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Whether you want to go on a two-day hike, throw yourself into some high-energy activities or just take a leisurely bike ride to a viewing hotspot, the Forest of Dean accommodates all.
With so much selection, you won't know where to start. So here are some of our top tips to keep everyone entertained on your visit to the Forest...
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Whether you're a first time visitor, or returning to rediscover its charms, you'll find the best in hospitality, along with spectacular scenery, a wealth of wildlife and a fascinating heritage.
However if you only have a day, you'll just scratch the surface of what this wonderful place has to offer. So why not stay a bit longer and discover more of the Forest's charms, it won't take long before you fall under its spell.
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Said to have inspired the likes of J.R.R.Tolkien, J.K.Rowling and Dennis Potter, "Gloucestershire's greatest natural wonder", the Forest of Dean, is best explored by following The Royal Forest Route, which takes visitors on a 20-mile tour of the spectacular broad-leaf forest.
Springtime is one of the best times of the year to follow this route, when many areas, such as the Soudley Valley are filled with the most spectacular bluebells.
History & Heritage
If you are visiting Gloucestershire and would like to explore your family history, Gloucestershire Family History Society (GFHS) can help you.
Why not visit their Resource Centre at Spread Eagle Court, Northgate Street, Gloucester where they have experts on hand to help you make the most of your Family History Research time. Their next open day will be Saturday, 18th April 2009 at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Tuffley. You are also welcome to visit any of their branch meetings. For more information please visit www.gfhs.org.uk or telephone 01452 524344.
Gloucestershire Archives is an excellent resource centre which holds many useful records for those researching their family history. These include parish registers, wills, prison registers, electoral registers, 1841 - 1901 census returns, indexes of births, deaths and marriages, free access to the Ancestry website, plus much more.
The helpful team there are happy to carry out research on your behalf for a fee if you are unable to visit yourself. For more information please visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives or telephone 01452 425295.
The Gage Library at Dean Heritage Centre near Cinderford is a very useful resource containing over 18,000 historic records and archives and is the perfect place to search out local history enquiries or trace your family roots.
Local historians there will be more than happy to help you with any research questions you have.
The Gage Library is open to the public on Monday and Wednesday afternoons between 2 and 4pm. Please telephone 01594 822170 in advance to make an appointment. For further information visit www.deanheritagemuseum.com
The Cinderford Library holds a very large quantity of local research material within its Local Studies Centre. This includes county directories on microfiche, local photographs, newspapers and Ordnance Survey maps. For further information telephone 01594 822581.
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum could also be a useful place to visit on your quest. They have an extensive database that holds over 40,000 names and includes the names of soldiers who served in the Gloucestershire Regiment in World War 1. For further information telephone 01452 522682.
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