Speech House Lake

Speech House Lake is a small fishing lake in the Speech House Woods, along Spruce Ride to the south of the Speech House Hotel.

Walk 10 in our 12 Easy Walks includes Speech House Lake and can be found here.

It was used as a filming location in the BBC series Merlin. In Series 1, Episode 7, "The Gates of Avalon", Speech House Lake becomes the mythical lake of Avalon where Merlin witnesses magical beings conjured by a man who he suspects to be dangerous. Arthur is almost drowned in the lake and Merlin must come to his rescue. Speech House Lake's natural beauty is enhanced with visual effects elements that show tiny flying creatures and Castle Camelot towering in the background over the seemingly placid water. Find out more about Merlin filming locations in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley here.

This is also an ideal location for those with mobility issues. The paths are flat and well laid and off-road mobility scooters can be hired (with pre-booking) from Speech House Hotel. Find out more here.