King Arthurs Cave Walk and Route Maps

King Arthurs Cave sits in Lord's Wood on The Doward, a wooded limestone hill above the River Wye near Symonds Yat. This walk sets out from the village of Ganarew and heads up into Little Doward Wood, 82 hectares of ancient woodland with many veteran oak and beech trees, part of the Wye Valley Woods.

The route passes the entrance to Little Doward hill fort, a large Iron Age site with double ramparts and the remains of around 30 hut platforms, now wrapped in woodland. Close by is the Hermit's Hut, an early 19th century garden feature built into the rampart. You also pass near the hamlets of Little Doward and Crocker's Ash.

The cave itself is the highlight. Excavations here in the 19th and 20th centuries turned up Palaeolithic and Mesolithic stone tools alongside the remains of extinct Ice Age mammals, and the name has long been tied up with local legend. Expect a hilly walk with several moderate climbs and rough, rocky ground near the cave, a rewarding half day out for anyone who enjoys woodland and a bit of history.

Download the Gloucestershire Walks App to follow this route with real-time GPS navigation.

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