Christine's Guidebook
Exploring the Forest
A great place for the whole family to start a Forest of Dean adventure
It is the ideal place for families to start their forest adventure, with a family activity trail, Sculpture Trail, play area and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. You can even bring your bikes and access the wider forest on the Family Cycle Trail.
Don't forget to refuel in the café or bring your own food to enjoy in the beautiful picnic area. They also have bookable barbecues if you fancy cooking your own family feast.
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Beechenhurst Lodge
Speech House RoadIt is the ideal place for families to start their forest adventure, with a family activity trail, Sculpture Trail, play area and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. You can even bring your bikes and access the wider forest on the Family Cycle Trail.
Don't forget to refuel in the café or bring your own food to enjoy in the beautiful picnic area. They also have bookable barbecues if you fancy cooking your own family feast.
Cannop Cycle Centre
New RoadOther activities: Go Ape, Segway hire and a swimming spot for dogs in the lake. Also a lovely cafe beside the lake.
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Mallards Pike Lake
Other activities: Go Ape, Segway hire and a swimming spot for dogs in the lake. Also a lovely cafe beside the lake.
Severnwye Equestrian Centre
Spout HillAlso Lama trekking!
If you enjoy walking, the great outdoors, breathtaking scenery or discovering nature whatever the season, you’ll love Puzzlewood. Experience twisted trees in an otherworldly woodland through a mile and a half of paths, bridges and lookout points. It’s a wood like no other, and its magic will cast a spell to entice you back time and time again.
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Puzzlewood
Perrygrove RoadIf you enjoy walking, the great outdoors, breathtaking scenery or discovering nature whatever the season, you’ll love Puzzlewood. Experience twisted trees in an otherworldly woodland through a mile and a half of paths, bridges and lookout points. It’s a wood like no other, and its magic will cast a spell to entice you back time and time again.
Treehouses, Trains and Treasure, whatever the weather.
Perrygrove is a dog friendly family attraction, aimed at those with children up to ten years old. There are four stations on our railway, each with paths leading to lovely walks through beautiful woodland. A round trip takes 30 minutes and there is no charge for extra train rides. Our Twilight Village is great fun for children and just about big enough for most grown ups too! The Treetop Adventure is perfect for some outdoor fun, with a slide, bouncy bridge and ladders to climb. We have recently installed a new tunnel system at Foxy Hollow play area, which is proving to be a massive hit!
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Perrygrove Railway
Perrygrove RoadTreehouses, Trains and Treasure, whatever the weather.
Perrygrove is a dog friendly family attraction, aimed at those with children up to ten years old. There are four stations on our railway, each with paths leading to lovely walks through beautiful woodland. A round trip takes 30 minutes and there is no charge for extra train rides. Our Twilight Village is great fun for children and just about big enough for most grown ups too! The Treetop Adventure is perfect for some outdoor fun, with a slide, bouncy bridge and ladders to climb. We have recently installed a new tunnel system at Foxy Hollow play area, which is proving to be a massive hit!
Admire the picturesque views of the River Wye and surrounding area from this internationally famous viewpoint
Discover the ancient hill fort, spot birds of prey and enjoy a snack from the log cabin cafe.
There are waymarked trails linking to the River Wye and over the famous Biblins Bridge, or a choice of circular walks into the forest itself. There is also a cycling trail linking Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest site at Bracelands to Symonds Yat Rock.
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Symonds Yat Rock
Admire the picturesque views of the River Wye and surrounding area from this internationally famous viewpoint
Discover the ancient hill fort, spot birds of prey and enjoy a snack from the log cabin cafe.
There are waymarked trails linking to the River Wye and over the famous Biblins Bridge, or a choice of circular walks into the forest itself. There is also a cycling trail linking Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest site at Bracelands to Symonds Yat Rock.
River Wye
Symonds Yat West is on the Herefordshire side of the river and Symonds Yat East is on the Gloucestershire side. The only connection between the two banks are two ancient hand ("pull") ferries by which the ferryman pulls people across the river using an overhead rope, for a small fee. The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge; this is a five mile trip.
Ferry boat at Symonds Yat WestThe river at Symonds Yat has cut a deep gorge in the Carboniferous Limestone exposing many impressive cliff faces. At the nearby 'King Arthur's cave' on the Great Doward, there have been many important archeological discoveries including the remains of a hyena family and Saber-toothed Tiger bones. Yat Rock is a popular location for climbers. Some of the climbs are dangerous and have cost lives so climbs need to be planned carefully. In general there are much better and safer climbs in other areas of the forest
Symonds Yat West is on the Herefordshire side of the river and Symonds Yat East is on the Gloucestershire side. The only connection between the two banks are two ancient hand ("pull") ferries by which the ferryman pulls people across the river using an overhead rope, for a small fee. The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge; this is a five mile trip.
Ferry boat at Symonds Yat WestThe river at Symonds Yat has cut a deep gorge in the Carboniferous Limestone exposing many impressive cliff faces. At the nearby 'King Arthur's cave' on the Great Doward, there have been many important archeological discoveries including the remains of a hyena family and Saber-toothed Tiger bones. Yat Rock is a popular location for climbers. Some of the climbs are dangerous and have cost lives so climbs need to be planned carefully. In general there are much better and safer climbs in other areas of the forest
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Symonds Yat
Symonds Yat West is on the Herefordshire side of the river and Symonds Yat East is on the Gloucestershire side. The only connection between the two banks are two ancient hand ("pull") ferries by which the ferryman pulls people across the river using an overhead rope, for a small fee. The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge; this is a five mile trip.
Ferry boat at Symonds Yat WestThe river at Symonds Yat has cut a deep gorge in the Carboniferous Limestone exposing many impressive cliff faces. At the nearby 'King Arthur's cave' on the Great Doward, there have been many important archeological discoveries including the remains of a hyena family and Saber-toothed Tiger bones. Yat Rock is a popular location for climbers. Some of the climbs are dangerous and have cost lives so climbs need to be planned carefully. In general there are much better and safer climbs in other areas of the forest
There are a number of canoe hire companies on the river Wye, depending on how long you want to be on the river depends on where you pick up your canoe, transport is provided to return you to your start point whether in Ross on Wye, Kerne Bridge or Symonds Yat
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Wyedean Canoe & Adventure Centre
There are a number of canoe hire companies on the river Wye, depending on how long you want to be on the river depends on where you pick up your canoe, transport is provided to return you to your start point whether in Ross on Wye, Kerne Bridge or Symonds Yat
Food scene
Oh My Goat
Bradley Court RoadTakeaway farm gate fresh goats milk and ice cream.
Do you want to catch your own trout and learn how to prepare and cook it or make your own sourdough bread? Lots to do at Harts Barn Cookery School
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Harts Barn Cookery School
Do you want to catch your own trout and learn how to prepare and cook it or make your own sourdough bread? Lots to do at Harts Barn Cookery School
Pick up locally produced goods everything from honey to cheese, jewellery to furniture. Or you can grab a picnic hamper and head to the lake with some oversized garden games.
Harts Barn Craft Centre
A4136Pick up locally produced goods everything from honey to cheese, jewellery to furniture. Or you can grab a picnic hamper and head to the lake with some oversized garden games.
I absolutely love this restaurant. Great food and a ‘relaxed vibe’ whether you want Meat, Fish, Veggie or vegan. You will need to book! And they have a cheeky little cocktail bar just around the corner!
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No3 Restaurant
3 Gloucester RdI absolutely love this restaurant. Great food and a ‘relaxed vibe’ whether you want Meat, Fish, Veggie or vegan. You will need to book! And they have a cheeky little cocktail bar just around the corner!
Right in the heart of the forest. We had a lovely fine dining experience at Speech House Verderers restaurant, but you don’t have to splash out, you can take the children and the dog into the orangery, for lunch, snacks or afternoon tea. There are also dens in the garden or weather permitting eat outside.
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Speech House
Right in the heart of the forest. We had a lovely fine dining experience at Speech House Verderers restaurant, but you don’t have to splash out, you can take the children and the dog into the orangery, for lunch, snacks or afternoon tea. There are also dens in the garden or weather permitting eat outside.
A really popular pub restaurant if you are out and about in the area. Authentic home made food cooked with care using the finest most local ingredients in an inclusive, welcoming environment and that includes your family pet!
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The Moody Cow
A really popular pub restaurant if you are out and about in the area. Authentic home made food cooked with care using the finest most local ingredients in an inclusive, welcoming environment and that includes your family pet!
Sightseeing
Standing in open countryside above the River Wye, Goodrich Castle is one of the finest and best preserved of all English medieval castles. Boasting a fascinating history and spectacular views from the battlements, Goodrich Castle promises a great day out for everyone.
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Goodrich Castle
Castle LaneStanding in open countryside above the River Wye, Goodrich Castle is one of the finest and best preserved of all English medieval castles. Boasting a fascinating history and spectacular views from the battlements, Goodrich Castle promises a great day out for everyone.
St Briavels is a great base for local walks including Offa's Dyke Path. English Heritage manages a three mile section of the dyke. From the Devil's Pulpit you can enjoy panoramic views of Tintern Abbey.
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St Briavels Castle
Church StreetSt Briavels is a great base for local walks including Offa's Dyke Path. English Heritage manages a three mile section of the dyke. From the Devil's Pulpit you can enjoy panoramic views of Tintern Abbey.