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 One
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.
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  ornithologists,
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.
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Welcome
