One of my next photographic trip out will be to Anston Stone Woods to the north of Worksop which is an ancient woodland growing in a limestone gorge.   

Anston Stones Wood

Anston Stones Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located on the border between South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire that has been described as 'one of the finest remaining fragments of native woodland in northern England'.  The landscape is dominated by Magnesium Limestone cliffs which are inhabited by 33 ancient woodland indicator plants and animals in a nationally scarce ancient Sessile Oak-Ash-lime woodland. The steep slopes leading to Anston Brook have helped to preserve the habitat by making it unsuitable for cultivation.

Anston Stones Wood, called 'the Stones' or 'Anston Stones' locally, is part of the Creswell Limestone Heritage Area from where  limestone was quarried at Harry Crofts quarry few miles away to rebuild the Houses of Parliament after the devastating fire in 1834.  'Anstone' is no longer quarried in the village.

Early evening view of the end of the gorge.

The Stones gorges were cut into the limestone by the river Ryton. Caves can be found in the sides of the gorges that were used by man thousands of years ago. 

Archaeologist George Gwynne-Griffiths in 1967-8 excavated the Stones and found evidence of man living in the woods and caves for at least 12,000 years. Flint tools and bones from Ice Age animals, such reindeer and hyena, were found in a cave now know as Dead Man's Cave.  The flint blades excavated by George Gwynne-Griffiths are exhibited at Creswell Craggs Visitors Centre. 

Medieval smugglers are believed locally to have used the large caves, such as Dead Man's Cave, to hide goods from the authorities due to difficulties in locating the entrances.  Various spooky stories have also been handed down from generation to generation about Dead Man's Cave. Many Anstonians remember from their childhood locating Dead Mans Cave and the fear to enter. 

Meadow where owls hunt by night.

Photographing the Stones 

Opportunities for macro photography of rare plants exist in this ancient woodland.  The woodland offers images of strange looking trees growing from the cliffs. The landscape offers rare views such as the medieval track through the woods that is cut into the limestone by thousands of feet and carts passing by over thousands of years. 

Owl boxes have been erected in meadows on the north side of the Stones, but I have never seen any owls in this area myself. 

Many areas of the Stones are dark even on a summers day so it is recommended taking a tripod or a flash. 

The cliffs can be dangerous when wet, which some always are.  The floor of the woods are always wet so knelling may be difficult places.       

Location

Map Ref: SK535829

Latitude: 53.340304N 

Longitude: 1.197952W
Anston Recreation Ground: S25 4DL

View Map

Access to the Stones is either, from north west side, at Anston Recreation Ground off Ryton Road (B6060), which has adequate car parking and is served by bus routes, or, from the  south east end,  through a gate leading off Worksop Road (A57) at a lay-by between Lindrick Dale and Anston. 

You can be reach Dead Man's Cave from Anston Recreation Ground car park by following the well marked path to the gorge. Then take the higher path at the fork which leads to a mini gorge with rock shelters and fissures. Just before the path descends to the right there is a right fork which brings you to the edge of the limestone cliff. To the left is a path which leads down to the cave.