If you are in the Ledbury area, a truly amazing place with some very unreal qualities is Puzzlewood in nearby, Forest of Dean. The site of ancient iron ore extraction, the geology is quite fascinating. Deep ravines with their own eco-system and flora and precipitous cliffs of limestone. The geological features displayed at Puzzlewood are known locally as Scowles. Scowles are a significant geological features and originated through the erosion of natural underground cave systems formed in the carboniferous limestone many millions of years ago. Uplift and erosion caused the cave system to become exposed at the surface. This was then exploited by Iron Age settlers through to Roman times for the extraction of iron ore. Puzzlewood is literally Clearwell Caves with the “lid off”.  Several film crews have used the woods as a backdrop to mystical/magical and sci-fi tv programmes and films eg. Merlin, Dr Who.

In the early 1800s a local landowner laid down a mile of pathways which meandered through the trees and gulleys to open up this ancient forest originally for the amusement of his friends and children.  Health warning: unfortunately not wheelchair friendly, with some very uneven steps.