The best walks and hikes around the Forest Of Dean

Wye we walk

There are so many options when it comes to walks in the Forest of Dean district that it’s difficult to know where to start. Stretching from Chepstow in the south, where the River Wye empties into the Severn Estuary to the edge of the Malvern Hills AONB in the north, there are so many renowned beauty spots.

There are staggering viewpoints to discover, such as the Devil’s Pulpit above Tintern Abbey or the Eagle’s Nest, which looks out across the looping Wye to the Severn Bridges and beyond. In the heart of the Forest, you’ll find sculpture trails, disused railway walks and woodland ponds. You can watch for peregrines from the spectacular Symonds Yat Rock, where the Wye engages in its most famous meander.

Following the footsteps of King Offa

The Forest of Dean’s location on the border between England and Wales means it is a region rich in history. Part of Offa’s Dyke, a great 65-foot (20 m) wide trench created in the 8th century that ran the length of the Welsh border, runs through the district. Today, walkers can follow the Offa’s Dyke Path, an epic 177-mile (285 km) long-distance footpath that follows much of the original earthwork from the Severn Estuary to Prestatyn on the shores of the Irish Sea. Its opening (or closing, depending on direction) stages weave through the Forest of Dean region.

Other marvellous long-distance trails that can be sampled during hikes in the Forest of Dean include the Wye Valley Walk, which winds alongside the river for 136 miles (219 km); the Wysis Way, which links the Offa’s Dyke Path to the Thames Path, initially climbing into the Forest from Monmouth; and the beautiful Gloucestershire Way, which begins at Chepstow Castle and runs through the heart of the district.

A treat no matter the season

Arguably the finest time to go walking in the Forest of Dean is the spring, when the forest and meadows are their most vibrant. A winter walk here is also delightful, especially on frost-bitten mornings when mist hangs in the Wye Valley. Bear in mind that the forest trails can become exceptionally boggy in the winter months, so appropriate footwear is recommended.