wye valley and forest of dean

Although I have lived within the Forest of Dean and on the doorstep of the Wye Valley for over twenty years, every season reveals new aspects. Visitors often return to the area because there is always something new to discover. No matter whether you are a solo traveller, a couple or family there are places to go in good and bad weathers and the forest itself is unspoilt. You will find a friendly welcome in the towns and villages too. Highlights include Symonds Yat, Monmouth, Tintern Abbey, Raglan Castle and all the Forestry Commission visitor centres, walking and cycling trails.

We enjoyed a beautiful drive from Monmouth (cute, busy, friendly town on Saturday with a small open-air market and the oldest complete fortified medieval bridge) to Cardiff. The scenery through the forest that follows the meandering River Wye was really outstanding. Our map said it was a "scenic route" and they weren't kidding - gorgeous thick canopies of trees, the big green forest, lovely river valleys, emerald green meadows with grazing cattle and sheep, and some small quaint villages. Tintern Abbey is a must see! We're soooooooo glad we decided to include this drive in our plans. It's stunning in early Spring.

We spent four days in Clearwell in The Forest Of Dean researching family history. It was not somewhere we had been before, but only an hour and a half drive from home it is virtually on the doorstep!! It has that "wow" factor, round every corner there is scenery that is absolutely stunning. The Forest itself has many hidden secrets and some tucked away little hamlets and villages that seem to be stuck in a time warp, in a good way though. Unspoilt and unchanged. Peaceful and serene. It was a real de-stressor. There are lots of activities for the adventurer in the Wye Valley and Symons Yat, rafting, bird watching, cycling and horse riding. Something for everyone.

If you like forest and riverside walks you have to visit and do some of the trails. I'd recommend Symonds Yat East and Rock if you cross over Biblins bridge to West and turn left you enter some less used but more special trails through woodland. Also the Salmon Trail from Chepstow castle is amazing the woodland is full of moss and has interesting points along the walk such as a grotto and the giants Cave this was my favourite walk around 7 miles with great views as well.

Forest of Dean a wonderful place to revive one's inner spiritual strength. Loads of waymarked trails to walk or cycle and not overly crowded. Beechenhurst is a cafe in the middle and from here one can walk the sculpture trail or hire a bike or have a barbeque (in designated area) or play games on the grassy area out front of the cafe or just let the youngsters play in the purpose built playpark

Beautiful scenery - what can I say. Lovely wibding roads, green hills and little houses perched on the sides of hills. If you are in that location, you have to go and take a look.

Visited wye valley, an area we hadnt explored before. The road from monmouth was very pretty. Stayed in small village of Brockweir, the last port on the river many years ago. stayed at property Monks Hall 14th cen brew house for the monks from tintern abbey, beautiful and only 39 steps door to door to local pub,the brockweir, which did good honest pub grub. the walk along th river to Tintern appx 2mls was lovely and flat!, also the old station along the route with a tea room.Will go again so much to see and do right on your door step. The walk taking in the old furnaces from Tintern was very pleasant and very little expolred.

My wife and I have just returned from a weeks break in gloucestershire and was recommended that we took the dog to Forest of Dean and have a go at the sculpture trail. The trail is 4.5 miles and takes about 2 hours to complete. We went on a Tuesday and only seen one other couple the whole walk, which made it even more tranquil. We really enjoyed the walk and really took it upon ourselves to find all the sculptures on the trail and I think we found all but one of them.If you fancy other walks you can pick from about 4-5 different trails and there is also cafe and toilet facilities at the start of the trails. You can also take short cuts on walks if you feel you have bitten off more than you can chew allowing escape routes if you get too tired. Along the sculpture trail there is a bench at most of the more obvious sculptures allowing a rest if needed.I would recommend a visit and at a cost of £3.50 for car parking (fees help with up keep of the forest) it is very reasonable.We loved it and the dog enjoyed it more than us

Our first visit to the forest and we were not disappointed, plenty of facilities and walks to suit all abilities, i am not a big walker but really enjoyed the sculpture trail it made walking a bit more interesting.

We had two great days visiting Symonds Yat , the first we went on a boat trip up the Wye and then a long walk through the woods(getting very lost)On the second day the children and hubby rented bikes (automatic and very easy to ride) and cycled up to the bridge and back. You hire them from the Hotel £5 per person. In the afternoon they all went on the river in canoes...and in the river! Great fun, lots of cafes and a pub, plenty of parking and places to sit, beautiful views. We then walked up to the rock on the footpath! Steep but worth the climb!

One of the walks we did in the Wye Valley. Set out from Browns Store in Llandogo, down to the river past a beutiful church then a steep stepped walk to the ridge. We were told this area has 1000 steps... but we didn't count! Fine views from the top, and descent zig-zag through the woods with waterfalls. Takes about 2 hours.

First visited this viewpoint some 55 years ago,not a lot has changed in this time yes its been made easier to get to and the viewpoint itself is a lot safer to view from.This can be accessed by a few routes the easiest being coming out of the village of St.Arvans on the A466 go out of the village towards Tintern up the straight to the top of the hill before the bend there is a lane to the left take this and about half a mile up is a small parking area Upper Wyndcliffe enough parking for a dozen cars.The, forestry commission have put in a pathway which zig zags its way up through the woods which are carpeted in bluebelles and wild garlic at present, the path its self can be a little difficult due to the fact that so many rocks sticking up from the soil so watch were you walk, a few benches have been put in for that little rest if needed although the walk should take no more than twenty minutes or so at a steady pace,you will be rewarded with some of the best views in the valley, on a clear day you can literally see for miles and miles my most rewarding day here was one cold frosty morning one february the view was to die for everything white bathed in brillant sunshine just myself and the birds with a little traffic noise from the road way below,for me this more than equals the yat rock but i think because you cant drive to within a couple of hundred yards of it its not so well known,but well worth tracking down.Another way to access it is by means of the picknick area on the A466 called lower wyndcliffe and follow the signs for 365 steps also beside this route is a path which will take you up to upper wyndcliffe as well.

So much to see and do in beautiful surroundings. Endless walks and cycle trails with bikes for hire.The access to the forest is free in most places. We are an elderly couple and enjoyed it but saw many families having a great time. We will go back there.There are places to buy food.

We completed the 12 mile round walk from Monmouth to Yat Rock return to Monmouth on Friday. The pathways are easy to walk and the scenery stunning. We saw a few other walkers and a few cyclists. We parked at the Leisure Centre in Monmouth which is free parking, turn left out of the Centre and then right under the river via the vehicle/paedestrian path. Turn left at the rowing club and then follow the signposts for the Peregrin Way. The start of the walk is through an industrial area of lockup units but you are soon in the countryside. The fist part of the walk is along a narrow roadway so dogs and yound children need close supervision. You then join a path running parallel with the river. We saw a great deal of wildlife including herons, buzzards and more common birds. The steep, hard climb up to the top of Yat Rock is well worth the stunning views. RSPB have set up a camera focused on a family of Peregrin falcons. They were not too active when we visited but had magnificent views of the male. There is a cafe at the top but this is overpriced so we would recomment that you take your own picnic.On the return journey cross Biblin bridge and return the Monmouth on the opposite bank which gives completely different views of the area. There is some background traffic noise but not enough to spoil the walk. You will then avoid having to return via the industrial area and will come out on the bridge on the A40. Use the underpass to cross the road into Monmouth for a well earned sit down and refreshment.

Dicen que Tolkien se inspiró aquí para escribir El Señor de los Anillos. Y debe de ser así porque el sitio tiene una atmósfera mágica. En especial el mirador de Symonds Yat, con su roca sobre el río con un paisaje increíblemente hermoso.