5 Ways to Escape the Everyday in the Undiscovered and Mystical Forest of Dean and Wye Valley
 

With wide open spaces and dramatic landscapes this is the ideal location to recharge your batteries and get off the beaten track. From the ancient Forest of Dean to the wild Wye Valley there are outdoor adventures galore, stunning castles and ruins, plentiful arts and crafts, miles of walking and cycle paths and some great artisan produce.

Here are just a few ways you can escape the everyday on a short break in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley:

1. Get Wild on Safari
 

You’re never far from the wild side of the Forest of Dean amongst the 20 million trees, but some of our elusive creatures who call the forest home are best spotted alongside a local expert. Naturalist Ed Drewitt can take you out on an exhilarating wildlife safari to track, hear and see some of the unusual native animals who live in the ancient forest. He runs private tours as well as group sessions throughout the year in collaboration with the boutique Forest of Dean hotel The Tudor Farmhouse. Stay with them and sample their delicious 20-mile menu with many ingredients coming from their own kitchen garden.
 
Enjoy a spot of birdwatching...
 
You don't have to go far to enjoy some birdwatching in the Dean Wye. Head to RSPB Nagshead for some bird and wildlife watching of your own with hides and wildlife ponds to enjoy. Climb the New Fancy viewpoint to spot buzzards, Symonds Yat Rock to see nesting Peregrone Falcons or visit Cannop Ponds where there are always plenty of waterfowl to see. 

2. Hideout in the Trees
 

Whether the devil preached down to the monks at Tintern Abbey or not, walkers can venture to the stunning Devil’s Pulpit viewpoint in Western Gloucestershire today and discover the most breathtaking Wye Valley views. A walker’s paradise there are endless quiet paths through ancient forests and along stunning rivers with cosy country pubs and cafes to reward yourself with a treat for your efforts.
 
Then hideout in the trees in your own secluded treehouse for some seriously luxurious relaxation. Stargaze from the copper bathtub on the deck, light the fire pit and set up the wildlife camera to see who comes to explore while you’re comfortably cosied up in your mezzanine bedroom.
 
Or why not try….
 
Log cabins, shepherds’ huts and other quirky accommodation options abound in the dramatic rural landscape of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Try a woodman’s cabin or hot tub retreat, a lakeside lodge or a secret escape, these isolated glamping spaces are perfect for back-to-nature getaways with nothing but the sounds of birds, breeze in the trees, and dark starry skies around you.

3. Get Lost in Another World
 

Setjetters delight, this is an area where many huge productions have been filmed. Download the Film & TV Trail to explore the locations that provided the backdrop to scenes in everything from Star Wars to Doctor Who, Harry Potter to Merlin. At the heart of the forest, Puzzlewood will take your breath away with its magical mossy woodland and you can imagine yourself as a stormtrooper or wizard, fairy or giant slayer – as you wander amongst the intricate pathways, bridges, lookouts and unusual scowles rock formations.
 
Stay on site in their holiday cottages for out of hours exploration of the woods and have family-friendly fun feeding their many animals. Pop down the road to Clearwell Caves for an underground exploration and discover the mining and ancient history of this unique area.
 
Want more adrenaline adventure?
 
Book a deep level caving experience and discover the wonder of under. Walk, crawl and descend 200ft underground through natural and mined features and adventure deeper into the famous caves, exploring the subterranean marvels below.

4. Discover the Delights of Foraging
 

Delve into the natural delights of the hedgerows and woods with a foraging experience in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Join rural skills centre Humble by Nature or forage and feast on your finds afterwards at Harts Barn Cookery School. Foraging is especially popular in spring and autumn when there is abundant wild garlic and fungi.
 
Then dine and stay at Michelin-starred The Whitebrook – a bucket list dining experience, chef owner Chris Harrod is renowned for using locally foraged ingredients.
 
Learn a new skill...
 
Try one of the many other cookery experiences or rural skills workshops available, from a Taste of Thai to basket weaving, breadmaking to bee-keeping. There is always something new to try in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. See our Food and Drink events here.

5. Find Your Freedom Out on the Water
 

The River Wye is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise, offering canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding for all ages and skills levels. Book a guided canoe trip to learn about the landscape and wildlife, a beginner’s paddleboarding session to give it a try for the first time or explore the rapids in a kayak. Inspire2Adventure will show you the ropes and put you at ease.
 
Looking for more of an adventure? Multi-day trips are available from Canoe the Wye and Wye Adventures. Camp out under the stars on a 2 or 3-day canoeing trip and see this iconic valley covering up to 43 miles of river in one go. Light a BBQ or bonfire at night but don’t forget the marshmallows!
 
Take in something truly unique...
 
The magical spectacle that is the Severn Bore is strongest during the spring and autumn tides and it can be viewed (or surfed) from many spots along the banks of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean. One of Britain's few truly spectacular natural phenomena, this large surge wave forms on the Severn which has the 2nd highest tidal range in the world. See when it's at its biggest in 2021 here.

Interested in reading more inspirational ideas for your trip? See Take The Leap Travel's write up of their weekend escape to the Dean Wye here.