The woodland to the south is called Ragpath Wood, and covers on the steep side of the valley. It is a Planted Ancient Woodland Site, but most of the trees were cut down during the Second World War. It was subsequently replanted with broadleaf and conifer trees in 1967, and was bought by the Woodland Trust in 1996. Species growing in the wood include some oak and birch, with larger populations of European larch, Scots pine, Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, sycamore and beech. The Trust are managing the woodland, and gradually removing some of the conifers, to favour native broadleafed trees, with a view to reducing conifers to about one fifth of the population. Some of the restoration work has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and public access is encouraged by the maintenance of two bridleways and a public footpath through the woods. The course of the Roman road Dere Street passes through the woods to cross the river as it heads northwards to the site of the Roman fort at Lanchester.
