On my explorations of the Forest of Dean I was taken to the Scowles at Puzzlewood. Tolkien was a visitor to the Forest and it is said that Puzzlewood was inspiration for the ‘fabled forests’ (Fanghorn?) in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. They certainly are mysterious and slightly spooky too.
The Scowles are formed from certain limestone outcrops that are found within the Forest and have deposits of iron ore in them. The ore has been mined in the Forest since early times and it was thought that the Scowles were formed because of the mining. However, this has since been disproved and they are a geological phenomenon, through erosion and time.
Recently they have found evidence that they were also mined by the Romans, from finding Roman stuff on archaeological investigations. By the 18th Century the Scowles were no longer mined and abandoned. This meant that nature could retake the area and trees, moss, ferns and the like have grown to create the area as it is today.
The wood is well maintained by various organisations to preserve it for future generations. This means there is an entrance fee and visitors must keep to the paths and generally be aware of the environment.
It’s a great place to spend an afternoon, even if it’s raining as the tree canopy would probably keep the place fairly dry. The rock formations are fascinating and it’s amazing how the trees have taken root in the tiniest of cracks in a desperate attempt to grow. The trees also grow at bizarre angles to reach the light, which all combined creates an eerie place to be. And I'm sure a wood sprite was following me, there was a mysterious crackling noise when I was walking through.
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