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There is an abundance of things to do to keep our youngest visitors happy in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. You can’t come to the area without a woodland walk and whether it’s raining or the sun is shining the trees are often a great place to shelter. If you enjoy walking and need a trail to follow then the sculpture trail from Beechenhurst is a good start. Forestry England also often have seasonal trails to follow which in previous years have included the Gruffalo or Shaun the Sheep.
A hidden gem for our younger visitors is Perrygrove, with its with steam train rides that circle a children’s play fort complete with slides and lookouts as well as woodland pathways and an undercover play area that makes you feel like you have stepped into toy town. Perrygrove is opposite one of the must-go attractions in the area, Puzzlewood, with its magical mystical natural woodland pathways it is a breathtaking sight which is why it is used regularly in TV and films such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Merlin and even Tree Fu Tom.
Other attractions loved by our younger visitors include the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo and aMazing Hedge Puzzle where you can play hide and seek whilst you find your way into the middle of the maze. There are many majestic castles to visit in the area too including Goodrich Castle, Raglan Castle, Chepstow Castle and Caldicot Castle and they often run events, trails and activities to follow that let your little ones' imaginations run wild.
If cycling is your thing, you can take your own or hire a bike (and child’s seat) and head out for an hour or two onto the Family Cycling Trail. You can also hire a canoe (minimum age 4) and spend a few hours gently floating down the river – keep an eye out for otters swimming along the water's edge and kingfishers flitting past.
Number of results: 197
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Pillowell
Visit artists in their workshops and galleries during the annual Open Studios Event in the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley, along the Severn and Gloucester.
Lydney
Enjoy a relaxing journey along the Dean Forest Railway behind one of our steam locomotives. Looking for something a little extra? Add a takeaway cream tea or afternoon tea to your trip when placing your booking (and make them extra fancy with a 20cl bottle of prosecco!), available for pickup from Whistles Cafe before your train ride.
Price: Adults £14, Child £7
Length of experience: 1½ hours
Chepstow
The Wye Valley Sculpture Garden is the creation of artist Gemma Kate Wood, that she has built over the last 20 years.
The garden has grown into a beautiful venue that hosts her sculpture collection and excitingly, the work of 23 other artists to create the Summer Sculpture Exhibition.
Near Lydbrook
A Forest car park with vast walks, a picnic site, pond with waterlilies and an area steeped in the heritage of mining with old railway lines and bridges and a new mining memorial installed in 2022. Off-road cycling trails and access to the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail.
Lords Hill, Coleford
We challenge you to not smile on an a E-Bike ride! Not only do you get to explore more of the beautiful Forest of Dean & Wye Valley, you don’t have to worry about climbing off your bike and pushing it uphill when the going gets tough.
Price: £93 Per Adult (minimum of 2) Including 2 Junior Frog Bikes
Length of experience: 6 hours.
Lords Hill, Coleford
We challenge you to not smile on an a E-Bike ride! Not only do you get to explore more of the beautiful Forest of Dean & Wye Valley, you don’t have to worry about climbing off your bike and pushing it uphill when the going gets tough.
Price: £80 per person
Length of experience: 6 hours.
Newent
Are you looking for some sporting activities in the Forest of Dean? Somewhere to work up a sweat or splash around with your friends in a swimming pool? Freedom Leisure Newent has facilities and activities to suit everyone including gym, fitness classes, swimming, myride cycling studio and a large sports hall.
Monmouth
The nation's favourite river, flowing through some of the most beautiful lowland scenery in Britain. Find out about the Wye Valley AONB.
Nr Ross-on-Wye
Contemporary craft gallery in the south Herefordshire hills. Beautiful work, made and sold here by the makers. Ceramics, furniture, wood-carving, kitchenwood, basketry, jewellery and collagraph prints.
Eastnor
Remarkable pottery experiences for individuals, groups and organisations. We work with thousands of workshop participants, all ages and abilities, sharing the many benefits of working with clay.
Coleford
Coleford town became the first, of hopefully many more towns in the Forest of Dean District to have gained accreditation to the Walkers are Welcome UK network. Walkers are Welcome has a membership of over 100 towns and villages in the UK, whose main aim is to assist with our respective communities’ economic growth, physical health and mental well-being through walking.
Lydney Park Estate, Lydney
Join this chocolate and cake company to make a truffle centre, pipe it and shape the truffles, as well as learning how to temper chocolate. You will then have the opportunity to take home what you make. Situated at Taurus Crafts near Lydney in the Forest of Dean.
Price: £25 per person
Length of experience: 2 hours
Coleford
Activities include Climbing, Canoe & Kayak adventures. Cave experiences. Archery, Bivouac weekends and more. Experienced and Qualified instructors.
Coleford
The Speech House Hotel & Silver Circle Distillery have teamed up to bring you the ultimate Gin Tasting Experience & Stay in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. If you love gin, great food and fantastic surroundings, then this is the experience for you! Join us for an overnight stay, with dinner in our 2 AA rosette restaurant, a distillery tour of Silver Circle with tasting, and a gin tasting board in the hotel bar! This fantastic package is one not to be missed!
Prices: £135 per person, based on two people sharing
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Lydney
Riverside walks, sculptures, great for birdwatching, sunsets and steeped in history, Lydney Harbour is well worth visiting as a place of beauty but also to see the power and force of the River Severn and its estuary which has the second highest tidal range in the world. Now with a new modern takeaway cafe.
Tintern
25,000+ out of print and rare books in stock. Open every day. Art to zoology, something for everyone.
Gloucester
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, stands in the north of the city near the river.
Lydney
Enjoy a relaxing journey along the Dean Forest Railway on board the steam train, with a fish and chip supper (or other choice of food) delivered to your table.
Price: Adults £24.50, Child £14.50
Length of experience: 1½ hours
Ross-on-Wye
Truffles Deli is a foodie haven for young and old alike in the centre of beautiful Ross-on-Wye. Stocking everything a deli should and more, you'll find a vast cheese counter, salamies, quiches and pies, olives, cakes, snacks and drinks in abundance. Explore the best local produce and foods from around the world. You can buy also buy food and drinks to take away including soups, salads, sandwiches, teas and coffees.
Monmouth
When Admiral Lord Nelson visited the site in 1802 he described it as one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen.
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*Visit Dean Wye is the trading name of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism Limited.