Greystones Nature Reserve

Open to the public all year round

Owned by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Greystones is home to wildflower meadows, Iron Age ramparts, a replica Iron Age roundhouse, working organic farm, and an interactive Discovery Barn.

Greystones offers time out from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant village centre to discover the wilder side of the Cotswolds. Owned by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, the site is open to the public all year round and entrance is free of charge.

Just 300m from Bourton-on-the-Water parking

Situated just 300m from one of Bourton-on-the-Water’s main car parks, Greystones is home to wildflower meadows, Iron Age ramparts, a replica Iron Age roundhouse, working organic farm, and an interactive Discovery Barn. Need a break from your explorations or a place to meet friends and family to relax? Why not enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, or a cuppa and slice of cake in the Greystones courtyard café.

Follow one of the many signposted trails to explore the wildflower meadows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), where during May and early June you may be able to spot rare Early Marsh, Southern Marsh and Common Spotted Orchids. Stop by the River Eye for some dipping, or simply to listen for the rustle of water voles and look for signs of otters.

Meander through the fields looking for signs of foxes and deer, while listening to a wide variety of birdsong, and observing birds of prey gliding overhead. Have fun on the play trail, or visit the interactive Discovery Barn to have a go at our multi-level wildlife quiz and view the live camera feed to our on-site Barn Owl box.

Around the reserve

Salmonsbury Camp, the site of Europe’s earliest known towns, is a scheduled monument located at Greystones. It is recognised as a good example of an Iron Age fortified enclosure and for the extensive archaeological finds collected from the site. People have met, lived and farmed this site continuously for over 6000 years; the site has fascinated archaeologists for centuries. Today, visitors are invited to walk the Time Travel Trail, visit the replica Iron Age roundhouse, and explore the interactive Discovery Barn to dress up in Iron Age clothing, view archaeological finds, and learn more about Greystones’ history.

Greystones is also home to an organic farm which produces the milk for Simon Weaver’s famous Single Gloucester Cheese. A visit offers opportunities to view the robotic freedom milker; a cow-friendly, “grass to glass” concept which allows cows to choose when they are milked. Visit the café to sample the delicious cheese produced by the Gloucester herds you see grazing Greystones’ fields. Greystones also hosts a variety of events and courses, for both children and adults. Please visit Gloucester Wildlife Trust to see what’s on and plan your visit.

What's Nearby?