AN IMPORTANT and substantial piece of the Lower Wye Valley has gone on the market, available to anyone with £575,000 to spare, and it could potentially end access to part of one of the area’s most popular footpaths.

Perched on the edge of the cliffs about the river and spanning over 200 acres (80ha) of this iconic landscape, Piercefield Woods have been owned by the Francis family since 1925.

The woodland is currently managed in partnership with the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Wye Valley path runs along its length. The path was recently restored, with the addition of information boards and leaflets, as part of the Heritage Lottery funded Overlooking the Wye project.

Piercefield Walk was created in 1750 by owner Valentine Morris and the estate was bought by Nathaniel Wells, Britain’s first black high sheriff, in 1802. As part of the Wye Tour, this ‘picturesque’ woodland walk also saw the birth of British tourism.

AONB manager, Andrew Blake, told the Review: “The woodland has the highest protection possible in the UK. It is a Special Conservation Area (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in an AONB with scheduled ancient monuments. It’s a piece of incredibly historic woodland and parkland.”

“We have a very good working relationship with the current owners,’ said Andrew, “but if a new owner decided to reject the permissive route there would be lots of objections but very little that the public could do.

“It is very difficult terrain and not easy land to manage from a woodland authority perspective. The nature of the land means that no one’s going to make any money out of it and it’s most likely to be a more benevolent land owner.”

Anthony Geddings, forest and assets surveyor for John Clegg and Co, who are marketing the woodlands, said: “This won’t be a commercial asset for anyone who buys it. It is well protected, ancient, semi-natural woodland and it is likely that the buyer will want it for the enjoyment of its historical interest and amenity value.

“Some people buy woodlands like this simply to go and walk their dogs in it. This is a woodland of intrigue and substance, its history of popular tourism and great showmanship simply draws you in. In today’s world the need for shrewd inheritance tax planning adds another dimension to this custodianship.

“The current owner works closely with the AONB and they’ve recently restored viewpoints and opened up the canopy.

“By agreement the Wye Valley Walk goes through the woodland, but because it’s so heavily utilised, if anyone were to try and shut it down that would be an illegal activity. The only thing that could happen is temporary closure for tree safety reasons.”

A sale was agreed on the woodland in 2007 but it eventually fell through.

“The Countryside Council for Wales, now Natural Resources Wales, previously considered buying the woodland,” Andrew added.

“But the public funding situation has changed now.

I hope any new owner is as sympathetic to its heritage as the current owner.”