Forest of Dean

The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire is a magical place where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy beautiful and extraordinary surroundings. The Forest of Dean, the ‘Queen of Forests', has something for everyone - fascinating heritage, spectacular and varied landscapes, plus warm and friendly hospitality.

This enchanted place became Britain's first National Forest Park in 1938 and is England's largest oak forest. Tucked away between the rivers Wye, Leadon and Severn in Western Gloucestershire, the Forest of Dean is a world apart from the rest.

Forest of Dean District Council, based in Coleford, is the local authority in the area and its services include waste collection and recycling, leisure centres, planning, car parking, housing, regeneration, environmental health, food safety, benefits and public toilets. The council was recently ranked above Tesco and Sainsbury's for its customer service and was up there with Marks and Spencer.

Don't be deceived by the district's tranquil setting - although the Forest boasts a variety of guided walks and dedicated cycle routes, it also offers a massive selection of high adrenaline activities. Take your pick, from canoeing to clay shooting, paintballing to abseiling, raft building and high wire assault courses - the Forest of Dean has it all!

The Forest is perfect for short breaks or spontaneous getaways. There is a great range of quality assessed accommodation, from historic hotels and inns to welcoming B&B's, cosy country cottages with real log fires and campsites where you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors.