The way to spend your May (Half-Term)

Looking for a jam-packed half-term, filled with outdoor adventures, crafts, picnics, activity and most of all fun. Ditch the screens pack up the kids and strap in for a week to remember. Here is your half-term round up of everything we have going on across the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley inluding the late May Bank Holiday. 

Elton Giant Mazes are back! 

Opens on 27 May until 4 June 2023. Each year at Elton Farm we grow a giant field of maize to produce three themed GIANT maize mazes (large, medium & small).

The Maize Mazes also have a trivia quiz, look out towers & hidden objects to find.

The Activities Maze is a self-contained maze with many fun activities such as The Monkey Ropes, The Log Walk and many more. This year they are opening early for May Bank Holiday and then will re-open on 22 July for the summer holidays. 

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Tales and Music with Geoffrey of Monmouth at Chepstow Castle 

Geoffrey of Monmouth was born in the Norman Welsh Marches towards the end of the 11th century. A Benedictine monk, he was a master storyteller who shaped the medieval idea of British history - including the legengs of King Arthur!

Visit Chepstow Castle on 27 and 28 May to hear more of Geoffrey’s History of the Kings of Britain, plus sweet medieval music from Trouvere.

Performances throughout the day and are included in ticket price. 

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The Pilgrimage at Tintern Abbey

The year is 1416, and the Freemen of Gwent have returned from France where they fought victoriously under King Henry V’s banner at Agincourt the previous year.

However, they feel the need to be somewhere holy and atone for their sins to save themselves from dire retribution, and what better place to achieve this than at Tintern Abbey, on their doorstep. 

Come and meet these fierce men-at-arms and their families every day between Saturday 27 May and Monday 29 May in the warmth of their camp near their homes in Wales, and learn about their way of life and worship. Included in ticket price. 

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Go Ape 

With not one but two incredible high ropes courses in the Forest of Dean you can really set your kids adrenaline going and be sure of a good nights sleep after. 

Nestled deep within England's largest oak woodland, awaits hours of high-octane monkey business making for some of the best outdoor activities in Gloucestershire.

You'll find three of our adventures across two sites at the Forest of Dean, and depending on which one you're after, you'll be heading to either Mallards Pike or Beechenhurst Lodge. 

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Hire a Canoe and go wild on the Wye 

Now that the weather has finally started to behave there can be no better place to enjoy a sunny day than out on the river. Lets face it ratty and toad got it right life on the riverbank is idyllic. We have some wonderful canoe hire options right along the river Wye. Discover them all here. 

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Go for a cycle 

Forget spin class for a while - Hire a bike and go for a family bike ride. The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley have some really well established cycle trails, with various degrees of difficulty everything from absolute beginners to daredevil downhilling. 

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Dancing at the Devauden Festival 

The perfect pint-sized family-friendly festival. This year's Devauden festival is shaping up to be their best yet. This fantastic local festival will run from Friday May 26 till Sunday May 28 and this year will feature 5 stages including the DJ Tent, the Big Top, the acoustic Stage and the Badger's Den - the weird, the wild, the wonderful. Lose yourself around the campfire until the early hours and catch some unique performances throughout the weekend. For kids and families, the ever-popular Junkfish will again be running their fabulous craft tent and the usual mix of fun activities that regulars love will be on offer.

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Find your inner Viking 

Come as a guest and leave as a Viking. Viking Games offer outdoor activities including axe throwing, archery, adult paintballing, junior paintball, laser clay shooting and four Nordic inspired throwing games. Situated in Ewyas Harold surrounded by the picturesque countryside of the golden valley in Herefordshire. The perfect way to let off steam this half-term. Suitable for ages 8 and upwards. 

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Half Term Extras at Perrygrove 

Perrygrove delight families with added activities every school holiday. So as well as their incredible train rides and playpark in the engine shed you can find additional indoor activities. Including colouring, crafts and BigJig play sessions – this is where we have our BigJigs wooden railway available for the children to play with. Open everyday throughout half-term. 

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Messy Church at Hereford Cathedral 

On 1 June 12-3pm join Hereford Cathedral for some mess making, including a selection of crafts and activities for all of the family to take part in! Messy Church is church for families and all. 

Messy Church is a free drop-in event with no pre-booking required. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and grown ups are more than welcome to get involved in all of the activities.

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Half-term activities at Nature in Art

Join the creative and crafty team at Nature in Art for some fun and arty activities over May half-term. There will be two sessions per day.

Wednesday 31st May – Batik.
You will use hot wax to draw designs and then fabric paints to colour the designs.

Thursday 1st June – Magazine Beads.
Children will learn how to make beads out of strips of magazines and then use these to make bracelet/necklace/pictures.

Friday 2nd June – Weaving with wool and pompom making.
Children will learn how to weave with wool. Then they will make pompoms to dangle from their woven piece.

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Whatever you decide to do this half-term we hope you find fun and freedom in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Remember to tag us into your pictures on social media using #visitdeanwye and #findyourfreedom and we will re-share as many as we can. Is your favourite activity missing from this list, use the comments section below to let us know.