National landscapes (AONB) · South West England
Fire and Water Boats
In or near Ruardean Woodside.
Fire and Water Boats — Public artwork (sculpture) by David Nash.

Pauline Eccles — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–6 h
- Nearest railway station
- Rookwood · 5.0 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Fire and Water Boats is a place of interest in Gloucestershire, the West Midlands. The site is within the Wye Valley National Landscape (AONB), and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. It sits within the Forest of Dean parliamentary constituency. The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 5.0 km away. Postcode area GL16.
Photo gallery
360° viewimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
Fire and Water Boats is an outdoor sculpture installation by David Nash, featuring a collection of small charred boats set in a green marsh. The sculptures, made from a felled oak, evoke the remnants of an ancient civilization and are part of a larger artistic expression in the natural landscape.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Wye SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Wye Valley
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
Place summary
Fire and Water Boats, located in West Dean, Gloucestershire, is situated within the River Wye Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). These designations highlight the area's ecological significance and natural beauty.
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 51.8155, -2.5597
- County
- Gloucestershire
- District
- Forest of Dean
- Parish
- West Dean
- Postcode
- GL16 7EH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Forest of Dean
- Nearest railway station
- Rookwood — 5 km
- Official site
- www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
Sources
- osm: n702768383 (ODbL)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Fire and Water Boats?
- Fire and Water Boats is in Gloucestershire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode GL16 7EH), in the parish of West Dean.
- What is Fire and Water Boats?
- Fire and Water Boats — Public artwork (sculpture) by David Nash.
- How do I get to Fire and Water Boats?
- The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 5.0 km away. Drivers can use postcode GL16 7EH.
- Is Fire and Water Boats a protected site?
- Yes — Fire and Water Boats is part of the River Wye SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Wye Valley National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Fire and Water Boats free to visit?
- Yes, Fire and Water Boats is free to enter.
- How do I get to Fire and Water Boats?
- The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 5.0 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode GL16 7EH.