Gimbletts Wood is a variety of planted and naturally regenerated trees that have grown well since planting in around 1990. Species include birch, oak, willow, sycamore and beech.

There is an opportunity to thin the more dense areas of trees with a thinning license from the Foresty Commission which could provide a sustainable supply of firewood.

Gimbletts Wood is often frequented by deer, badger and foxes. Bird life includes tawny owls, buzzards and numerous other species. The dawn chorus is spectacular theatre of sound. Whist evening brings a change of mood with the hoot t hoot of owls.

There is a good sized shared parking and timber stacking area which adjoins Gimbletts Wood. From here you can access the woodland at the point that is defined with a hand rail and woodland name sign.

An historic boundary bank marks the southern boundary.

Throughout the woodland you can see stumps from trees that were harvested back in the early 1990's.

A bench located in the heart of the woodland is a great place to sit and ponder. Whilst visiting do take some time to sit here and take in the atmosphere. Close your eyes and the sounds and smells of the woodland take over your senses, listen to the birdsong. You will soon realise why so many people are now discovering the delights of woodland ownership.

Access is from the well-made private track off the A395, which is for the exclusive use of the woodland owners and for the occupants of Westdownend Farm.
A good access within the woodland via a stoned forestry track leads to the western side of the woodland and to the shared parking area.

There are no public rights of way through the woodland.

Such is the importance of this natural environment that it carries a special local authority Tree Preservation Order designation which is aimed at ensuring its continued existence as an important area of woodland. This does not prevent woodland management, rather it encourages best practice woodland management with advice from the local Forestry Commission representative or Local Authority Tree Officer readily available.

The excellent access and general good topography within Gimbletts Wood makes this a very useable woodland.

Great for young and old, all can enjoy family forestry. The joys of sitting around a camp fire listening to the crackle of a fire whilst under the stars is special.

The woodland has a wide varity of wildlife, creating a hide within a clearing is a great way to get close the creatures that will share the woodland with you.

Bird boxes could be installed to create places to nest for the bird population.

Having once formed part of the Tregeare Estate, the surrounding area of Gimbletts Wood is steeped in history. An earthworks at nearby Tregearedown Beacon dates back to the Iron Age. There are records of Tregeare as a surname in this area as far back as 1284 formed from the Cornish word for dwelling (tre) and fort, or castle town (caer).

Nearby Tregeare House was built in the late 1700s by Joseph Baron, a family that had lived in the nearby village of Egloskerry (Cornish for ‘Church of Keri). This village was once given away by the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, to his half brother Robert Moreton, the Earl of Cornwall.

The woodland takes its name from a local mill which is believed to have been named after the family who ran it and the surname was first recorded in the area around 1625. A possible meaning of the name are from variations of the Scandinavian word 'Gamel', such as 'Gembel' and 'Gimbell' meaning old.

Gimbletts Wood is well located with easy access to the stunning north Cornish coast with the surfing beaches of Crackington Haven and Widemouth within a half hour drive. The coastal town of Bude has 2 magnificent beaches. The fishing port of Boscastle is another great place to visit and here you can also visit the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

Particulars and plans were prepared by our local manager, Stuart Brooking.