Susan's Guidebook
Sightseeing
An idyllic setting for a stroll a short walk from our property.
15 locals recommend
Wenchford Picnic Site
New RoadAn idyllic setting for a stroll a short walk from our property.
Enjoy a stroll around the lake or branch out into the forest for a longer walk finishing at the café for a hot drink, snack or light lunch.
For the adventurous try out the activities at Go Ape.
45 locals recommend
Mallards Pike Lake
Enjoy a stroll around the lake or branch out into the forest for a longer walk finishing at the café for a hot drink, snack or light lunch.
For the adventurous try out the activities at Go Ape.
Take a trip on the steam railway, enjoy the fascinating museum and refresh yourself in the café.
46 locals recommend
Dean Forest Railway
Take a trip on the steam railway, enjoy the fascinating museum and refresh yourself in the café.
An enchanting, ethereal place. Recognised by film makers around the world as a special location for their creations.
159 locals recommend
Puzzlewood
Perrygrove RoadAn enchanting, ethereal place. Recognised by film makers around the world as a special location for their creations.
A fascinating piece of local history. Great café serving homemade food.
16 locals recommend
Hopewell Colliery
Speech House RoadA fascinating piece of local history. Great café serving homemade food.
Interesting museum giving lots of insight into local history. Indoor and outdoor areas of interest. See the chainsaw sculptures and enjoy the super cafe which has a verandah overlooking the lake.
52 locals recommend
Dean Heritage Centre
Interesting museum giving lots of insight into local history. Indoor and outdoor areas of interest. See the chainsaw sculptures and enjoy the super cafe which has a verandah overlooking the lake.
An interesting indoor activity exploring the mining experience in days of old. Good gift shop and café.
6 locals recommend
Clearwell Caves station
An interesting indoor activity exploring the mining experience in days of old. Good gift shop and café.
If you fancy a walk around an old harbour which was once a hive of industrial activity right on the River Severn including some big sky walks with views along and over the river this is your place.
25 locals recommend
Lydney Harbour
If you fancy a walk around an old harbour which was once a hive of industrial activity right on the River Severn including some big sky walks with views along and over the river this is your place.
Amazing, atmospheric place with some great photo opportunities. Pubs, cafés and gift shops all add to the experience.
167 locals recommend
Tintern Abbey / Abaty Tyndryn
Amazing, atmospheric place with some great photo opportunities. Pubs, cafés and gift shops all add to the experience.
A must see viewpoint enjoyed by all our visitors. Don't forget to take your binoculars to spot the peregrine falcons. Café near the carpark for light snacks and hot drinks.
191 locals recommend
Symonds Yat
A must see viewpoint enjoyed by all our visitors. Don't forget to take your binoculars to spot the peregrine falcons. Café near the carpark for light snacks and hot drinks.
A great place for a scenic drive but even better to enjoy the walks along the banks of the river or why not hire a canoe/kayak and explore on the river.
76 locals recommend
Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
A great place for a scenic drive but even better to enjoy the walks along the banks of the river or why not hire a canoe/kayak and explore on the river.
A small garden - unique Dutch design. Each season brings different delights. No café but the local pub, The Lyon Inn is a good one.
13 locals recommend
National Trust, Westbury Court Garden
7 Court GardensA small garden - unique Dutch design. Each season brings different delights. No café but the local pub, The Lyon Inn is a good one.
Less than ten minutes drive up the road, Newnham on Severn is a pretty, historic village great for a stroll around. There is a good village shop - Shop at the Ship - which does take away drinks and food.
Newnham on Severn
Dean RoadLess than ten minutes drive up the road, Newnham on Severn is a pretty, historic village great for a stroll around. There is a good village shop - Shop at the Ship - which does take away drinks and food.
A pretty town (the flower baskets and planters are something else in the summer months) with lots of cafés and independent shops. The castle is well worth a visit.
40 locals recommend
Chepstow
A pretty town (the flower baskets and planters are something else in the summer months) with lots of cafés and independent shops. The castle is well worth a visit.
There are many places to start this trail but the official start is from the large car park at Beechenhurst. Several interesting sculptures that are occasionally added to and sometimes removed. Cafe at Beechenhurst.
90 locals recommend
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail
Speech House RoadThere are many places to start this trail but the official start is from the large car park at Beechenhurst. Several interesting sculptures that are occasionally added to and sometimes removed. Cafe at Beechenhurst.
Food Scene
A favourite place of ours since before we even moved here. Small museum in an old railway carriage, pop up shop in the old signal box, excellent food in the café and a short circular walk - what's not to like?
18 locals recommend
The Old Station Tintern
Tintern HeightsA favourite place of ours since before we even moved here. Small museum in an old railway carriage, pop up shop in the old signal box, excellent food in the café and a short circular walk - what's not to like?
A fabulous café attached to a great farm shop. Can recommend the quiche and the bacon. All local produce.
13 locals recommend
Hanley Farm Shop
Hanley CourtA fabulous café attached to a great farm shop. Can recommend the quiche and the bacon. All local produce.
Excellent eatery. Never had a bad meal here. Service is as good as the food. These people really care.
20 locals recommend
The Miners Country Inn
Chepstow RoadExcellent eatery. Never had a bad meal here. Service is as good as the food. These people really care.
A superb fish restaurant upstairs with café on the ground floor as well as a well stocked deli and separate fish counter. There is also a gift shop
32 locals recommend
Severn & Wye Smokery
A superb fish restaurant upstairs with café on the ground floor as well as a well stocked deli and separate fish counter. There is also a gift shop
We have eaten here on numerous occasions as the food is really good and it's not far down the road. On a Wednesday lunchtime they do a limited senior's menu which is very good value.
28 locals recommend
The Globe Inn, Alvington
Clanna RoadWe have eaten here on numerous occasions as the food is really good and it's not far down the road. On a Wednesday lunchtime they do a limited senior's menu which is very good value.
This is a traditional forest pub right surrounded by trees and sheep and not much else. It takes about an hour to walk there from The Annexe @ Granny's Apple Lodge but then you can reward yourself with a really good value meal and a refreshing drink before heading to Mallard's Pike and then walking back from there.
12 locals recommend
The Rising Sun Inn
2 Moseley GreenThis is a traditional forest pub right surrounded by trees and sheep and not much else. It takes about an hour to walk there from The Annexe @ Granny's Apple Lodge but then you can reward yourself with a really good value meal and a refreshing drink before heading to Mallard's Pike and then walking back from there.
The old verderers' court now a hotel and restaurant. There is a pleasant conservatory at the back and garden to enjoy a morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. There are lots of walks into the forest from here. Check out Cyril Hart Arboretum, some of the Sculpture Trail and Worsgreen Lake.
15 locals recommend
The Speech House
Speech House RoadThe old verderers' court now a hotel and restaurant. There is a pleasant conservatory at the back and garden to enjoy a morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. There are lots of walks into the forest from here. Check out Cyril Hart Arboretum, some of the Sculpture Trail and Worsgreen Lake.
This pub has recently had a massive refurbishment. The food and service is excellent. Very good burgers.
15 locals recommend
The Woodman Inn
Folly RoadThis pub has recently had a massive refurbishment. The food and service is excellent. Very good burgers.
The Miners Arms
Another good forest pub.
A great foodie pub. Good place to combine with a visit to the Dutch Gardens in Westbury. Closed Wednesdays.
10 locals recommend
The Lyon Inn
Bell LaneA great foodie pub. Good place to combine with a visit to the Dutch Gardens in Westbury. Closed Wednesdays.
Mad Nana’s Tea Room
1 Broad StA tiny cafe with a big heart.
Love this cafe. A great place to people watch - Shire Hall is almost opposite where you might catch the odd wedding. The ice cream is delicious and made on the premises. There is also a branch in Cheltenham which apparently is bigger and has even more ice cream choice.
The Clementine
64 Westgate StreetLove this cafe. A great place to people watch - Shire Hall is almost opposite where you might catch the odd wedding. The ice cream is delicious and made on the premises. There is also a branch in Cheltenham which apparently is bigger and has even more ice cream choice.
The pub attached to the Gloucester Brewery. Good selection of ales which they are happy to get you to try - just ask. They also have live music nights.
TANK
The pub attached to the Gloucester Brewery. Good selection of ales which they are happy to get you to try - just ask. They also have live music nights.
A restaurant behind The Swan in Lydney which has superb food. The bar meals from the Swan come out of the same kitchen.
9 locals recommend
The Ugly Duckling
3 Swan RdA restaurant behind The Swan in Lydney which has superb food. The bar meals from the Swan come out of the same kitchen.
A newish cafe that seems to hit all the right notes. Good food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere.
Hips Social
71 Newerne StA newish cafe that seems to hit all the right notes. Good food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere.
An incredibly old pub serving delicious food. Don't forget to visit the amazing church opposite, known as The Cathedral of the Forest.
30 locals recommend
The Ostrich Inn
An incredibly old pub serving delicious food. Don't forget to visit the amazing church opposite, known as The Cathedral of the Forest.