Our verdict
Barely a hectare and genuinely obscure — no signage on site, and the steps rule out pushchairs or wheelchairs — but a curious little spot for anyone who likes disused-railway history alongside their wildlife.
A tiny, unusual Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve on a short stretch of dismantled railway near Wootton Rivers, bought from British Rail for £1 in 1988. Bridge abutments still stand on either side and there's an elevated section along the old track bed, reached by steep steps from the bridleway — home to warblers, buzzards and grizzled skipper butterflies.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve — free to explore on foot; many are dog-free to protect wildlife.