This is more of a mining area than a single mine location.

The former mining landscape has evolved into ancient semi-natural woodland, with a rich diversity of flora. Yew trees are particularly prominent throughout the site. The scowles—twisting ravines and exposed rock formations—create a dramatic, otherworldly environment.

Iron ore was originally mined at Puzzle Wood where it outcropped naturally at the surface, leaving behind a distinctive open-cast terrain known as scowles—a term used since the Middle Ages. The exact date of the earliest mining is uncertain, but it may have begun during the Roman period, with further significant activity likely in Medieval times.

In 1885, the area gained its current name when Mr. Taylor, a local quarry and land owner, decided to create a rustic maze. With local workers facing a shortage of employment, he gathered a group of enthusiasts and began constructing the intricate system of paths, bridges, steps, and walkways that still shape Puzzle Wood today.

Puzzle Wood has since been refurbished and is now a tourist attraction. It is open to the public from Easter to the end of October, daily from 11am to 7pm, closed on Mondays except for Bank Holidays. A small admission charge applies.