The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

This ancient forest and wild river valley offer visitors a chance to recharge their batteries, get off the beaten track and escape the everyday. Visit the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley for woodland walks and outdoor activities, off-road cycling and unique attractions and more castles than anywhere else in the UK. Head to one of the Forestry England sites for a picnic, the magical Puzzlewood where Star Wars and Merlin have been filmed, take a steam train ride on the Dean Forest Railway or head underground to the ancient Clearwell Caves. The Forest of Dean has hundreds of miles of footh and cycle paths ideal for families looking for a gentle stroll or hikers looking for long distance paths including the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail and the Family Cycle Trail. In fact you can even walk the Gloucestershire Way from the west of the Forest of Dean through Gloucester to Tewkesbury in the north.

The dramatic Wye Valley is to the north and west of the Forest of Dean and provides visitors with some of the best viewpoints in the UK. Head to Symonds Yat Rock for breathtaking views over the valley below, then enjoy the riverside pubs nearby with canoes and kayaks for hire and even boat tours down the Wye. Market towns including Ross-on-Wye and Coleford are ideal for shopping and sightseeing or head to one of the many dramatic castles including Goodrich and Chepstow or the awe-inspiring ruined abbey at Tintern along the River Wye. This whole area is rich with history and culture, attractions and activities and plenty of outdoor adventure for all ages.

This stunning area is to the west of Gloucester and within easy reach for a day out or for a longer stay enjoying both rural and city exploration. The Forest of Dean can be reached in just 15 minutes from Gloucester and the forest centre or River Wye are less than a 30 minute drive away with the Welsh border around an hour’s drive away. There are train stations at Lydney and Chepstow and there are buses from Gloucester into the Forest taking in many of the key areas for tourists.

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