The Forest of Dean is one of England’s few remaining ancient forests, covering 27,000 acres of woodland (in 1938 it was designated a National Forest Park, the first in England) and is bounded by two of the county’s major rivers, the Severn and the Wye. This presentation provides an insight to this unspoilt corner of England and its border with Wales.

The Forest of Dean is made up of four quite different landscape areas:

The ancient Royal Forest lies at the very heart of the district and is centred around the market towns of Coleford, Cinderford and Lydney. During the 17th C. the Forest had the largest concentration of iron furnaces and forges in Britain. Today the visitor centres at Hopewell Colliery, Clearwell Caves and Puzzle Wood all provide fascinating insights to this industrial past. The Forest was once criss-crossed by railways and now enthusiasts can visit the popular Dean Forest Railway where steam and classic diesel trains run along the surviving tracks.

The Wye Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and forms the western border of the Forest, separating England from Wales. This unique landscape offers many opportunities for outdoor activities, including canoeing and walking along what is regarded as Britain’s most unspoilt major river. The limestone walls of the Valley provide some of the best rock climbing sites in the country.

The Vale of Leadon lies to the east and is a quintessentially rural area of England centred around the picturesque town of Newent and features rolling farmland, vineyards and black and white timbered buildings. St. Mary’s church at Dymock houses a permanent exhibition recalling the work and lives of Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, John Drinkwater, Robert Frost and others who became known as the Dymock Poets and who lived and stayed in the area immediately before the First World War.

The Severn Vale forms the southern boundary through which flows the country’s longest river and is famous for its spectacular tidal bore that can reach a height of 10 feet and speeds of 20 mph. The only formal Dutch water garden in the UK can be found on the bank of the Severn at Westbury Court Gardens. This delightful garden has been restored by the National Trust and is planted exclusively with species found prior to 1700.

The whole of the Forest and the Wye Valley is quite simply a walkers' paradise, ranging from the spectacular Offa’s Dyke long distance footpath for the dedicated hiker to more gentle, but no less fascinating strolls along the many Forest footpaths.

Wildlife is ever-present. Symonds Yat Rock not only provides spectacular views across a horseshoe bend of the River Wye, but the RSPB viewing station also affords an amazing opportunity to watch peregrine falcons nesting on the shear cliff faces. Thirty years ago these birds were on the brink of extinction, thanks to the widespread use of agricultural pesticides. But in 1982 a pair of peregrines returned to Symonds Yat and the birds have nested there every year since 1984.

Beechinghurst Lodge is another ideal location for bird watching, where siskins, finches and bramblings are among the many winter birds attracted by giant bird feeders. Beechinghurst is also the setting for the highly acclaimed 3-mile long sculpture trail which blends art and nature together. Nearby is the Cyril Hart Arboretum which has over 200 varieties of trees. There is a trail for the visually impaired and the level paths make the arboretum ideal for less able visitors and wheelchair users.

The Nagshead Nature Reserve is a treat to visit at any time of the year. It is set in over 700 acres of mature oak woodland and its visitor centre is a perfect place to learn about the wildlife inhabiting the area. The reserve is renowned for its breeding pied flycatchers and their nest boxes have been monitored since 1948. Also look for hawfinches, wood warblers, redstarts, woodpeckers, buzzards and ravens. Within the Reserve can also be found 30 species of butterfly, 20 varieties of dragonfly and over 350 types of fungi.

The area is home to many beautiful and distinctive churches including the ‘Cathedral of the Forest’ at Newland and St. Mary’s at Kempley with its remarkable 12th C. frescoes and of course the world-famous ruins of Tintern Abbey lie in the magnificent setting of the lower Wye Valley.

For those with an interest in castles, there are many to visit throughout the Forest and surrounding area, including St Briavels, Clearwell, Goodrich, Caldicot, Raglan and Chepstow.

Each season brings a change of colour from carpets of snowdrops in winter, followed by daffodils and bluebells in spring, through to a riot of russets and golds in the autumn. Whatever the season, there is no such thing as a bad time to visit the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Coleford Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 01594 812388. The following websites also have useful information on places to visit and accommodation:

The Forest of Dean Community website.