Stockhill Wood

Visitor information

Stockhill Wood

Come and visit Stockhill Wood, a coniferous woodland within the Mendip Hills Area of Natural Beauty

Renowned for its nightjar and long-eared owl populations, there is no shortage of wildlife to see if you enjoy bird watching.

There is a medium sized car park, a small number of picnic benches and a circular easy access trail.

The ground reveals the rise and fall of lead mining over 2,000 years. The Mendip Hills had rich veins of lead running just beneath the surface in seams. These seams or 'rakes' were dug and then reworked over generations as machinery and techniques improved. This activity has led to the industrial wasteland or gruffy ground of lumps, bumps and rock outcrops you see today.

At a glance

Help us prevent wildfire. Never light a BBQ, fire, or camp stove in the forest.

25/03/2022 10:18

We are removing diseased trees from the forest. Find out more.

02/03/2022 12:20

Things to do

Picnics at Stockhill Wood

Enjoy a tasty treat in the forest at Stockhill Wood. Just bring along good food and company!

To prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any barbecues into our forests.

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Walking at Stockhill Wood

Walking in the woodland is the perfect way to get some fresh air and explore some of the area's most beautiful landscapes.

Stockhill Wood has a range of paths that run through the woodland.

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Nearby forests

East Harptree

Visit East Harptree to see the historical Smitham Chimney, a relic of Mendip's industrial past. The Cornish-style chimney survived when the site closed in 1875 and was saved from complete destruction in 1973 by The Mendip Society and Somerset County Council.

In front of the Chimney there is a pond where you can see dragonflies in the summer months. There are also fine views of the Chew Valley from the grassland area nearby.

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Ashton Hill

Ashton Hill offers 148 acres of mixed woodland for you to explore, including a magnificent stand of Californian Redwoods (Sequoia).

Formally part of the nearby Tyntesfield Estate in Wraxall, many of the larger trees in the woodland date back to the 19th century.

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Wraxall Piece

Located on the outskirts of Bristol, escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre with a visit to Wraxall Piece.

Enjoy a pleasant woodland stroll or leisurely dog walk in this peaceful woodland.

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Leigh Woods

The variety of woods, glades and wide sunny paths encourage a richness of wildlife and special plants including Bristol rock cress and Bristol onion. There are spectacular views over the Avon gorge.

Accessed via an avenue of copper beech trees, planted to commemorate the Queen's Coronation in 1953, the medium sized car park is the ideal place for starting off on a walk in these woods. There are also a number of picnic tables throughout the woodland.

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