Crane's-bill Geranium endressii x versicolor = G. x oxonianum
Druce's Crane's-bill Geranium endressii x versicolor = G. x oxonianum
Tall Fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus
Tall Fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus
Charlock Sinapis arvensis
Charlock Sinapis arvensis
Goat Willow Salix caprea
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