Peppercombe Wood in Urchfont. These place names sound like they belong in Middle Earth, populated by hobbits. But Urchfont is a very real place that is quintessentially English. It even has a village pond.
The wood itself is small but the approach to it is pleasing, as you walk down a sunken lane that is overgrown and dark, and has small cliffs peeking through the vegetation. The lane is quite damp and muddy, even when I visited in summer, with springs feeding channels of water that join the stream at the bottom of the hill.
When you get to the bottom of the lane the entrance to the wood is on the left.
A short walk takes you from one end to the other and on the left the trees climb up a steep bank while on the right a stream meanders through the floor of the wood. The wood is full of wildlife, and is worth visiting if you are in the area.
Access Information
Urchfont is a few miles from Devizes, off the A342. Park near the village pond and walk down Peppercombe Lane all the way to the bottom. More information and a reserve leaflet with a map of the site can be found here: Peppercombe Wood
To get a view of the whole wood and the surrounding area, watch the short video clip accompanied by bird song.