A collection of places to go, trails to ride and places to eat and stay

Looking for a change of scenery on your ride? Then the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley has awe-inspiring routes for all abilities. Enjoy the view, take a break and sample some lush local food and drink, relax and unwind in a traditional country hotel, a yurt or shepherd’s hut or book a cottage with a hot tub.

Whether you're a family looking for an easy day out, an ebike leisure rider or a hardened MTB or road cyclist, the thrill of discovering the world on two wheels is tough to beat. Here in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley we welcome all cyclists to some of the most beautiful rides that the UK has to offer.

Download our Cyclists Welcome hotspots PDF here, our guide to the best rides, hires and places to eat and stay.

Jump to:

• Where to Ride
• Where to Hire
• Where to Stay
• Where to Refuel and Recharge
• Do Something Different

Where to Ride

Some do it for the quiet, the freedom, the leisurely pedal. Others do it for the thrills, the speed, the jumps and drops. Cycling is one of the most popular activities in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley and there are trails for all ages and abilities.

The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre has something for everyone. With access to the nine-mile circular Colliers Trail, blue and red graded cross-country trails including Verderers’ and Freeminers and a number of more advanced downhill trails. Old Bob's trail is the most recent addition, suitable for a wide range of cycles with 2, 3 or 4 wheels, adaptive cycles and tag-a-longs - making it a great accessible trail to ride and enjoy. You can even brush up on your off-roading technique with its specially designed skills areas and pump track. This is the best spot to begin your cycling adventure and has a shop, cafe and bike hire.

From the world famous Symonds Yat Rock enjoy tracks such as the Bracelands Cycle Trails or drop down to the River Wye and enjoy the flat Peregrine Path between Monmouth and Symonds Yat East.

Try the Wye Valley Greenway, a five-mile off-road shared use path between Chepstow and Tintern opened in 2021. Part of the route is through a beautifully renovated old railway tunnel

The Newent Loop is a 28-mile on road cycling route on quiet roads and lanes through the Forest of Dean countryside. There are two short cut routes of 19 miles each. The routes are sign posted and can be ridden in either a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction.

Go it alone or enjoy a guided bike ride through the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley with an expert-led tour. Pedalabikeaway, Dean Forest Cycles and WyeMTB offer a range of guided rides, ideal for exploring ‘some of the best mountain bike trails this side of the Alps’.

Find out more about the variety of cycling routes available here.

Where to Hire

From kids bikes to trailers, MTB and e-bikes take a look at our bike hire providers to start your cycling adventure.
With a range of hire bikes for all ages and abilities, including trailers and tagalongs for kids and dogs, Pedalabikeaway has access to the Family Cycle Trail and some of the best MTB trails. 

Hire a mountain, gravel or ebike from Dean Forest Cycles in Parkend and work up an appetite on the trails before returning to the cafe for coffee, cake, ice cream and more.

Based at Bells Hotel & Country Club in Coleford, Wye Bikes offers delivery and collection for a wide range of bikes for all ages and abilities, and included in your hire fee are helmets, tool kits and locks.

Symonds Yat Bike Hire is situated in a fantastic location for off-road cycling. There are a wide range of tracks including picturesque old railway paths, trails along the river and forestry tracks.

WyeMTB doesn’t hire, but it does do guided rides for friends or families in South Wales, the Forest of Dean and the Brecons, plus coaching, MTB qualifications and skills training.

Click here for more information on bike hire in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Where to Stay

There’s a range of places to stay across the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. From luxury hotels to cosy cottages, log cabins to B&Bs, our area welcomes cyclists of all kinds and our accommodation providers often go the extra mile to ensure your precious cycles are super safe for your stay. 

You can choose from a range of accommodation features such as secure stable block for bike storage, electric car charging points (for when you're on 4 wheels), accessibility features, dog friendly and much more. So, if you're looking for the tranquillity of a post cycle woodland walk or just relax in a hot tub or in front of a roaring fire - there's plenty to choose from.

Check out where to stay in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley here.

Where to Refuel and Recharge

Thanks to our gloriously rural, rich, fertile valleys and orchards, we’re home to some of the best independent food and drink producers in the country. Cycled up an appetite? Let’s eat.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect pit stop cafe on your ride, a lakeside case, seeking out a pub with a beer garden or somewhere that welcomes muddy mountain bikers, excited families and groups of friends with or without soggy dogs – we have you covered. 

For all our great cycle-friendly places to eat and drink click here.

Do Something Different

There’s a wealth of experiences, activities and places to visit when you want a break from the saddle. You could take a ride a Steam Train through the mediaeval forest to experience the sights, sounds and smells of steam travel if you're looking to rest your legs. Stations are near real ale pubs, parks, shops, footpaths and cycle paths,

Or take in the rich history of the region including Freemining in the Forest with working coal mines, discover the Forest’s history from the Ice Age to the present day. Visit mines, caves, museums and galleries across the region. 

See our Things to Do page for more activities and experiences in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

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