The site lies south of Cheltenham on the Cotswold and it supports a range of habitats characteristic of the Cotswold limestone. It includes species-rich grassland, semi-natural woodland, scrub and particularly nationally important rock exposures.
Biological interest
The site supports several types of grassland and the turf contains many lime-loving herbs. There are several species of orchid recorded such as Early purple orchid, Bee Orchid, and Musk Orchid. Viper's Bugloss flowers in abundance. This diversity supports a varied invertebrate fauna. The site includes the Scrubbs and Crickley Woods which are areas of mature Beech woodland with regenerating Beech and Ash. Short Wood is an area of Oak parkland. The scarp slopes provide basking areas for Adders.
Geological interest
The rock exposures constitute a key Jurassic locality and show a major section in the Lower Inferior Oolite. There are extensive exposures of Lower and Middle Jurassic rocks and these exhibit the best sections in the Cotswolds in the Pea Grit and the overlying Coral Bed. Crickley Hill is part of the Cotswold escarpment which runs from Dorset to the Yorkshire Coast. The stone has been quarried for hundreds of years and was probably used for dry stone walling.
Archaeology
There is evidence of settlements over 5000 years back. As the soil is thin on the Hill the evidence lies close to the surface under the grassland. The site has been excavated each summer period from 1969 to 1993 and is considered to be of international importance as a result of the findings. These point to occupation by humans over 4000 years to a post-Roman period. The archaeologists have stayed regularly at Ullenwood Camp close to Crickley Hill for the excavation period.
Crickley Hill Country Park
The Crickley Hill Country Park was established in 1979 with assistance from the then Countryside Commission. Access to the countryside at this Park provides limestone grassland; beech woodlands, oak parkland; an archaeological site and panoramic views. There is a range of self-guided trails with supporting leaflets. These include Hill Fort Trail; Scrubbs Trail; Scarp Trail; Family Trail and Park Trail. There are also circular walks of different lengths. Crickley Hill is wardened by Gloucestershire Country Council Sites Warden Service and volunteers from the Cotswold Warden Service.
Literary associations
Crickley Hill was immortalised by Ivor Gurney in his poem of that name, recounting how mention and memory of the ridge led to bonding on the Western Front, the hill epitomising in local miniature the England for which they felt they were fighting.
Archaeological publications
Dixon, Philip, 2019, The Hillfort Settlements, Crickley Hill, Volume 2, with contributions by Alvey, R C, Alvery, M, Badock, A, Elsdon, S, Muir, R, Savage, R D A, Crickley Hill Archaeological Trust.
Dixon, Philip, 1994, The Hillfort Defences, Crickley Hill, Volume 1, with contributions by Alvey, R C, Elsdon, S, Firman, R, Gelling, M, Haldane, J W, Sturgess, J, Crickley Hill Trust and the Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham
