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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
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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 >
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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
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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
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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
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10 WALKS
Dont get lost take copy with you
Royal
Forest Route >
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Remember this route
is 20 miles long, you can Walk, Drive & Walk or Cycle & Walk
whichever way 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
Walk 1 The Dean Heritage Centre
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
>
Walk 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
Walk
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
Walk
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
Walk
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
Walk
6 At the Perrygrove Railway
you can travel for 1.5 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
Walk 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
Walk
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)
Walk
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
Walk
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
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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
>
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