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Forest of Dean Towns and Villages

The Forest of Dean has a rich heritage and culture and its towns are characterful and vibrant bases for exploring:

Coleford is a picturesque and charming market town with a long and rich history. Its centre is compact and walkable with all the amenities and family-friendly attractions to make the town worth a visit in its own right. There are lots of eating out options and independent shops, a deli, several cafes and restaurants, a cinema, countryside walks and a historic clock tower in the centre. It is also home to the Tourist Information Centre, where you can find out more about Coleford and the wider area.

Newent is a thriving market town with bustling independent retailers and a Market Square that includes several historical buildings including the Market House, a structure that dates back to the 13th century. One of the oldest inhabited towns in the Forest of Dean, Newent has been settled since at least Roman times and appeared in the 1086 Domesday Book of William the Conqueror. As well as having a long and rich history, Newent is one of the most picturesque towns in the region, and makes for a great base to explore the Dean Wye.

The historic town of Lydney is situated on the River Severn and houses some of the area’s must see points of interest including a lovely park and historic monuments as well as a harbour with riverside walks, so you could easily spend a day here before venturing outside the area. Thirty pubs, cafes and restaurants cater for locals and visitors and the town has a variety of local shops that offer everything you need for your stay. Finally, it’s also the perfect base for those who prefer to leave the car at home, as the town is connected to the national rail network via Lydney Station, with trains to Newport and Gloucester as well as the Dean Forest Railway for steam train rides deep into the Forest.

An historic market town, Cinderford got its name from the iron ore which was mined and smelted in the area from Norman times. Cinderford continued to rely on mining, especially coal, right up until the 1960s, and its heritage is marked by a statue of a Forest of Dean Freeminer in the town centre. With cafes, shops, a cinema and surrounded by picturesque forest, a 3 mile walking trail takes in many of the town's highlights. On the western edge Linear Park offers forest walks, the attractive Steam Mills Pond and direct access to many walking paths and cycle trails in the Forest of Dean.

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Number of results: 29

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St Briavels

Address

Gloucestershire, GL15 6TA

Historic Forest of Dean village with a former royal castle, now a youth hostel. Set high above the Wye Valley there are good views into the Forest, the River Wye below and to Wales in the distance.
Staunton, Near Coleford

Address

Gloucestershire, GL16 8NU

Small village between Coleford and Monmouth close to the Welsh border. There is good walking around the village and from the Buckstone their are great views into Wales.
Tidenham

Address

Gloucestershire, NP16 7JQ

Tidenham is a small village in Gloucestershire bordered by the River Wye on the west and the River Severn on the south. Offa's Dyke Path runs through the village with great views along the Wye and there is a lovely nature reserve and walks to the Devil's Pulpit.
Alvington

Address

Gloucestershire, GL15 6BA

Village between Lydney and Chepstow
Awre

Address

Awrw, Gloucestershire, GL14 1EW

Listed in the Domesday Book, Awre has had its character moulded over the years by winds and tides of the River Severn
Bream

Address

Gloucestershire, GL15 6JF

Surrounded by beautiful forest, this is a former mining village with great views, walks and cycle routes all around. Central shops, a pub, cafe, church and post office. The war memorial offers spectacular forest views.
Brockweir

Address

Gloucestershire, NP16 7NG

Brockweir is a small but attractive village located alongside the River Wye in Gloucestershire. There is a thriving community shop serving a wide range of local produce with a well stocked cafe. Riverside walks and beautiful views all around.
Cinderford - from Mining to Tourism

Address

Gloucestershire, GL14 2SE

With in excess of 20 pubs, restaurants and cafes/takeaways, a variety of retail outlets and a range of places to stay, you can easily base yourself in Cinderford while venturing out into the Forest of Dean and wider Wye Valley area. An historic market town, it got its name from the iron ore which was mined and smelted in the area from Norman times. Cinderford continued to rely on mining, especially coal, right up until the 1960s, and its heritage is marked by a statue of a Forest of Dean Freeminer in the town centre. Today the focus…
Clearwell

Address

Gloucestershire, GL16 8JT

Small village close to Coleford with a historic past based on its castle and mining. Clearwell caves, a former iron mine is open to the public.