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There is an abundance of things to do to keep our youngest visitors happy in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. You can’t come to the area without a woodland walk and whether it’s raining or the sun is shining the trees are often a great place to shelter. If you enjoy walking and need a trail to follow then the sculpture trail from Beechenhurst is a good start. Forestry England also often have seasonal trails to follow which in previous years have included the Gruffalo or Shaun the Sheep.
A hidden gem for our younger visitors is Perrygrove, with its with steam train rides that circle a children’s play fort complete with slides and lookouts as well as woodland pathways and an undercover play area that makes you feel like you have stepped into toy town. Perrygrove is opposite one of the must-go attractions in the area, Puzzlewood, with its magical mystical natural woodland pathways it is a breathtaking sight which is why it is used regularly in TV and films such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Merlin and even Tree Fu Tom.
Other attractions loved by our younger visitors include the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo and aMazing Hedge Puzzle where you can play hide and seek whilst you find your way into the middle of the maze. There are many majestic castles to visit in the area too including Goodrich Castle, Raglan Castle, Chepstow Castle and Caldicot Castle and they often run events, trails and activities to follow that let your little ones' imaginations run wild.
If cycling is your thing, you can take your own or hire a bike (and child’s seat) and head out for an hour or two onto the Family Cycling Trail. You can also hire a canoe (minimum age 4) and spend a few hours gently floating down the river – keep an eye out for otters swimming along the water's edge and kingfishers flitting past.
Number of results: 205
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Kilcot, Newent
Visit our llama farm for an unforgettable experience. Our llamas are endearing, sociable, and are well cared for. They walk at a comfortable pace with you, while you enjoy the breathtaking views. Our team will be with you throughout the experience to ensure you have a good time. Your experience will begin with a short introduction to llamas, including grooming and general interaction with the llamas
Price: from £49.99 per person.
Length of experience: 1½ hours
Parkend
Enjoy a taste of mountain biking with our friendly experienced guides. These sessions are individually tailored to each family, to ensure all have a wonderful cycling experience to remember. No need to be an experienced rider or even own your own bike to take advantage and enjoy this taste of mountain biking!
Price: £160 per family of 4
Length of experience: 3 hours
Catbrook
Silver Circle Distillery are the producers of Wye Valley Gin and a range of small batch craft spirits which you may have come across in the Wye Valley.
Price: £20 per person
Length of experience: 45 minutes
Speech House Road, Coleford
Experience a world beneath the Forest - see and hear what it’s like to work in the mines beneath the Forest of Dean and toil to win the minerals from the earth! Don a hard hat and learn about the history of mining from a true Forest freeminer.
Price: Adults £10, Child £8, Family discounts
Length of experience: 45 to 60 minutes
Catbrook
Home to Wye Valley Gin and series of small batch limited edition seasonal spirits, Silver Circle Distillery is a great place to spend an hour or two tasting unique spirits and enjoying lovely views.
Caldicott
Black Rock is on the Monmouthshire coastline of the Severn Estuary between the two Severn bridges. There is a picnic site and the location gives fantastic panoramic views of the estuary and both bridges. Black Rock is the home of a traditional method of fishing which has been practiced for hundreds of years and and also historic links with much earlier ways of crossing the river.
Eastnor
Making a pot on the potter’s wheel is one of those ‘I’ve always wanted to do’ activities. This fun session offers the opportunity to do just that! Perfect for individuals, couples and small groups wanting to get creative with clay.
Price: £40 per person.
Length of experience: 1.5 hours.
Coleford
Foresters’ Forest is a £2.5m National Lottery Heritage funded scheme with 38 community projects that uncover, reveal, share and celebrate our heritage.
St. Briavels
We offer a full range of floristry and floral design services – from gift bouquets to weddings, funeral tributes to events. Our floral arrangements are romantic, cottage garden, vintage, and hedgerow-inspired.
Ruardean Hill
The highest point in the Forest of Dean at 290m high with a beacon and a memorial to miners killed in the local collieries. The beacon was built in 2002 and is lit to commemorate important occasions. This was followed by the statue of a crouching miner installed in 2008 and the memorial in 2017. Together they represent a striking feature on the hill.
Kentchurch
Whether you just want a go on the Quad Bikes, Go Karts, 4x4, Paintball or Clay Pigeons, you have a Stag weekend or Hen Weekend to organise, a Children's Party or an important Corporate Event we can tailor an events to suit you.
Ledbury
For a great family day out come to Westons Cider Mill, join a tour, sample our ciders or local apple juice and perhaps have tea and a cake or a lovely lunch.
Kilcot, Newent
Visit our llama farm for an unforgettable experience. Your experience will begin with a short introduction to llamas, including grooming and general interaction with the llamas. As part of your experience you will get to meet the babies and learn about how llamas carry their young for 11½ months.
Price: £47.99 per person.
Length of experience: 2 hours
Symonds Yat West
Learn basic survival skills on one of our hands-on bushcraft courses. We’ll lead you through the priorities of survival and a range of techniques for living comfortably in the wild. Our friendly instructors will introduce you to primitive survival skills from a time when life moved more slowly and thoughtfully.
Price: TBA
Length of experience: 3 hours
Nr Coleford
Our half-day introductory course covers basic off-road driving techniques and is intended for occasional off-road driving from mild to moderate conditions. It is the perfect introduction to 4×4 driving.
Price: £140 per person.
Length of experience: Approx 3 hours.
Lydney
Riverside walks, sculptures, great for birdwatching, sunsets and steeped in history, Lydney Harbour is well worth visiting as a place of beauty but also to see the power and force of the River Severn and its estuary which has the second highest tidal range in the world. Now with a new modern takeaway cafe.
Coleford
Afternoon Tea at the historic Speech House is a suitably traditional affair with fine bone china, a tiered cake stand of indulgent treats, and a selection of fine teas to choose from.
If you wanted to indulge after a long walk in the forest, or pamper yourself just because, an Afternoon Tea at The Speech House in Coleford, in the glorious Forest of Dean will suit you perfectly.
Price: £17.50 per adults/£8.75 per child
Approx length of visit: 1 - 2 hours
Hereford
Viking Games in the Herefordshire hills
Ross-on-Wye
Enjoy drinking award-winning English wine in our beautiful lakeside garden at Wythall Estate.
Whitecroft
Floatation is the ultimate relaxation. Your own private room with a beautiful, state-of-the-art float pod. A luxurious shower complete with natural toiletries and big fluffy towels. The warm salty water in the float pod supports your muscles and calms your mind. Emerge slowly, take your time, and relax in the relaxation lounge while you enjoy your choice of organic herbal tea.
Price: £60 per person
Length of experience: 2 hours.
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*Visit Dean Wye is the trading name of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism Limited.