Leigh Woods, Nature reserve in North Somerset, England
Leigh Woods is a woodland reserve on the southwest side of the Avon Gorge, near the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The area contains mixed forest with steep slopes and open clearings, crossed by many walking paths and trails that wind through the natural landscape.
The area was settled in ancient times, as shown by Stokeleigh Camp, a hillfort used from the third century BC through the first century AD. Later the land was farmed, then protected as a woodland reserve in the 20th century.
The woods are named after the nearby medieval village of Leigh, which once stood in this area before being abandoned over centuries. Today, visitors can sense the long connection between the land and local communities through the old pathways and field boundaries that remain visible.
The area is easy to reach with marked paths suitable for walking and cycling, and parking available nearby. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the trails on the slopes can be steep and slippery when wet.
The reserve is home to rare plants including Bristol rockcress, found only in the Avon Gorge, which flowers in spring. Visitors may also spot old field walls scattered throughout while walking, remnants of the area's farming past.
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