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We accidentally found the GOLDEN MILE in 1970 we were so overcome by the shear beauty
that we have been drawn back by some invisible force time and time again for 37 years
if Robin Hood had found this place he would never have stayed in Sherwood

Climb up into the Forest of Dean, which soars to 290 metres at its highest point,
and enjoy walking in this ancient Forest, designated the country’s first National Forest Park in 1938,
surrounded by free roaming sheep and fallow deer.

Learn about the area’s industrial heritage and its freeminers, charcoal burners and iron makers.

Discover this magical borderland fought over for centuries by the English and the Welsh.

Travel down the Wye Valley gorge, now designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
following in the footprints of artists, poets and writers.

Visit its ancient castles and enjoy the tranquil charm
and elusive beauty.

Nature is all around you in Spring the woodland hills are covered with bluebells
and around Newent the wild daffodils cover the verges.

In Summer the landscape is green and fertile and

In Autumn see a cascade of golden colours. Otters have returned to the river Wye
peregrine falcons can be observed at Symonds Yat, where they nest every year.

**Directions To Get Here**
Checkout the weather

This circuit through the heart of the Forest of Dean has been divided into two halves.

The first section, from the Dean Heritage Centre to Clearwell Caves,
is the best route and starting point for visitors arriving from Gloucester and the East.
For those joining the Royal Forest Route from the West (Wye Valley and Severn Bridge)
we recommend that you join at Clearwell Caves and start with the section between
Clearwell Caves and the Dean Heritage Centre.

**THE 10 WALKS**

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Royal Forest Route

Remember that the route is 20 miles long.you can Walk,Drive & Walk or  Cycle & Walk
whichever you prefer there is plenty of time to stop,
visit the attractions and enjoy the beauty spots. Plan your own diversions
visit the Dean Forest Railway, Symonds Yat, nearby Newent...there are many other options.

Start at The Dean Heritage Centre if arriving from the East
Dean Heritage Centre - Cannop Ponds - Speech House - Coleford - Clearwell Caves

1 The Dean Heritage Centre (Walks)

an essential introduction to the Forest of Dean. Based around five galleries,
it tells the story of Dean's unique culture and environment. Woodland walks,
a rooftop cafe and a picnic and barbecue area,special exhibitions and craft demonstrations

From the Dean Heritage Centre car park, turn left
You are heading for the heart of the Forest of Dean!
Immediately on your right you will pass Soudley Ponds Nature Reserve,
a pleasant spot for a picnic or walk.

 At the next junction follow the brown and white 'Scenic Route' signs for one and a half miles to Ruspidge.
At Ruspidge you could stop and take the 'Blue Rock Trail' (on your right)

a pleasant walk and picnic site or turn off to the Rainforest Collection
marked by a Brown and White signpost.

Follow the road to the T-junction at the end, opposite you will see the White Hart Inn.
To continue on the Royal Forest Route turn left and follow signs for the Speech House (B4226).
 Shortly after, on the right you will pass Brown and White signs leading to Winners Cycle Hire
(100 yards down from the White Hart Inn).
Stay on route for two and a half miles. You will notice picnic sites on either side of this road.
Each site provides picnic benches and some provide barbecues.

Shortly before the Speech House, on the left-hand side of the road opposite the Speech House Woodland
you will find the signposted Cyril Hart Arboretum. Ernest Wilson, known as ‘Chinese Wilson’
as a result of his collecting trips to the East started this fine collection of trees in 1916.

There is a picnic site and parking. A trail for the visually impaired is provided.
Further along the road (300 yards) on the left hand side is the Speech House Hotel.

2 The Speech House Hotel

is a forest landmark. Built in 1676 as a hunting lodge for Charles II
(his Arms can still be seen in the hotel's stonework). The building became
the administrative centre of the forest, with the largest room being
the Verderers' Court.

Opposite the hotel you will find a stone monument that marks the centre of the Forest.
Continuing past The Speech House Hotel you will soon see
Beechenhurst Lodge signposted on the right.

3 Beechenhurst Lodge Visitor Centre

has paid parking for cars and coaches (be sure to have some change ready).
It also has TOILETS and an excellent cafeteria. Around the lodge are barbecue hearths,
suitable for both small and large groups of people.This is the starting point for the Sculpture Trail,
buy a guide at the lodge.Sculptures such as the 'Giant's Chair' and 'Cathedral'
add highlights to a gentle and picturesque two-mile route.

To rejoin the Royal Forest Route, turn right out of Beechenhurst and follow the road down the hill.
Just before the crossroads on the left you will find the entrance to Cannop Ponds.

4 Cannop Ponds

is another popular wooded picnic spot overlooking a pond. An ideal spot for lunch with the family,
with a woodland stream that holds a fascination over younger children.

Leaving Cannop Ponds the way you came in turn left and continue straight over the crossroads
along the Royal Forest Route signposted for Coleford B4226.

At this point you can seek out Pedalabikeaway (Forest Cycle Centre)
by turning right at the crossroads. Follow Brown and White signposts.
From Pedalabikeaway there are marked cycle routes through the forest.

Back on the Royal Forest Route you will see Brown and White signs for Hopewell Colliery,
a reminder of the coal mining tradition in the Forest.
Turn right off the main road into Hopewell Colliery,
or continue straight on for Coleford Town Centre.

5 Hopewell Colliery

An ideal location to go underground and see a Forest of Dean coal mine,
with mine workings dating back to the 1820's. The attraction is open everyday during
the main season and has a cafe.

 A little further on from Hopewell Colliery you can turn right at the next crossroads
for Symonds Yat Rock viewpoint (B4432).

To continue along the route go straight over the crossroads and follow the road
downhill towards Coleford (B4226). Turn left at the end of the road, towards Coleford.

 Coleford is a busy working town with a long history: you can follow the Coleford Town Walk
which highlights historic buildings.
It was here in the 1800's that Robert Mushet invented the process of making steel.

On reaching Coleford, turn left at the traffic lights to continue on the Royal Forest Route,
following the B4228 and Brown and White signposts for 'Clearwell Caves. Perrygrove. Puzzlewood'
(Or for Coleford Town Centre and the Tourist Information Centre go straight ahead at the traffic lights).
On the Royal Forest Route following the B4228 go straight over at the next set of traffic lights
and head out of town. Perrygrove Railway is half a mile further on, on the left.

6 At the Perrygrove Railway

you can travel for 11/2 miles on a unique 15" gauge estate steam railway and follow an
all weather treasure hunt. An ideal attraction for children.

400 yards further along the B4228 is Puzzlewood on the right hand side.
This is an extraordinary visitor attraction that defies easy description.

7 Puzzlewood

is a former (pre-Roman) open cast ore mine, although its popularity today is really due
to the extraordinary landscape that the grown-over ore workings have created.
A maze of paths with seats and bridges disorientate and surprise at every turn,
like some fantasy movie set.

The Royal Forest Route continues from Puzzlewood to Clearwell Caves.
Come out of Puzzlewood and turn right towards the Caves, follow the Brown and White signposts.
Take the next right turn off the main road after about 400 yards up the road and
follow the road down the hill. The caves are about 400 yards down the hill on the left-hand side

Start at Clearwell Caves if arriving from the West
Clearwell Caves - Clearwell - Newland - Nags Head - Mallards Pike

8 Clearwell Caves

The caves are a unique part of Britain's heritage. Iron ore has been mined here
for nearly 3000 years to form an incredible system of underground tunnels and chambers,
of which 8 large caverns are now open to the public.

Originally a natural cave system, it is partially filled with iron ore, which has been mined
extensively since the beginning of the Iron Age.
Today, there is a fashionable demand for Clearwell Ochre, an oxide pigment mined underground.
Reds, yellows, purples and browns are used for colourings, from watercolours to interior decoration.

Leave Clearwell Caves and turn left, downhill to continue on the Royal Forest Route.

Just down the road from here is Clearwell, an attractive village with several good pubs and inns.
This section of the Royal Forest Route includes some of the scenic highlights of the Forest,
and some excellent picnic spots.

In Clearwell there is a monument in the centre of the village, opposite The Wyndham Arms.
Turn left at the monument to continue along route signposted for Clearwell Castle
(not open to the public), that you will soon pass on your right.

Continue on the Royal Forest Route past the Castle until you see signs for Coleford on the left.
 On the bend turn left, signposted towards Coleford.

Continue along this road for 300 yards to the T-Junction. Turn left signposted Coleford (B4228).
You will pass the Orepool Inn on your right. Continue along the road through Sling and before
the Miner's Arms turn right signposted to Parkend.

You can visit the old mine at Ellwood which is on the route just before the next T-junction.
Here in 1850, the first steel in the world was manufactured. Enter the car park off the road
at the top of the hill on the left. Walk down to the site.

 At the T-junction, turn right signposted for Blakeney. On this road you will pass a sign
for the Gloucestershire Way and also the Mary Rose Young Pottery shop,
both on your left. Further along on your left (1.5 miles) is the
Nags Head Nature Reserve (RSPB).

9 Nags Head Nature Reserve

This reserve is mostly oak woodland and is a great place for bird spotting with about
2,000 nest boxes on the site. Here in the summer months you can see such rarities
as the Pied Flycatcher, the Redstart or the Wood Warbler. There's an information centre
for more details on birds and other animals in the area.

Come out of the Reserve and turn left and continue to follow signs for Blakeney.
Bear left round the corner where you will find the Woodman Pub on your left.
Continue straight along this road following signposts for Blakeney

 To visit New Fancy View, a popular bird-viewing site, turn left off the route following
signposts for Cinderford and The Speech House. New Fancy View is on the right
(300 Yards) and is signposted.

 Back on the Royal Forest Route after half a mile you will find Mallards Pike signposted on your left.

10 Mallards Pike

This lake and picnic area TOILETS offers gentle walking and wonderful views.
At the lake you can see a sculpture of the frog and the mermaid.
The name refers to a tollhouse that once stood there.

Turn left out of Mallards Pike and continue along the road.
Take the first left turning after about a mile (under a former railway bridge).
If you want to stop at Wenchford Picnic Site it's on the right just before
the bridge and is clearly signposted.`
Pass under the bridge and you will now be on the road known by the locals as
'The Roman Road'. It is also the road we like to call The Golden Mile.

Everyone will have their own favourite area of the Forest, but in autumn, the route between
Wenchford Picnic Site and the return route to The Dean Heritage Centre is spectacular.
The Golden Mile is, we think, the 'must see' part of the Forest for the autumn months
when the whole area is a riot of colour.

Turn right at the T-junction to return to the Dean Heritage Centre.

This will take you back to the start of the route. For those who started the route at Clearwell Caves
turn right to visit the Dean Heritage Centre and then follow directions for the route from this point.

**For Disabled Or Less Agile Ramblers**
This is an ideal Location for disabled and less agile ramblers,you can drive round this 20 mile
track and stop at each attraction and do the walk there,
disabled access info