Coughton Marsh

The last remnant of a much larger peaty wetland area that existed in the 19th century.

Location

Coughton Marsh Nature Reserve

Coughton

Herefordshire

HR9 5QR

OS Map Reference

SO 590 210

Know before you go

Size

1 hectare

Parking information

Park in the lay-by outside Walford Primary School

Grazing animals

None

Walking trails

Even in summer, the site can be very wet and muddy, so boots are advisable at all seasons. Narrow winding access paths and lush summer growth combine to make losing your sense of direction quite easy, even in a reserve this small!

Access

There are no surfaced paths at this reserve which is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Dawn to dusk

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

About the reserve

This marsh is what remains of a former watercourse of the River Wye. The name 'Coughton' is derived from 'hillock settlement', possibly indicating a drier raised area within the marsh. A fine Neolithic axe found on the site also attests to ancient settlement here.

Although small, and surrounded by open agricultural land, the marsh woodland is of great historical and biological interest because it is the only area of plateau Alder woodland now left in the lower Wye valley.