Getting To The Forest Of Dean And Wye Valley

Getting to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

Less than an hour from many major cities, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley straddles the England-Wales border covering parts of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire in England and Monmouthshire in Wales. Gloucester and Cheltenham are to our east, Hereford is to the north, the Brecon Beacons and South Wales to our west and the River Severn to our south.

Getting here could not be easier, whether on foot, by bike, by bus or by train, we have all the information you need to enable you to plan your trip and you'll get to soak up our fabulous scenery on route too. Safe travels! For tips on how to travel to and around the destination without a car see our helpful blog here.

Dean Wye Map Drive Times to the closest cities

By Coach and Bus

National Express operates nationwide coach services to and from Newent, Chepstow, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. A journey from London to Chepstow takes approximately 2h 45m.

For further details visit National Express here or Megabus here.

There are regular bus services throughout the area from major cities and towns too:

For buses in Gloucestershire see here. A journey from Gloucester to Lydney takes around 45 minutes.

For buses in Herefordshire see here. A journey from Hereford to Ross-on-Wye takes around 50 minutes.

For buses in Wales see Traveline Cymru.

Once here local bus services run throughout, see our page on Getting Around the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley for more information.

By Rail

There are railway stations at Abergavenny, Chepstow, Gloucester, Ledbury and Lydney.

For further information, timetables and to book tickets visit National Rail or the Trainline. Great Western Railway (GWR) runs direct services to Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Gloucester and Ledbury from London Paddington, Bristol and Swansea.

Arriving by train and exploring from Lydney Station

Lydney Station is the main rail gateway into the Forest of Dean and a helpful starting point if you are visiting without a car. From the station you can connect to local buses, taxis and community transport. The Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership is working to improve visitor information and onward travel links, which makes planning car free trips much simpler - check out their access map here.

You can find more information about Lydney Station here.

By Foot or By Bike

See our information on getting around the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley for everything you need to know on walking here, and cycling here.

By Car

The Dean Wye is within easy access of the M4, M48, M5 and M50 motorways, as well as many other major roads. Driving to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is the most common way people travel here. There are many companies that offer car hire across the UK.

Average drive time distances from major cities:

Bristol - 35 minutes
Cardiff - 45 minutes
Birmingham - 1 hour
London - 2.5 hours
Manchester - 3 hours

By Air

Bristol International Airport, Birmingham International Airport and Cardiff International Airports all handle flights into the region from across the UK, Europe and the USA and are all located within a 90 minute driving distance of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Train Tripper

Why not try the TrainTripper platform to plan your visit? The TrainTripper website has been developed by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership to promote car-free leisure trips in and around Gloucestershire. The site lists local hidden gems, focusing on independent businesses to support the local economy and encourage sustainable tourism. Build a personalised itinerary and book your tickets through the site! You can even suse a carbon calculator to work out your carbon savings by using the train instead of driving.

Greener travel options during your stay in The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

If you would like to explore the area in a lower carbon way, there are several good options already in place. More are being developed with support from local community rail and transport partners.

Zero emission minibus services in Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford

Lydney Dial a Ride now operates a fully electric minibus, supported by Rural England Prosperity Funding. The service covers Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford and runs Monday to Friday on a bookable basis.

Visitors are welcome to use the service. It is a useful and affordable way to get between towns without needing to drive. Full details are available on the Lydney Dial a Ride website here.

EV Car Club pilot in Coleford

A new electric car club has launched in Coleford, giving visitors the option to book an EV for short journeys or day trips during their stay. It is a practical choice if you are arriving by train or bus but still want occasional access to a car.

How it works:

Sign up online
Book the time slot you need
Unlock the car using the app
Return it to the same location when you are finished

The pilot is being run by Forest of Dean District Council, who are encouraging visitors to try it out. You can read more about the EV car club pilot on the District Council news page here.

Walks, cycle routes and car free days

Many of our towns and trails are easy to enjoy on foot or by bike. Coleford, Lydney, Cinderford and Symonds Yat all have routes that begin from the centre of town, with cafés, attractions and viewpoints close by.

Our walking, cycling and car free inspiration pages can help you plan your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I explore the Forest of Dean without bringing a car?	Yes. You can arrive by train into Lydney Station and then use local buses, the electric Dial a Ride minibus, taxis or the EV Car Club pilot in Coleford. Many walking and cycling routes also start in town centres, which makes car free days very easy to plan.
How do I book the EV Car Club in Coleford?	You sign up online, choose the time you need the car and unlock it using the app. The car must be returned to the same location. Full details are on the Forest of Dean District Council website.
Is the electric minibus service available to visitors?	Yes. Visitors can book the Lydney Dial a Ride electric minibus. It operates Monday to Friday across key towns including Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford.
Are there buses from Lydney Station into the Forest?	Yes. Local buses run from Lydney Station towards Coleford, Cinderford and surrounding towns. Timetables can vary, so checking with the operator before travelling is recommended.
Where can I find accessible and car free routes?	Our walking, cycling and trails pages feature short town trails, surfaced paths, family friendly loops and accessible routes including Mallards Pike, Cannop Ponds, Beechenhurst and many more.
Can I bring a bike on the train to Lydney?	Most GWR services accept bikes, although space is limited at busy times. It is best to check GWR’s cycle policy before travelling.