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Forest of Dean District Council Official Guide
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 Forest of Dean District Council

Council Offices
High Street
Coleford
Glos.
GL16 8HG

Tel Enquiries: 01594 810000

Email: Forest of Dean Council
Forest of Dean Website mouse


Tourism in the Forest of Dean

Scenic WalksOne of England’s ancient forests, the Royal Forest of Dean, is still one of the jewels in England’s crown. The Forest of Dean’s 27,000 acres of woodland bring a blaze of colour in autumn, the vivid colours of spring flowers and abundant wildlife, from our native robin to peregrines and buzzards, deer, and even the odd wild boar.

The magic of the Forest has inspired writers such as J R R Tolkien, J K Rowling and Dennis Potter, as well as providing themes for photographers, painters and craftsmen and women working in wood and stone.

Designated a National Forest Park in 1938, there is a huge range of interest amongst the woodlands and in the river valleys to the East and West. The Wye Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), while the Severn boasts salmon, and the worlds most famous tidal bore, not to mention the cider making based on local apples and pears, and the renowned local Blaisdon plums. To the North lies the Vale of Leadon, with rolling farmland and some of England’s most productive vineyards.

Dean Heritage Centre The area has a rich and varied heritage, extending back to Roman times, and well before. Arthur’s Cave, near Symonds Yat, has a long history of occupation stretching back to the Iron and Stone Ages, and the first colonisation by man in the early Palaeolithic period.

This history can be appreciated in all its variety at the Dean Heritage Centre in the Soudley Valley, south of Cinderford. Visitors can also see iron mines, coalmines and many other Forest heritage sites, including Lydney Harbour, which exported hundreds of thousands of tons of wood, coal and iron. Nelson depended upon Forest of Dean timber, and Mushet, Bessemer, and other industrial pioneers used Forest skills to help build Britain’s industrial revolution.

While the mines and docks provide interesting places to visit, the ultimate tourist experience is the ever-changing Forest itself, with its woodland walks, and adventure activities, including a unique treetop walk, providing enjoyment for all ages. There is a huge range of opportunities for Adventure Activitiesornithologists, photographers, cyclists, walkers, and artists, as well as a wide choice of woodland parks and camping sites for visitors.

This varied environment is interspersed with many ponds and lakes, remnants of the industrial heritage, now populated by a wide diversity of birds and fish, and linked by paths and a network of cycle tracks through the Forest. You can visit a model village, enjoy guided walks, take a steam train ride on the Dean Forest Railway, learn new crafts, or follow millions of years of geological history, all covered by more than 60 separate attractions in the Dean.

The Forest also has a variety of eating experiences, from traditional English fare to the latest cuisine, often based upon local, high quality, organic food, and if you wish, a barbecue under the trees by a clear Forest stream can be a delightful way to spend a summer day.

Children especially enjoy the Forest of Dean, which is a wonderful introduction to nature at all levels, with many active events such as canoeing on the Wye, swinging through the Forest canopy on the Mallards Pike high walk, local farm visits, or just watching the roaming deer and a unique selection of Britain’s wildlife.

Westbury Court Gardens cared for by the National Trust



Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden.