Outdoor adventures

Explore the Forest of Dean

Half an hour’s walk through the forest brings you to Symonds Yat Rock, a 500ft limestone outcrop, affording stunning views of the River Wye. From this vantage point you might be lucky enough to catch site of the peregrine falcons that nest on the cliff-side during the summer months. Back in the Forest, Beechenhurst Lodge is the hub of forest fun, where the children can play in the adventure playground and you can all enjoy lunch in the Gavellers café. Here you can also pick up the Sculpture Trail, which features forest-inspired work by local artists. If you are still full of energy take your tribe for some treetop adventures at Go Ape.

Walking and hiking

Get your boots on

From gentle strolls in our corner of the Forest of Dean, to riverside walks in the Wye Valley. From pretty wildlife and sculpture trails to challenging cross-county hikes, the Forest of Dean area offers some great walking.

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Cycling routes

Trails for every level

Take the Peregrine Path along the River Wye for a look at the nesting peregrines, or cycle through the border countryside between England and Wales. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers cycling for all abilities, including some amazing MTB challenges.

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Family days out

Day trips for all the family

Puzzlewood, 14 acres of ancient, moss-covered woodland, reputed to have been the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is a magical forest that the children - and adults - will love. There is so much to see and do here, you will want to plan in a full day. Also, nearby, is the Butterfly Zoo and Hedge Maze, where you can enjoy lots of activities, including playing crazy golf among Roman ruins.  Take a family day out to the International Centre for Birds of Prey, to marvel at eagles, owls, vultures, kites, buzzards and falcons and enjoy walking through the gardens and woodlands. Another family favourite is Clearwell Caves, where 4,500 years of history are hidden below ground.

Rainy day activities

Beat the weather

There’s plenty to do on a rainy day. Clearwell Caves, an underground labyrinth, tells the fascinating story of thousands of years of mining. Back above ground, explore the Forest of Dean by steam train on the Dean Forest Railway or take the kids to Perrygrove Railway, where they can explore the hidden passageways of the Indoor Village.  Just 10 minutes’ walk away from your cabin at Forest of Dean is Hot Pot Pottery, where can you shut out the weather and book a go at pottery painting or pottery classes and add food to your experience too! If you prefer something stronger, how about a brewery tour at Hillside Brewery? If you like what you are tasting, use code FORESTHOLIDAYS10 to save 10% in their online shop.

Culture, history and heritage

Learn about the ancient Forest of Dean

Clearwell Caves offer an underground glimpse of the lives of Forest of Dean miners over thousands of years and the vast caverns are breath-taking. The Dean Heritage Centre continues the story above ground in a five-acre site, centred around a heritage mill and peaceful millpond. It tells of the lives of foresters through the ages in this unique area. Bringing the story up to date, the Taurus Craft Centre is home to local artists, sculptors and craftspeople, where you can watch them at work, have a go at some of the crafts and buy beautiful hand-crafted gifts.

Towns and cities

Shopping and sightseeing

Symonds Yat straddles the River Wye on the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire borders. The perfect spot for a summer day out, it’s half an hour’s walk through the woods from our Forest of Dean cabins. After watching the peregrines at Symonds Yat Rock, take a riverside walk and then enjoy a hearty meal at the Saracen’s Head Inn. A great way to understand something of the character of the Forest of Dean is to take a whistle stop tour of its four market towns, Cinderford, Cole ford, Lydney, and Newent, each with a different but related history. Further afield, the cathedral cities of Hereford and Gloucester have lots of attractions, including, at Gloucester, the most inland dock in the country, which has been redeveloped as a shopping and cultural area.