Once a medieval hunting forest and coal mining stronghold in the Victorian era, the Forest of Dean is now a rich habitat for British wildlife and a fantastic place to explore, attracting tourists from across the world as well as local visitors.
Gloucestershire's ancient forest offers something for everyone, with destinations for family days out, mountain biking action, birdwatching and more. Providing all the inspiration for your next trip, SoGlos shares 10 of the Forest of Dean's most magical visitor sites, managed by Forestry England.
Beechenhurst
Perfect for: family adventures
There's no shortage of family-friendly activities at Beechenhurst — from high ropes courses through the canopy at Go Ape, to finding awe-inspiring artworks along the famous Sculpture Trail. Kids can let loose on the adventure playground, complete with its own zip line, before refuelling at the cafe; there's plenty of picnic spots for the summer months, plus the option to hire the barbecue for an alfresco cook-out, too.
New for 2024, don't miss the Gruffalo Party trail, celebrating 25 years of Julia Donaldson's loveable monster with a self-led activity trail through the forest.
Symonds Yat Rock
Perfect for: stunning views and bird spotting
Boasting spectacular views over the River Wye that feature on Instagram grids far and wide, Symonds Yat Rock is one of the Forest of Dean's most popular destinations — for its famous viewpoint alone! But it's also one of the best places in the UK to see peregrine falcons soaring overhead, while other birds of prey like goshawks, buzzards and ospreys are often spotted in the area.
Follow the waymarked trails, linking up to the river and famous Biblins Bridge, or take a mindful stroll along the wellbeing trail, which encourages wanderers to pause, notice and connect with the forest environment that surrounds them.
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre
Perfect for: downhill tracks and bike trails
From whizzing down the hillside runs and traversing cross-country trails, to exploring the forest along its historic railway lines, the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre offers cycling trails for all ages and skill-levels, with bike hire available from Pedalabikeaway.
Mountain bikers can get a real thrill from the downhill tracks, graded from moderate blue to extreme double-black, where there's also a pump track and skills areas for different abilities; while young families can enjoy a leisurely ride along the nine-mile Colliers Trail, with chance to stop off at Beechenhurst and Mallards Pike along the way.
Mallards Pike
Perfect for: lakeside picnics and running routes
At this tranquil place, you'll find scenic spots for a waterside picnic, gentle walks that loop around the lake and a range of activities: from Go Ape's more challenging Treetop Adventure course and forest Segway routes to a Gruffalo orienteering challenge, testing youngsters' navigational skills.
Runners can also get their miles in with waymarked running trails for 2km, 3km, 5km and 10km distances — and a tasty cafe to refuel afterwards.
Wenchford
Perfect for: paddling
A gem of a site, nestled deep in the Forest of Dean, Wenchford offers the perfect place to cool down in the sizzling summer months, with a shallow paddling area just a short walk from the car park.
Soak up the sunshine listening to the babbling Blackpool Brook, with plenty of shaded spots to tuck into a picnic after dipping your toes in the water. Fancy a stroll? There are two easy walking trails to stretch your legs and venture further into the woodland.
Soudley Ponds
Perfect for: forest bathing
Escape to Soudley Ponds, a serene spot for immersing yourself in the forest landscape and a haven for wetland wildlife, surrounded by towering Douglas fir trees.
Soak it all in along the 2.5km sensory walk, a quiet trail that you download via OS Maps, or take a wander along the pond-side paths, with bridges to cross the water. For a more challenging trail, hike up the ridge to the top of Blaize Bailey for views across the River Severn.
Cyril Hart Arboretum
Perfect for: budding botanists and plant enthusiasts
Gloucestershire's lesser-known arboretum, the Cyril Hart, is a must-visit for nature lovers — and a particularly spectacular sight in the autumn months — with over 200 types of trees to discover.
Home to botanical collections found all over the world, some dating back to the early 1900s, it's a gorgeous place to connect with the living world, with a looping path that's largely flat and off-road mobility scooters available to hire for those with limited mobility.
New Fancy
Perfect for: discovering the Forest of Dean's mining history
One of the area's most extraordinary viewpoints, New Fancy is a former coal mine that boasts spectacular views over the Forest of Dean's canopy.
It's rich with history, too — visitors can discover a unique Geomap on the forest floor, which marks out the underlying geology, mines and quarries, and spot the Roll of Honour sculpture which commemorates the miners who once worked in the area. There's a picnic area near the car park too, so don't forget to bring your sarnies!
Nagshead Nature Reserve
Perfect for: wildlife watching
Described as an 'oasis of wildlife', Nagshead Nature Reserve is an ancient oak woodland brimming with native species, from woodpeckers and hawfinches to fallow deer and the Forest of Dean's most famous residents — the wild boar.
Jointly managed by Forestry England and the RSPB, the site has two wildlife hides as well as two waymarked trails. Keen birdwatchers can check the daily bulletin board to find out which species have been recently spotted in the locality.
Dymock Woods
Perfect for: spring flowers
Easily one of the best places to see the Forest Dean's famous wild daffodils, followed by blankets of bluebells as the weather warms up, Dymock Woods is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest that's best visited in the springtime.
Follow the waymarked walking trails to explore this pocket of ancient woodland, with quiet picnic spots along the way. Horse riders are welcome on the hard stone tracks, too!
