Holidays

[wellinghall]

We are going to the Forest of Dean at the end of July. Any hints as to what we should do / where we should go while we’re there?

And we’re going to Dorset and Devon in mid September. Again, any hints for things to do / places to go / where to eat?

Comments

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

That's funny because I'm going to the Forest of Dean that sort of time too ;-).

You should climb LOTS of hills.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I will climb as many hills as my knees and ankles will allow me to!

[segh.livejournal.com]

You're doing it the wrong way round - you should go to the Forest in the autumn to get the leaf colours.
Having said that, when we were there in the autumn half-term once, it looked pretty spectacular, but people kept saying to us, "You should have been here last week, it was really good then!"
We enjoyed the Roman iron mine at Clearwell. I liked the button museum at Ross but you probably have to be a haberdashery geek.
I always go and say hi to the Cerne giant when in Dorset. If you go, I'd be grateful if you'd look and see if they've got any beer mugs with him on, as mine is broken.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Alas, the timings have to some extent being dictated to us; but thanks for all the hints and tips!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Where are you going in Devon? The county is about two and a half hours north to south (and that's being lucky with caravans & tractors) so wherever you are, quite a lot of it is likely to be Far Away...

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Here:
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=EX16+7DU&countryCode=GB#map=50.93506,-3.37795|13|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:50.93503:-3.3782:16|EX16%207DU|EX16%207DU

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Oh the Far East! Them's practicly vurriners over to there...

Sorry, I don't really know the distant Land Beyond the A396.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

I take it that "over to there" is a localism?

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

Nice pub / restaurant that isn't far away:
http://www.jackinthegreen.uk.com/

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Chepstow Castle. Tintern Abbey. Simmonds Yat. Goodrich Castle.

When I was little, the place we always went to in the Forest was Blackpool Bridge/Wench Ford. I'm not quite sure why that place above any other, but I do remember it as a nice place for a picnic, with some nice birdwatching walks nearby, and a bit of Roman Road.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for those.

[sally_maria]

Puzzle Wood - if you fancy getting lost in some fascinating woodland. And Lydney Park of course, if you fancy the Tolkien connection.

There's a steam railway as well.

I'm fairly sure there's a working mine museum as well, though not the one my great-grandfather worked at.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for those.

[lanciatore.livejournal.com]

LoA's suggestions all good (though I've not been to Goodrich Castle and it's SYmonds Yat!). Chepstow town itself is an interesting place as well as the castle. Sadly, there is no Severn Bore during the week we're going to be there, otherwise I would recommend going to see that.

Clearwell Caves & Mine, Ross On Wye, Speech House, the Beechenhurst sculpture trail. Wye valley walks. Very good website here - http://www.visitforestofdean.co.uk

Of course there are loads of walking trails in the forest. The Forestry Commission main area office is in Coleford and they can supply lots of info and maps.

A week isn't really long enough to see it all, it's a fantastic place. Depends a lot on good weather of course (fingers crossed!)

I may try and re-visit the site where I did my A-level biology fieldwork, but it involved a walk of a couple of miles from the nearest car park and some steep trails so might not be suitable for napkin.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all those. And see you soon!