National landscapes (AONB) · South West England
Heart of the Stone
In or near Ruardean Woodside.
Heart of the Stone — Public artwork (sculpture) by Tim Lees.

Gareth James — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–6 h
- Nearest railway station
- Rookwood · 4.4 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Heart of the Stone 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 4.4 km away. Postcode area GL16.
Photo gallery
Official information
Heart of the Stone is a sculpture by Tim Lees, located on the site of a disused coal mine in the Forest of Dean. The piece features a six-ton carved stone that symbolizes hope and rebirth, reflecting the area's mining history and natural beauty.
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
Heart of the Stone is located in West Dean, Gloucestershire, within the West Midlands region. This site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its ecological significance within the River Wye SSSI and is also part of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 51.8099, -2.5637
- County
- Gloucestershire
- District
- Forest of Dean
- Parish
- West Dean
- Postcode
- GL16 7EH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Forest of Dean
- Nearest railway station
- Rookwood — 4.4 km
- Official site
- www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
Sources
- osm: n702764577 (ODbL)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Heart of the Stone?
- Heart of the Stone is in Gloucestershire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode GL16 7EH), in the parish of West Dean.
- What is Heart of the Stone?
- Heart of the Stone — Public artwork (sculpture) by Tim Lees.
- How do I get to Heart of the Stone?
- The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 4.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode GL16 7EH.
- Is Heart of the Stone a protected site?
- Yes — Heart of the Stone is part of the River Wye SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Wye Valley National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Heart of the Stone free to visit?
- Yes, Heart of the Stone is free to enter.
- How do I get to Heart of the Stone?
- The nearest railway station is Rookwood, about 4.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode GL16 7EH.