Holiday rentals in Forest of Dean District

Sandwiched between the tidal rivers of the Severn and the Wye, the Forest of Dean boasts 67 square kilometres of rolling woodland in the county of Gloucestershire in the west of England, following the border of Wales.

The ancient woods here were the first to become designated as a national forest in England, and as you walk along the many trails that crisscross the area, you will be treated to a wide variety of trees, including oak, birch, beech, and ash. A smattering of small towns and villages dot the region, including Coleford and Cinderford, where you can discover how iron, coal, and gold mining fuelled the industrial heritage of the area.

If you’re interested in witnessing a force of nature at Forest of Dean, head down to the River Severn, where you can view the Severn Bore, a surge wave that travels down the river. It’s at its strongest at the spring and autumn equinoxes, when it can measure up to 9 feet tall, travelling at speeds of up to 8 miles per hour, attracting many surfers.

As the Forest of Dean mostly comprises deciduous trees, the scenery of the woodland changes with the seasons. In the spring, the leaves on the trees return and you can see the vibrant colours of the rhododendrons in bloom. If you are walking in the forest at the end of April and beginning of May, the ground turns into a carpet of blue, with some of the best displays of bluebells in the country. Summer is when the temperatures are at their highest and you can see the trees at their fullest. As autumn arrives, the leaves turn warm red, gold, and russet colours and gradually fall to the ground, revealing a different landscape for the winter. This is a great time to warm up in a hot tub at your lodge rental. Different events take place throughout the year, including the Coleford Music Festival in the middle of July.

Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

A walk in a forest will never be the same when you visit the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail close to the market town of Coleford. This trail features a host of sculptures that echo the historical and physical qualities of the Forest of Dean and will be reclaimed by the forest as time goes by. This includes the majestic Cathedral, a stained glass window that is four and a half meters high, featuring images of the forest.

Dean Forest Railway

Take a step back in time and experience the woodlands from a different viewpoint on the Dean Forest Railway. The steam trains will take you on a journey along 4.5 miles of rural railway from Lydney Junction Station to Parkend, with different stops for you to get off and explore the area.

Hopewell Colliery

Hopewell Colliery, which is close to Coleford, is one of the most beautiful former coal mines in the country. With a tour guide, you can go underground in tunnels dug from the 1820s to see how workers extracted the coal. You will also learn about “freemining,” a tradition unique to the Forest of Dean.