If you haven’t yet heard of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, you’re forgiven. Bordering England and South Wales (covering the three counties of Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire specifically), this region is familiar to those in-the-know as an area of breathtaking natural beauty and sweeping grandeur.
It’s romantic in the way that only rural Britain can be. But it’s also a destination in its own right for adventure travelers. Here is a brief primer of why it should be on your travel bucketlist:
© Algy O’Connell
Where to Stay
There are myriad accommodation options throughout the region. Whether it’s a boutique B&B, charming guesthouse, historic hotel, or sleeping on a farm, you can find just about any form of rustic lodging in the area. What’s more is that many are far more affordable than you might expect making the area a great choice for budget travelers.
There’s also no shortage of specialty options as well, including kid-friendly accommodations for families, ultra-affordable stays for budget travelers, and plenty of Forest of Dean pet friendly rural holiday cottages for pet-lovers.
What to Do
The stunning natural beauty of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Area make it an easy choice for romantic getaways and honeymoon-goers. But the area is also an outdoor lover’s paradise no matter the time of year. Ubiquitous activities include mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, raft building, Nordic walking, tower-climbing, off-road Segway tours, scuba diving, and cave-exploring. The list goes on and on and on … you could easily spend two weeks and never get bored!
For die-hard nature lovers, there are even primitive survival skill schools in the area that take visitors into the woods on day or overnight trips and teach them how to survive in the wild.
Families will also appreciate plenty of outdoor/adventure-centric activities for the kids as well. These include fishing, exploring the numerous leisure centers, miniature golf, zip-lining, etc.
Getting There + Around
Ultimately, travel by car in and around the area is the most convenient. It’s within easy access of the M4, M48, M5 and M50 motorways, as well as many other major roads, so getting there from nearby major cities is a breeze.
It’s also accessible (though not nearly as convenient) by rail via the Abergavenny, Chepstow, Gloucester and Lydney stations.
Fairly regular flights into the region run out of Cardiff International, Birmingham International, and Bristol International airports from the UK, Europe, and the USA. All are within a short, 90-minute drive.