The Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve is known for its woodland, trails and wildlife; the valley and village also feature traces of industry and architecture. A stay in Wick offers two distinct highlights: time in the countryside and a glimpse of local history.
Woodland, river and wildlife in Golden Valley
Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve is an area of woodland and trails. Its landscape features include the River Boyd, grassland and a hill called Raven’s Rock. From Raven’s Rock, you can enjoy views over Wick Quarry and the Cotswolds. The river, grassland and hill show different sides of the area; the viewpoint adds views of the quarry and the Cotswolds to this landscape.
The nature reserve provides roosting sites for 12 of the 18 bat species found in Britain; seven bat species have been recorded in the reserve. These figures relate to different aspects: roosting sites for species on the one hand, and recorded species on the other. In Wick Golden Valley, the River Boyd serves as a corridor for birds and bats and is home to otters and a diverse aquatic fauna. An audio trail about bats helps visitors discover bats and other wildlife.
Trails and practical information
The nature reserve can be accessed from the A420 at the end of Golden Valley Road. In the lower section, the paths are mostly level and surfaced, making them suitable for most wheelchair users and pushchairs. There are no public toilets or cafés in the reserve; bear this in mind when planning your day.
The Red Ochre Trail is an approximately one-mile circular route in Wick Golden Valley. Another circular walk is the Wick and Abson Parish Trail. It passes through Wick Golden Valley Nature Reserve, follows the River Boyd, goes past the former ochre works and climbs up to Raven’s Rock. Its route therefore combines landscape and industrial history. Trail conditions on this route may vary.
The Monarch’s Way also passes through Wick, between Pucklechurch and the River Avon.
Industrial history and buildings
An ironworks and a paper mill in the valley are mentioned in records from 1761. The Golden Valley Ochre & Oxide Co Ltd is associated with international renown. The Wick and Abson Parish Trail passes former ochre works, which are among the historic landmarks on this circular walk.
The Winding Shed, also known as the “drum house”, is a listed building made of local stone. The Church of St Bartholomew is designed in the Early English style and has an early Gothic tower by William Butterfield. At the junction with Bury Lane, the Guidestone bears the inscription “THE BATH ROADS/TO THE GUILDHALL BATH”, pointing to Bath Guildhall. Together, these buildings and waymarkers offer a different perspective on Wick from the trails and wildlife of Golden Valley.
Discover more destinations: Brockworth, Tortworth, Marshfield, Hinton, Hambrook, Alveston, Acton Turville, Chippenham
For the main travel overview: South Gloucestershire.
