At a bend in the River Petteril by Morag Angus

Wreay Woods is a 20-hectare nature reserve that, historically, has been heavily influenced by man, although records do not reveal precisely how far back in time management of the site began. The land surrounding the nature reserve is littered with the remains of Roman roads and a Roman fort, so it is possible that the coppicing of wood began then.
Wreay (a Norse word meaning ‘bend in the river’ - which is exactly what the river Petteril does as it curves through the valley) is a peaceful and beautiful nature reserve. A walk by the river, enclosed by steep, red sandstone slopes, can reveal the likes of dippers and grey wagtails, maybe a kingfisher, and a lucky few may even see otters. The force of the river, especially when it floods, causes the sandy riverbanks to change constantly. As the water washes in and erodes away the soil behind tree roots, whole banks and trees can be seen strewn in the river once the water has abated. The debris remains until the next flood when it can then be washed a few more metres down stream. Thus, continual erosion, creation of holes behind root plates, and build up of debris and fallen trees is an ideal riparian habitat, forming excellent hide-aways for otters.
Along the trail you find your eyes are constantly being drawn to the flowing river. But if you happen to look up the slopes of the clough, you may catch a glimpse of fleeing roe deer. In the spring the slopes come alive with bluebells and, although no longer grazed by cattle, the flat open areas that were once traditional hay meadows burst with marsh marigolds, flag iris and willows.
For those wanting a longer walk it is well worth parking at the Golden Fleece picnic spot (Grid ref: NY435 513) or near Scalesceugh Hall (Grid ref: NY448 496) and turning the visit to the nature reserve into a circular walk. Following the public footpaths allows you to take in the village of Wreay itself, where the Church of St Maryand its amazing architecture is a ‘must see’. The extra height gained by walking up out of the gorge affords views down over the nature reserve and gives the walker a much more complete experience of the nature reserve and its beautiful surroundings.