The Forest of Dean is surrounded by rivers from the Severn to the Wye and the Monnow. But what about if you don’t want to swim in the rivers? Here are our top four alternative outdoor wild swimming locations for you to try. Keepers Pond The Keeper’s Pond, also known as Pen-ffordd-goch Pond or the Forge […]
Category Archives: Local Area
12
Jul
Jul
The Forest of Dean & Wye Valley has so many beautiful locations, but where do you choose for one of the most important moments of your life?
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
June Events Guide 2024: What’s Happening in Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
30
May
May
Surely we will see some warmer weather in June! Regardless of what the weather holds for us, there is plenty to keep you busy in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley.
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
May Events Guide 2024: What’s Happening in Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
17
Apr
Apr
The perfect time of year to see the bluebells, but see what else is on in our handy blog.
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
April Events Guide 2024: What’s Happening in Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
18
Mar
Mar
Find out what is on in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley – so many great reasons to visit.
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
March Events Guide 2024: What’s Happening in Forest of Dean & Wye Valley
20
Feb
Feb
As spring unfolds, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley blossoms with activities, echoing the region’s vibrant landscapes and rich heritage. March brings an eclectic mix of events, promising memorable experiences for every visitor. Whether you’re drawn by the allure of nature, the thrill of creativity, or the warmth of community festivals, this guide is […]
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
Start 2024 Right: Events in Forest of Dean and Wye Valley this January and February
22
Dec
Dec
The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, a region steeped in natural beauty and cultural richness, offers a diverse range of events to start off 2024. Here’s a curated list to help you plan your visit. Art and Photography Exhibitions Delve into the world of avian and wildlife beauty with two spectacular photography exhibitions at […]
Local Area, Activity, Experiences, TFH
Frosty Forest Fauna: Discovering Winter Wildlife In The Forest of Dean…
20
Dec
Dec
The Forest of Dean, a majestic ancient woodland in England, is particularly enchanting in winter. This guide highlights the wildlife that thrives in this forest during the colder months, offering a spectacular experience for nature enthusiasts. Deer: Majestic Winter Wanderers Fallow Deer: Introduced in Norman times, they are easily identified by their black and white […]
Experiences, Activity, Local Area, TFH
A December to Remember: Winter Events in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley.
23
Nov
Nov
As the festive season rolls in, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley transform into a winter wonderland, brimming with events that capture the magic of the season. From artistic exhibitions to nostalgic train rides, here are some handpicked events happening this December that you simply can’t miss. farOpen Christmas at the Picture House Gallery […]
02
Aug
Aug
The school summer holidays are almost here, but you don’t have to wait for the holidays to find great events and activities in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.
04
Jul
Jul
The year is 2003, a year full of talking points, Beyonce released Crazy in Love, Apple launched iTunes music store, Dan Brown published The Da Vinci Code but most importantly, Tudor Farmhouse welcomed its new owners – Hari and Colin Fell. Twenty years later, this award winning luxury, yet laid back boutique hotel, is still […]
19
Jun
Jun
The school summer holidays are almost here, but you don’t have to wait for the holidays to find great events and activities in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.
02
Jun
Jun
As we step into the month of June 2023, the region gears up for an array of exciting events and activities that are sure to captivate visitors and locals alike.
08
May
May
Thirteen specialist independent shops have formed a ‘trail’ around Ross-on-Wye which provides visitors looking for antiques, collectibles, bric-a-brac, vintage clothes, jewellery and furniture with a fascinating tour around the town.
17
Apr
Apr
A GUEST BLOG Here at Float in the Forest, we welcome you to carve out a small fragment of time that is solely yours alone to indulge in. An opportunity to pause, reflect, recharge and relax, whilst enjoying your break away at Tudor Farmhouse. Floatation is not comparable to many other things. Envisage yourself resting […]
05
Mar
Mar
They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. If you really don’t like rain though, we have 8 great suggestions of things to do.
06
Feb
Feb
People travel here from all over the world to visit places like Clearwell Caves, Puzzlewood Forest and Redbrook because of their natural beauty. We’ve put together 8 of our favourite walks
14
Aug
Aug
Foraging for your own food is both immensely satisfying and a great way to enjoy the outdoors. The Forest of Dean
07
Jun
Jun
First of its kind, subterranean exhibition of contemporary sculpture in the extraordinary environment of Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean.
28
Mar
Mar
With Spring in full bloom, Easter is a perfect time to visit the Forest of Dean. And there is so much to do while enjoying the fabulous views, ancient woodland and hidden valleys.
14
Mar
Mar
Treat you mum this Mother’s Day with a range of activities on offer in the Forest of Dean.
23
Feb
Feb
As we are sure you are aware, the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley are areas of extreme natural beauty. We love exploring them ourselves just as much as we love telling our visitors about the hidden gems of the area. One such hidden gem is situated just under three miles away from the […]
17
Feb
Feb
Photo credit: Lee McGrath The Forest of Dean, nestled up against the Welsh border in rural Gloucestershire, boasts an abundance of stunning scenery, ancient woodland and a huge range of flora and fauna. Read on to find out where to discover some secret Forest of Dean walks and unique views. Known for its verdant beauty […]
16
Feb
Feb
Following on from our previous blog, discover more hidden Forest of Dean walks and views for you to enjoy this Spring. Wintour’s Leap – Stunning Viewpoint This viewpoint is very tricky to find – you could drive past it numerous times and still not find it. In fact, there are many locals who don’t know […]
16
Feb
Feb
The Forest of Dean is renowned for its mining and industrial heritage and has been for many years. Although the nationalisation of the coal mining industry in 1946 prompted a decline in mining, independent freeminers are still permitted to mine in the area to this day and will be exempt from the ban on coal due to […]
21
Sep
Sep
The Offa’s Dyke Path winds its way through stunning landscapes close to hotel on the edges of England and Wales, between Chepstow on the River Severn towards Prestatyn on the North Wales coast. The…
18
May
May
We love the springtime, after the grey, wet and dull days of winter, it is wonderful to see so much colour creeping back into the Forest. We particularly love the look of the bluebells which are a stunning sight here in the Forest of Dean. In fact, this area is one of the best places […]
12
May
May
Like many, we are thrilled to see Britain opening again and are excited to be able to welcome visitors back through our doors. We are also delighted that there is so much happening in The Forest of Dean over the coming months, and we are thrilled to see plans being made to restart many of […]
05
May
May
There is no doubt that 2022 still looks set to be the year of the Staycation due to the fallout from the pandemic travel restrictions. What better way to have a staycation than with a visit to the birthplace of tourism, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Here we share our top 21 activities […]
24
Apr
Apr
Not much is known about the Forest of Dean before the middle ages although there are some artefacts still in existence such as fossils from the prehistoric period, Mesolithic monuments, evidence of Bronze Age settlements, and tools from the early Roman farmers who settled here. The Forest of Dean started to come to prominence during […]
13
Mar
Mar
Who can cycle? The Forest of Dean caters to all cycling abilities: from the gentle paved family cycle trail at Pedalabikeaway to the adrenaline fuelled trails at Cannop Cycle Centre, there really is something for all ages and abilities. For those who may not be as active as they would like and think that cycling […]
17
Feb
Feb
The Forest of Dean is an awe-inspiring landscape and as such has featured in many productions on both the small and the silver screen. Here we will take you on a whistle-stop tour of just some of the locations you may recognise and tell you about the tv shows and movies that were filmed in […]
02
Feb
Feb
There is definitely something special about the Forest of Dean which is what prompted us to leave London in 2003 to take on the hotel and we have never looked back. We hope you love both the Tudor Farmhouse Hotel and the Forest of Dean as much as we do, and we cannot wait to […]
11
Aug
Aug
This weather has us dreaming of lazy picnics by the riverside and splashing around in the water. We are so lucky to have lots of gorgeous wild swimming spots nearby in the Wye Valley – whether you’re looking to simply paddle on a riverside beach in Hay-on-Wye or challenge yourself with a 2km swim (from […]
27
Apr
Apr
Here in the village of Clearwell we are surrounded by the chirps of house sparrows, ‘chacks’ of jackdaws and flute-like melodies of blackbirds. Ed Drewitt often takes guests out on early morning dawn chorus walks, and here he shares some insights on the birdsong we are all hearing at this time of year: Wherever you […]
08
Apr
Apr
All around us there are signs of spring and here at the Tudor Farmhouse we are surrounded by countryside, the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Our own south-facing slopes, where we have a small number of sheep and horses, summer wildflowers are beginning to grow through. Ed Drewitt, our resident naturalist and wild […]
13
Mar
Mar
We are so lucky to live in such an amazing and beautiful location. But, as with all things, familiarity can breed, if not contempt, then at least indifference to our surroundings. I was reminded however about our unique location this week because its the start of the foraging season again and our new forager Ed […]
14
Feb
Feb
Chris Lewis from The Secret Wardrobe makes bespoke jewellery as well as running workshops allowing guests to design their own rings, including wedding rings, bracelets, pendants – the choice is yours. She has teamed up with Tudor Farmhouse to offer a ring making workshop on March 7. Details of the workshop can be found here. […]
04
Feb
Feb
We are very sorry to share the news that our forager, Raoul van den Broucke, passed away recently. It has come as a great shock to all of us and we know that there are many people locally who will miss him greatly. We are thinking of his family and friends at this sad time. […]
28
Jan
Jan
I first met Shari over two years ago when Float in the Forest was just an idea in Shari and Will’s minds. Their passion and determination were immediately evident – and they didn’t even have a site yet! The branding was done and their vision was clear, but it took a frustrating two years to […]
05
Nov
Nov
By Travel Journalist WENDY GOMERSALL The first thing that stunned me most about great British wild boars – when they eventually pitched up – was their sheer size. I was expecting a kind of roughty-toughty pot-bellied pig-sized animal, not so cute, a bit hairy and grubby. How could something bigger possibly hide itself in the […]
24
Sep
Sep
Everyone seems to be talking about Foresting Bathing. Is it a bath, a walk or just a passing wellbeing fad? We decided it was time to head into the woods and find out for ourselves. We are based in the heart of the Forest of Dean and are so lucky to have Carina Greenwood, an expert […]
23
Jan
Jan
We were delighted to host Inside The Travel Lab AKA Abi King recently, here’s her lovely blog post about her stay in the Forest of Dean: Love the Cotswolds but looking for something new and a little more off the beaten track? Meet the Tudor Farmhouse snuggled deep in the Forest of Dean. Cosy indoors, […]
22
Jun
Jun
Free train station transfers, bicycle delivery, neighbourhood adv
24
Mar
Mar
There’s so much to do in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley this time of year! Here are ten suggestions: 1. The Forest of Dean – 20 million trees The Forest of Dean is a place of myths and legends, rivers, outdoor pursuits and natural beauty. It contains 20 million trees, bordered by the […]
14
Jun
Jun
Yesterday, to mark over 10 years of local sourcing, we hosted a celebration lunch our local food & drink producers. The area’s finest farmers, greatest growers and the best local artisan food producers who regularly supply the restaurant met to enjoy the fruits of their labour and share their passion for local produce with like-minded […]
13
Oct
Oct
We’re extremely lucky to have Parva Farm Vineyard, one of our wine suppliers, so close by in Tintern Chepstow. We caught up with Colin and Judith recently to ask them a few questions… What are you most famous for? Probably for our Bacchus wines as we have won many awards with them, both nationally and […]
Whatever happened to “The Sunday Drive”? A simple car or motorcycle trip taken purely for pleasure of leisure, typically on a Sunday where there is no rush and usually no destination. We’re keen to revive this great tradition and have teamed up with the Glousestershire Echo to promote a Wye Valley and Forest of Dean […]
19
Jul
Jul
Nothing is more rewarding than finding and hand-picking your own foods, then taking them back to the kitchen and experimenting with flavours to create something delicious, as 70-year-old forest forager Raoul van den Broucke explains Q – Where did you grow up and what was your route into foraging? A – I live in Monmouth but I […]