Introducing Forest of Dean
The steep hills, winding tree-lined roads, lakes and unspoilt vistas of the Forest of Dean make for excellent touring by car, foot or bike. The area, England’s first National Forest Park, was formerly a royal hunting ground and a centre of iron and coal mining and its mysterious depths were supposedly the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s setting for The Lord of the Rings. The forest covers a 42-sq-mile swathe between Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye and Chepstow and is dotted with trails for walkers and cyclists.
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Coleford, the main population centre has good transport connections to Gloucester, making it a convenient base, but it’s hard to resist the charm of the magnificent youth hostel near Lydney.
The tourist office (812388; www.visitforestofdean.co.uk; High St, Coleford; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm Sat) stocks walking and cycling guides and also offers a free accommodation booking service. If you’ve got your own transport, pick up the Royal Forest Route and Heritage Trail leaflets, which describe tours through the forest and its most significant sights.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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