Newnham Private Hire

Newnham Private Hire offers bespoke tours of the stunning Royal Forest of Dean and Wye Valley AONB. Share our love of nature and the local landscape and enjoy a rich and personalised experience of one of Britains most picturesque regions. Each tour is expertly designed to match your interests and itinerary, with a wealth of wonderful places to visit and fantastic activities to try.

Perfect for those who are short on time, have specific places or experiences they wish to enjoy, or those without transport.

Private half or full day tours can be arranged with a chauffeur driven car, admission tickets included and relaxing coffee or lunch stop. Please see the sample tours below:

Tours available:

Tour 1 - Forest of Dean Railway - Goodrich Castle - Taurus Crafts

Enjoy a tranquil journey on the Dean Forest Railway in one of their steam locomotives. Start from Norchard Station with its museum and café and travel 9 miles through the forest to Lydney Harbour, enjoying a slower pace of life.

Standing in scenic countryside above the River Wye, Goodrich Castle is one of the finest and best preserved of all English medieval castles, boasting a remarkable history and unforgettable views from the battlements.

Taurus Crafts is a vibrant visitor centre where you can experience a wide range of arts and crafts, relax and unwind in their café, and  shop for original products made onsite, or by local artists.

Tour 2 - Dean Heritage Centre - Gloucester Cathedral - Hopewell Colliery

Dean Heritage Centre is a museum celebrating life in the Forest of Dean, with 5 galleries and 20,000 precious objects, you can immerse yourself in the culture and history of the local people. Gift shop and café on site.

Gloucester Cathedral is one of Britain’s greatest buildings, representing over 1,300 years of Christian faith and heritage. The Cathedral’s stories are intertwined with Britain’s history. From its origins in around 679, the Cathedral has developed into a centre of worship, music and learning.

Enjoy a guided underground tour at Hopewell Colliery and learn about ancient Freemining at this museum and working mine.

Tour 3 - Tintern Abbey - The Wye Valley and Old Station Tintern - Clearwell Caves

Founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks the original church grew into one of the most spectacular Gothic abbeys in existence. Visit the magnificent Tintern Abbey ruin set within the picturesque Wye valley, and experience the magic that has inspired countless artists and poets.

Take a drive along the spectacular Wye Valley and visit the the Old Station at Tintern to see the refurbished railway carriages and N-gauge model railway.

Discover a hidden world of a vast natural cave system that has been mined for 1000’s of years. Descend to 100ft below the forest floor into a world of pools and rock formations and 300 million year old fossils.

Tour 4 - Chepstow Castle - The Cyril Hart Arboretum and the Speech House Hotel - Puzzlewood

Stretching out along a limestone cliff above the River Wye, Chepstow Castle’s beauty is matched only by its historical significance. It has 600 years of history weaved into its walls, showing how castles gradually evolved to cope with increasingly destructive weaponry.

Enjoy a stroll through the peaceful Cyril Hart arboretum by taking an easy circular walk and admire a host of unusual trees from around the globe. The historic Speech House is located in the heart of ancient woodland and originates for 1669 when it was a hunting lodge. You can still see the Verderers Court where ancient laws were kept.

Take in nature at it’s best in the enchanted woodland of Puzzlewood. Explore a mile and a half of paths, bridges and lookout points and discover why this magical spot is such a draw for film makers.