Dimmel's Dale

Dimmels Dale 1

Dimmel's Dale

Hidden along the bottom of the Golden Valley, Dimmel’s Dale has wildflower-rich west-facing banks, a babbling brook and a woodland, offering a rich variety of habitats for wildlife.

Explore this reserve on its own for a gentle stroll, or go for a longer hike throughout the Golden Valley starting at Dimmel's Dale and going on to discover other reserves including Daneway Banks.

Location

South-east of the village of Chalford
Chalford
The nearest postcode is GL6 8DU

OS Map Reference

SO902027
What3Words: headset.erupts.birdcage
A static map of Dimmel's Dale

Know before you go

Size
3 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Free parking can be found on the roads nearby
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Grazing animals

Ponies
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Walking trails

Public Right of Way allows views throughout reserve and link to wider circular walks in the Golden Valley

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Access

The reserve can become slippery during spells of prolonged wet weather and features some steeper sections with narrow but even paths leading through

Accessed via kissing gates

Dogs

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When to visit

Opening times

Open access throughout the year

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

About the reserve

The unimproved limestone grassland of Dimmel’s Dale boasts an abundance of grasses and wildflowers, which in turn attract a large number of butterflies and bees. The grassland supports scrub, which is important to species such as bullfinches and yellow meadow ants. Sometimes, green woodpeckers can be spotted digging holes with its bill to get to the ants inside.

Dimmel’s Dale’s bank has a large population of plants such as devil’s-bit scabious and betony, both of which do well on damper conditions brought about by the west-facing slope. Other wildflower species found here include common spotted-orchid, common rock-rose and yellow-wort. The reserve dips down to a brook frequented by dippers and grey wagtails. A semi-natural woodland of oak, beech, hazel, ash, holly and whitebeam at the top of Dimmel’s Dale’s banks attracts badgers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and owls.

Dimmel’s Dale was purchased in 2019, made possible by a legacy donation left in memory of David Harman and his love for the outdoors, by his wife Jane.

This nature reserve is particularly special not only because it supports a range of different habitats, but also because it links up with several other nature reserves – creating a much-needed corridor for wildlife.

Dimmel’s Dale is accessible only to pedestrians, and it is this remote nature which makes it more of a sanctuary for wildlife.

A public right of way leads through it, allowing visitors to enjoy views across the nature reserve and link to wider circular walks in the Golden Valley.

The purchase of Dimmel’s Dale in February 2019 was made possible by a donation left in memory of David Harman and his love for the outdoors, by his wife Jane.

More detailed directions

As you walk down Coppice Hill, take the next public footpath sign on the left after the church (What3Words: mime.grazed.signed).
This will lead you along a narrow footpath, taking you to Dimmel’s Dale.

Another pedestrian entrance can be found via Parish & Oldhills Wood, owned by The Woodland Trust.