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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UK 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
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10 WALKS

Dont get lost  take  copy with you

Print - Version - Here  >
 

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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