Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail & Beechenhurst Dog Walks

The Sculpture Trail is one jewel in the crown of the Forest of Dean. It is a fantastic place to visit for the day, offering a delightful walk through picturesque forest, with art in the form of sculptures along the way. This is also a great place to visit with a dog.

You could spend all day exploring or just do a small circular loop. The full Sculpture Trail is 4.5 miles long, so visitors can explore it all. This is one of my favourite outdoor attractions in the area.

Getting to The Sculpture Trail in The Forest of Dean

There is an extensive car park at Beechenhurst, so it is relatively easy to arrive by car or by motorbike. It is possible to reach it on the bus from either Gloucester or Coleford. If travelling from Gloucester, you may need to either change buses in Cinderford or Coleford. A Stagecoach West Explorer ticket might be the best ticket for a day trip on the buses in the area.

Beechenhurst Cafe

Whichever way you arrive in the area, they consider Beechenhurst Lodge the starting point. This is home to the Beechenhurst Cafe, where you can park up, use the toilets or get refreshments. The cafe is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm daily for visitors, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

Navigating the sculpture trail is best done by either downloading a PDF from www.forestryengland.uk or purchasing a paper version on arrival. There are various routes through the trail when starting at Beechenhurst Lodge to suit all abilities. If arriving by bus, you could join the trail from the bus stops near the Speech House Hotel.

There are 18 sculptures on the full trail, which is approximately 4.5 miles long. The full route takes up to three hours unless you stop for a picnic or multiple breaks. There are also shorter options for 6 or 12 sculptures, as noted in their literature.

The terrain can challenge you in parts with steep slopes and uneven ground. A good pair of walking boots is ideal for hiking here. The trail is not suitable for certain pushchairs or wheelchairs.

The Sculptures At The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

There are 18 sculptures currently on the full 4.5-mile route through the forest. Some are easy to spot; others are off the principal route, so they require an eagle eye, and the map certainly helps. The photographs below are some sculptures visitors can find. A full list of sculptures is available on their WEBSITE.

Cathedral: a stained glass window

Cathedral is a suspended stained glass window above one of the forest trails and is absolutely stunning. You can see this work of art from many angles, including from quite some distance. This is one of the most eye-catching and popular parts of the Forest of Dean sculpture trail.

Iron Road, looking like railway sleepers

They installed the Iron Road sculpture along a former railway embankment. It looks like railway sleepers on a tree-lined track. Each of the sleepers has carvings on the wood and original features.

Yasasin

Another pretty sculpture in the woods is Yasasin, a white wooden piece. They built this sculpture in 2016, and ‘yasasin’ means ‘hooray’ in Turkish. They made it from a sweet chestnut tree that was felled nearby. This one certainly fits into the environment while standing out, too.

Cone & Vessel Sculptures

Built in 1988, the Cone & Vessel sculpture relates to the forest environment. The sculpture is a pine cone with an acorn cup, both of which you can see as you walk through the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail.

Echo a stone sculpture

Echo is a rock sculpture that blends perfectly in the forest. This was created to commemorate one of the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail’s founders.

Searcher

Another pleasant work of art is Searcher, a wooden deer sculpture. The deer looks pretty realistic. They originally had 13 deer; however, the artwork was designed to decompose into the pond. The current version is a refresh of the original.

Wildlife

The area is a habitat for wild animals, most of which you would expect in the forest. The literature recommends not approaching or feeding the resident feral wild boars. VisitDeanWye.co.uk has a section dedicated to the local wildlife, an interesting article to read before embarking on a Forest of Dean adventure.

Personally, it blew me away to see a hissing adder that was not impressed by the dogs or my presence. The adder is the only venomous snake in the UK, so we gave it a wide berth. Looking up at the sky in the clearings, I spotted the majestic buzzard flying above. This is one of many types of birds of prey in the area. It delighted me when one swooped down and landed on a tree above us.

Keeping your eyes peeled and being a bit quiet while visiting may lead you to a memorable wildlife encounter.

Is It Dog Friendly?

They allow visitors to the trail and the forest to bring dogs. The Beechenhurst site has water bowls positioned around the area. Dog owners should ensure they follow the Forest Dog Code for safety and enjoyment. I found this a great place to walk the dog and met many others on the nearby hike.

Hikes & Dog Walks Near the Sculpture Trail

There are many options for onward hiking after exploring the sculpture trail. The woods at Speech House are a lovely place to walk, with many crisscrossing walks.

Cannop Ponds are very close by. These are located towards the bottom of the valley, on the other side of the main road. The ponds are great for a walk and for getting some photographs of the area’s beauty. There are both walking and cycling trails at Cannop Ponds, which is again home to many wild species.

Further away through the Speech House woods is Mallards Pike, a lake and a picnic site. This is a stunning lake with a nice cafe and picnic tables. Mallards Pike is great in the summer months but comes into its own during autumn.