15 Short Walks in the Forest of Dean

Explore the Forest of Dean with this collection of 15 carefully chosen short walks covering ancient woodland, dramatic viewpoints, wildlife-rich nature reserves and fascinating industrial heritage. Ranging from 4 to 9km and all completable in under three hours, these routes feature no challenging terrain or complicated navigation, making them ideal for families, casual walkers and visitors keen to make the most of their time in this unique corner of England.

• Each of the 15 short walks features clear, easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps tied to numbered route descriptions, making navigation straightforward and confidence-boosting, perfect for beginners and those new to walking
• Practical information is included for every route, with details on parking, facilities and refreshment stops, helping you plan stress-free days out
• Walks showcase some of the Forest of Dean's most memorable highlights, including the Dean Sculpture Trail, Tidenham Chase and the Devil's Pulpit, Nagshead Nature Reserve, May Hill and the dramatic Wye Valley gorge
• Routes feature extraordinary rock formations such as Near Hearkening Rock and the Buckstone, spectacular viewpoints, sections of Offa's Dyke Path and the Wysis Way, fascinating industrial archaeology including blast furnaces and tramways, and wildlife-friendly lakes at Woorgreens and Cannop Ponds
• Key centres including Chepstow, Monmouth, Coleford and Cinderford provide easy access to the walks, with bases and travel information included to help you plan your visit

Part of Cicerone's trusted Short Walks series, this Forest of Dean guidebook brings together everything you need for an enjoyable, low-stress day out. Whether visiting for a day or staying longer to explore this ancient royal hunting forest on the border of England and Wales, it is an ideal companion for discovering the Forest of Dean's woodland scenery.

Seasons

Every walk can be enjoyed throughout the year, but the woodland colours in Autumn, from bright yellow through orange to deep red, are exceptional.

Centres

Chepstow, Monmouth, Lydney and Gloucester provide access; Coleford and Cinderford are the main centres within the Forest.

Difficulty

None of the walks should pose difficulties for competent walkers, although the sheer number of woodland paths means that care is needed in places to ensure that the correct route is selected.

Must See

The area features extraordinary rock formations such as Near Hearkening Rock, spectacular viewpoints including May Hill and the Devil’s Pulpit, sections of long-distance routes such as Offa’s Dyke Path and the Wysis Way, fascinating industrial archaeology including blast furnaces and tramways, and wildlife-friendly lakes such as Woorgreens and Cannop Ponds.

Using this guide

Route summary table

Map key

Introduction

Walking in the Forest of Dean

Special things to see

Bases and places to stay

Travel

The walks

Walk 1 Tidenham Chase and the Devil’s Pulpit

Walk 2 The Hudnalls and the Wye

Walk 3 Redbrook and Newland

Walk 4 The Kymin from Wyesham

Walk 5 Near Hearkening Rock and the Buckstone

Walk 6 Brierley and Ruardean Hill

Walk 7 Bixslade and Cannop

Walk 8 The Dean Sculpture Trail

Walk 9 Nagshead Nature Reserve

Walk 10 Crabtree Hill and Woorgreens Lake

Walk 11 Soudley Valley Rural Geology Trail

Walk 12 Blaize Bailey from Soudley Ponds

Walk 13 May Hill

Walk 14 St Anthony’s Well and Welshbury Hill

Walk 15 Newnham and Haie Hill

Useful information