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The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is such a great place for families. There's loads to do for all ages and plenty which can be done together: plenty to excite and thrill, plenty to entertain and enjoy and most importantly for many families, plenty of opportunity to reconnect with each other and enjoy the calm that being in nature can bring.
Whilst a simple forest or riverside walk is the perfect start to any trip to the area, there are also many attractions and activities that take getting back to nature to another level. From ancient castles to steam train rides, canoeing to cave exploring we have an abundance of excitement waiting for children of all ages – particularly those harder to satisfy tweens and teens.
Lose yourself in a different world at magical Puzzlewood, or find the surprise at the centre of Elton's Giant Maze (open May-Sep). Get on the right track aboard a Perrygrove Railway train or visit the Dean Forest Railway for a steam train ride through the Forest. Get out on the water with canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding or fly through the trees on a high ropes experience or zipwire. Step back in time and learn about the history of the area at the Dean Heritage Centre. Get up close to our birds of prey, hire bikes and head out on our miles of off-road tracks, book an archery class or try rock climbing. Looking for something more leisurely? Sit back and relax with a river cruise along the Wye. Look out for jumping trout, kingfishers, otters and swans as you sit back, relax and let the towering, limestone gorge scenery drift by.
There is so much to see and do for families, you might just want to stay a little longer to fit more in!
Number of results: 131
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Cliffords Mesne
May Hill is one of the most familiar landmarks for many miles around, with its near circular mound and crowning clump of trees. It offers wonderful views and is an ideal spot to view the sunrise and sunset over the forest, hills and valleys all around.
Coleford
Indoor Playcentre with Arts and Crafts, Messy Play, Sensory Area, Role Play and more.
Little Learners Playspace is a unique, educational play centre for babies, toddlers, and children up to 7 years.
Monmouth
"Arguably the prettiest golf course in Wales", Monmouth Golf Club provides a fantastic golf challenge.
Picturesque ponds, home to lots of wildlife. Great picnic area and central for walks and cycle paths.
Lydney
Enjoy a relaxing journey along the Dean Forest Railway on board the steam train, with a fish and chip supper (or other choice of food) delivered to your table.
Price: Adults £24.50, Child £14.50
Length of experience: 1½ hours
Ross-on-Wye
Truffles Deli is a foodie haven for young and old alike in the centre of beautiful Ross-on-Wye. Stocking everything a deli should and more, you'll find a vast cheese counter, salamies, quiches and pies, olives, cakes, snacks and drinks in abundance. Explore the best local produce and foods from around the world. You can buy also buy food and drinks to take away including soups, salads, sandwiches, teas and coffees.
Eastnor
Remarkable pottery experiences for individuals, groups and organisations. We work with thousands of workshop participants, all ages and abilities, sharing the many benefits of working with clay.
Longhope
Let us bring the restaurant to you! Dining in is the new going out. Our Hire a Chef service is perfect for dining if you are staying in self-catering, your own home or visiting elsewhere in the Forest of Dean. From a romantic meal for 2 to a full blown party celebration. We have catered for birthday celebrations, anniversary, friends get together, engagements, wedding and more.
Price: Available on request
Length of experience: Flexible to your requirements
Newland Valley Estate
Expect a wonderland of fun as you and your friends, or family, feast like the Parisians used to do in the 1700s, with all the glamour, frivolity and extravagance that characterised the Pique Nique beau monde, of the time. Set in the stunning grounds of a 17th-century Italianate villa in Newland, near Coleford.
Price: £150pp
Length of experience: 3 hours
Longhope
Making your own Ploughman's has never been so easy! The class will be a combination of demo and hands on in groups. Recipes and tastings available.
Price: £60 per person
Length of experience: 3 hours
Parkend
Beautiful lake in the Forest of Dean, popular for walking, with lots of picnic benches, nearby cycle paths and a cafe and toilets on site.
Kilcot, Newent
Our experience day provides a unique, hands on opportunity to interact with our rescued and resident animals. This is a one-to-one bespoke experience and you will not be sharing it with anyone else.
Price: £149 per person.
Length of experience: 7 - 8 hours
Longhope
Once you have made the elements of the Afternoon Tea and presented them on our vintage china, you will then sit down in our Apple Barn dining room and enjoy them with a tea of your choice. This is a cookery experience to enjoy, relax and eat cakes! Suitable for beginners, those wanting to increase their pastry skills or just wanting to have fun!
Price: £60 per person
Length of experience: 3 hours
Soudley
We are the Museum of the Forest: a stunning building and location with inside and outside attractions. Learn about the history of the Forest from the Ice Age to the present day, visit our museum and gallery, explore the Gruffalo woodland trail, see inside a reconstructed Forester's cottage, visit a charcoal burner's camp, see chainsaw carving, our working water wheel and pretty stream, kids will enjoy our woodland playground plus there is an excellent cafe and gift shop.
Chepstow
Surrounded by cliffs, with views over the River Wye this is a truly magnificent spot. From Wintour's Leap take in a horseshoe bend of the Wye, walk down the cliffs to the historic village of Lancaut, through the Nature Reserve and back up the other side.
Near Lydbrook
A Forest car park with vast walks, a picnic site, pond with waterlilies and an area steeped in the heritage of mining with old railway lines and bridges and a new mining memorial installed in 2022. Off-road cycling trails and access to the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail.
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
Hereford
HS Activities offers paintballing, laser tag, clay shooting, archery, splatmaster & air gun shooting.
Catering for individuals, birthday parties, stag/hen parties & team building/corporate events.
Coleford
With trails for all abilities, this is the perfect place to start your cycling adventure in the Forest of Dean.
Newnham
Ultimate Outdoor Laser Tag - just like paintball but without the bruises!
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*Visit Dean Wye is the trading name of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism Limited.