Some of the seasonal delights of the area include:
Springtime is a favourite season to visit the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, with the brilliant green of the new beech, and the spectacular colours of the bluebells and daffodils. The orchards turn pink and white with apple, pear and plum blossom, and you can smell a hint of blackthorn and elder from the hedges. Along the Severnside and among the Forest villages there are many old orchards with rare and local fruit trees including the Blakeney pear, Blaisdon red plum and Severn bank apple.
Delightful spring flowers in the Forest include wood anemone, celandine, dogs mercury, primrose and violet which bloom before the overhead foliage thickens. Plus of course the carpets of bluebells and wild garlic fill the woods with the scents of spring. We have one of the best displays of bluebells in the UK and April and May are wonderful times to visit and see this glorious sight.
The dawn chorus is a springtime joy too, with a huge range of birds singing in a cacophony. Swallows fill the skies, nests are built high in the trees and baby boar (humbugs) as well as deer (fawns) can be seen deep in the woods.
Summer Loving
Summer is when the trees are full of leaves and the area comes to life with colour and vitality. On hot days the forest canopy provides respite from the heat as it is always a few degrees cooler in the woods due to the number of trees. The days are long and you spend your days outside exploring and adventuring, canoe down the Wye, cycle through the forest or light a bbq and watch the sun go down over the hills.
Dark skies in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley are absolutely stunning too. With so much wide open space, deep forest and expansive countryside it's not hard to find a view of the night sky where it is so dark you can see the Milky Way crisp and clear.
Autumn is a spectacular time of year in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley when the trees display an array of reds, golds and yellows. Despite the importance of the conifers, almost half the trees in the Forest of Dean are deciduous including oak, beech, sweet chestnut and others. Larch - the only coniferous tree to lose its needles, also turns a magnificent russet-gold in October. This magnificent autumn foliage is the highlight of the season and can often be at its best at the end of October to the beginning of November.
Find out more in our guide to Leaf Peeping including our top ten spots for the best autumn colour and a driving route to see them all.
Winter is the most wonderful time of the year for a woodland walk. The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle and reset with some time in nature. As winter settles over the land, the sight of frosty leaves and crisp sunshine creeping through the canopies might be just what Santa ordered. The woods are peaceful and serene, no crowds, loads of space and an ideal location if you really like some time away from everyday life. The changing forest is still full of life, with mistletoe and holly with its bright red berries in the trees, the birds and wildlife so much more visible and the low sun glowing through the woods. Don't let anyone tell you winter is a boring season, there is so much beauty out there.
If you are interested in birdwatching see our seasonal guide to which birds can be seen when in the Dean Wye here.
See our guide to nature and wildlife including spring flowers here.
Longer and brighter days spent outside in nature... that's what spring is all about. Find your freedom in our ancient forest and wild river valley with our guide to the best things to see and do this spring.
