Things to do, places to go

Whether you are into forest or floatation-tank bathing or more active adventures like paddle-boarding or mountain biking, the Forest of Dean is full of amazing pleasures to discover.

You can visit the historic Tintern Abbey, Chepstow, Goodrich or Raglan castles or get down to earth with some foraging or stargazing.

The quintessential English sites of the Cotswolds are just a short hop from the forest and many of our guests have enjoyed them during their stays.

Or simply take a wander from Nuthatch Retreat for a picnic by a forest stream or roam amongst the bluebells and ancient woodland on our doorstep.

Recommendations in the area:

Post - Stylish award-winning bistro & bottleshop offering seasonal small plates and a curated selection of local ciders & wine (8mins drive).
Hips - Lovely family-run trio of cafes serving great coffee, brunch, burritos, salads and sweet treats. (10-15mins drive)
Littledean Tap House‍ - fun and characterful spot with quiz nights, markets & events as well as hosting one of the ‘Hips’ sites. (10mins)
The Forest Brewery and Stuff That Tastes Good - Great microbrewery and tap room with a tasty menu of street food. (10mins)
The Royal George in Tintern - beautifully stylish spot in an iconic location. Delicious local cuisine in the bar, café & garden, as well as the more formal dining restaurant. (30mins but worth the drive)
Kingsthorne Estate - Award-winning locally produced wines with a restaurant and shop in the pipeline.
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel - cosy hotel restaurant with a relaxed vibe. Perfect for a special meal or afternoon tea. (18min drive)
Simply Wild - Relaxed fine dining with a changing menu of seasonal ingredients. (20min drive)
The White Horse Inn - lovely family-run pub with great food, cosy vibes and fantastic roast dinners. (25min drive)
The Globe - Classic pub grub with a sizeable beer garden. (12min drive)
The Speech House Hotel - Formal and casual dining at a 17th Century hunting lodge. (15min drive)
The George - community-run cafe for lunch, cake & coffee plus pop-up exhibitions & events. (8min drive)
Severn & Wye Smokery High-end seafood restaurant and street food van plus well-stocked fish counter, deli and homewares. (15min drive)
Forest Deli - Award-winning deli & cheese shop from a knowledgeable husband-and-wife team.
Hanley Farm Shop - more local produce, cheese and deli counter plus cafe with good standard fare.
The Fernery restaurant - A wonderful cafe - see Leaf Creative in Creativity and Plants.
Float in the Forest - Float effortlessly on water for deep relaxation. Add immersive light therapy for a meditative experience.
Just Be Therapies - Swedish & deep tissue massage and facials in a lovely therapy space from Beth.
Vigor8 Reflexology- calming & restorative treatments from another lovely Beth! Great for peri-menopause and general relaxation.
Mel Skinner Yoga - offering deeply restful restorative yoga retreats, reflexology and astrology.
Stonerock Lodge - Sauna, cold plunge and a range of events.
The Oma Space - Vinyasa yoga classes and beautiful, nourishing food from Bella.
Freedom Yoga and Relaxation - One-to-one sessions, group classes and yoga therapy from Carolyn.
St Anthony’s Well - Ancient sacred spring and stone plunge pool for cold water therapy amongst the trees. Featured in Countryfile’s list of best wild swimming spots in Britain.
The Garden Retreat - A lovely team at this health and beauty setting in Lydney - many treatments available.
It's always worth checking Visit Dean Wye for top tips, too…
Peddle a Bike Away - Well equipped bike hire, shop and cafe based at the Cannop Cycle Centre - the gateway to The Colliers Cycle trail.
Dean forest cycles - Bike hire in Parkend.
Wye Bikes - E-bike and kids bike hire (bikes can be delivered to Nuthatch).
Noxon Farm - fishing lake naturally stocked with wild carp, bream, tench and perch.
Beechenhurt walks and cycle paths, cafe & Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail - free but parking costs.
RSPB Nagsdead Reserve - See pied flycatchers and redstarts in Spring & all 3 British woodpecker species.
Woorgreens Nature reserve - A wonderful place to spot bird life, dragonflies and damselflies. Conservation grazing means you may also come across Exmoor ponies, highland cattle or Hebridean sheep roaming amongst the forest and woodland paths.
Inspire2Adventure - Guided canoe trips, Stand Up Paddle Boarding and gorge scrambling.
Go Ape - High wire adventures or Segways by Mallards Pike lake. Go Ape for kids is at Beechenhurst.
Bathurst Pool - One for summer fun and early morning swims at this retro community-run outdoor pool.
Borderlands Outdoor - Caving, climbing, bushcraft, archery and other outdoor activities
Lydney Park Estate Gardens- Roman Temple and rhododendrons galore on select days in the spring.
Court Farm Lakes - Wild Swimming, sauna, SUP Yoga and events at this lovely spot with a little cafe.
Dean Forest Railway - 4.5 mile heritage line running amongst woodland and countryside.
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel - Experience foraging, wildlife safaris and creative days as well as lovely food and afternoon teas.
Bird’s Pottery - Potter’s wheel tasters, workshops, private sessions and a paint your own studio.
Wye Valley Flowers - Flower Farm; growing, floristry and seasonal workshops run by the lovely Jo.
Studio 250 offering large, light-filled professional-grade multi-track recording facilities in the heart of the forest.
Jess Rayson Designs - wonderful printmaking workshops plus beautiful designs for your home.
Harts Barn Cookery School - Cookery experiences.
The Yard Print Studio - Day & weekend workshops at this charming studio equipped with high-grade facilities.
Taurus Crafts - Creativity, crafts, cafe and shopping plus Coinros Garden Centre.
Leaf Creative - Wonderful garden centre with good cafe set amongst lovely mature planting inside and out. Events and pop-ups too.
Rachel Shilston - Craft workshops, Mosaics and more.
Wye Valley Sculpture garden - 3 acres of garden on the slopes of the AONB.
Eastnor Pottery - creative and fun potter's wheel experiences from their idyllic studio on the Eastnor Castle estate.
Livin Loom Home - Weaving workshops with Gaby plus visit the beautiful shop.
Chris Lewis Jewellery Design - Jewellery-making workshops and bespoke commissions
Naas Court Farm - Beautiful contemporary Wedding Barn licensed for ceremonies, nestled between the River Severn and the Forest of Dean (5mins).
Noxon Farm - 2 acre events field against woodland backdrop available for private hire (15mins)
St Tewdrics House - Award winning 19th Century Italianate Villa just over the border in Wales, set in 10 acres of idyllic countryside (20mins).
Grendon Court - Lovely wedding barn set against the rolling scenery of Herefordshire.(35mins)
Pauntley Court - Stunning country house and gardens for intimate weddings and retreats and the birthplace of Dick Whittington! (35mins)

With Children

Puzzlewood

An ancient and magical woodland site and tourist attraction with family activities. A unique environment used as a TV & Film location for Star Wars, Dr Who, Merlin etc. Image above

Perrygrove Railway

A narrow-gauge railway meanders through the woods of Perrygrove. Passengers alight at the stations on the way to enjoy exciting play areas and woodland walks. A dog friendly, family-run attraction, perfect for smaller children. Take a picnic!

Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo

It’s indoors, it’s tropical and it’s teeming with exotic butterflies. The Jubilee Maze is one of Britain’s most famous traditional hedge mazes.

The Dean Heritage Centre

This Museum, 2mins up the road, displays the heritage of The Forest of Dean. Five acres to explore, with a Gruffalo trail, a play area and a variety of interesting attractions set against a spectacular backdrop.

Clearwell Caves

Underneath the mysterious Royal Forest of Dean lies a hidden world, spectacular and unseen, a vast natural cave system that has been mined for thousands of years. Great for Christmas.

Bathurst Pool

A family friendly Lido run by volunteers that is open in the summer months, May-Sept. Pot Noodles and oven chip snacks - Old Skool!

Beechenhurst

Ideal place for families to start their forest adventure, with a Stick Man Trail, Sculpture Trail, play area and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. You can bring bikes to join the Family Cycle Trail. Picnic tables and bookable BBQs.

Taurus Crafts

A vibrant visitor centre where you can find a wide range of arts, crafts and independent businesses. Childrens workshops and activity trails during school holidays.

Krazy Golf Lydney

A 15 hole crazy Golf set in an acre of picturesque woodland. Found just across from Taurus Crafts.

Wanders and Wonders

Walks from the doorstep

There a many loops you can do from the front door, from a 30min to a couple of hours+ depending on your mood. Heading over the main road and zigzag-ing up the hill past The Rocks and on into the woodland proper is always a good start and you can take various directions once up at the top. A few options to get you started but we also recommend borrowing the OS map and following your nose. The links below will take you to online OS maps.

● 30min loop down through the farm and back, via a little rope swing and wild garlic in Spring.
● 1h45 loop down to the Brook and towards Soudley and back.
● 1-2hr loop up into the woods and round to Wenchford picnic spot. Scenic stream walk

A short drive away

● Head to Mallards Pike, Soudley Ponds, or Beechenhurst to park up at these Forestry England spots and head on various loops from there. Head 9mins to Lydney Harbour for very different vistas of the Severn and and pop into Hips Cafe outpost for coffee and cake.

Within a 25min drive