Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve is a large protected area in Sussex featuring ancient yew woodlands growing on chalk hills. The reserve spans over 200 hectares and offers marked paths through forests and grasslands with views across the surrounding countryside.

The site was established in 1952 as one of Britain's earliest protected nature reserves. The land also contains prehistoric remains including Bronze Age burial mounds and ancient flint quarries.

The ancient yew trees shape the forest's character and were once harvested for making bowstrings used in medieval warfare. Today, visitors can sense their cultural importance simply by walking among these gnarled giants.

The reserve is open to visitors and maintained by Natural England, with marked trails and parking available near West Stoke village. Wear proper footwear since the paths cross hilly ground and can become slippery in wet weather.

The reserve shelters some of Britain's oldest living organisms, including yew trees over 2000 years old. These trees are among Europe's most ancient living things and are found mainly on the reserve's southern slopes.

Location: West Sussex

GPS coordinates: 50.88640,-0.83421

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:41