Walks in the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley are excellent places for walking, with ancient woodland, riverside trails, open farmland and viewpoint routes across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

The Forest of Dean is fantastic in all seasons, particularly in the spring and summer, when the forest comes to life. The autumn colours are also a treat while enjoying walks through the area.

My Favourite Walks in The Forest of Dean & Wye Valley

Staunton to Monmouth Via Symonds Yat West

The walk from the village of Staunton is a very nice downhill walk in the main. The walk takes you via Symonds Yat, then onwards to Monmouth. This walk may require a bus journey, either before or after the hike.

The first section takes you downhill through some very remote woodland. This section is quiet. This part is great for spotting wildlife, including deer.

After ascending the valley to the River Wye, you reach the Biblins footbridge. This is a place with magnificent views of the Wye Valley and the forest-lined river.

Walking upstream on the Wales side of the riverbank leads through some great countryside to Symonds Yat West. From here you can cross the river via a hand ferry to Symonds Yat East. This is a great place for refreshments at The Saracen’s Head pub on one of the riverside campsites.

After departing Symonds Yat East, you head downstream, passing the biggest rapids on the Wye. These are nice to watch, especially when canoes navigate them.

The path led back down to Biblins Bridge again and beyond. Eventually the terrain opens up into farmland if you navigate from here into Monmouth town centre.

Coleford to Monmouth Via Redbrook

This walk starts at Angus Buchanan Recreation Ground on a hill above Coleford. Starting at the recreation ground, you follow the burial path. This takes you through woods and lots of open farmland with spectacular views.

Once you eventually reach the road to Newland, you head into Newland village. The village is pretty and has a very grand church called ‘The Forest Cathedral’; this is worth a mooch around. In Newland, there is also a pub called The Ostrich Inn, an ideal spot for a pit stop or lunch.

From Newland, you head up and down hills until hitting the Wye Valley. It is downhill all the way into Redbrook. Redbrook is a riverside village with a shop for supplies and two pubs. The viaduct on the river joins Redbrook with Penallt. Halfway across the viaduct, you are on the border of England and Wales. In Penallt is the Boat Inn, a delightful place serving local ciders and a bite to eat.

From Redbrook, this hike takes you upstream along the Wye by road for a short distance, then through some very nice meadows. Nature lovers will appreciate this stretch; it is home to many butterflies and dragonflies.

There are also many defunct bridges over the river to have a look at while hiking here. Eventually the trail leads you into the town of Monmouth.

Lydbrook to Symonds Yat Along The River Wye

This section is a down-the-river route from Lydbrook to Symonds Yat. It follows the River Wye into the Wye Valley. The route has meadows, farmland and woods along the way. There are a few disused bridges on the way and some shale beaches on the river.

The last stage of the hike is hilly through the woods to reach the viewpoint over the Wye Valley. The detour to the viewpoint is optional. You can skip this and head straight to the village with ease. Once you have soaked up the views, the hiking is all downhill into the village of Symonds Yat East. This is a spot for camping or enjoying a meal out at the Saracen’s Head pub.

Lydbrook to Monmouth

A longer version of the hike above, the same route from Lydbrook to the Saracen’s Head in Symonds Yat East. Then continue downstream to Monmouth via some stunning riverside trails. There are also spots to dip your feet in the river and cool down.

Cannop Ponds and Mallards Pike Lake Walk

Starting at the beautiful Cannop Ponds bus stop, you head into the woods to see the top pond. This is very photogenic and a brilliant spot for a picnic; however, it can get busy on a hot summer day.

You follow the well-marked trails to the second pond. There are trails off the main shared cycle path here. This is a popular spot for fishing; however, it is a good place to sit and watch for birds. From here, the trails head through the managed woodland. You will most likely pass cyclists or other hikers here.

Eventually you cross the road and back into the trails to reach Mallards Pike Lake. Mallards Pike is beautiful, and the views are breathtaking. The site has a picnic area and a cafe to buy refreshments if required.

Walking onwards, you head back deep into the woods, eventually reaching Speech House Lake. This is another beauty and popular with carp anglers. From here, you take trails back to Cannop Ponds, crossing a road once on the way. This is a stunning route, made even more fantastic by the lakes along the way. Keep your eyes peeled in the area. I have spotted deer and buzzards circling overhead.

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail is a walking route with a difference. They line the route with art: sculptures along the way. They created the sculptures to blend in with the surroundings, thus making an interesting walk. This route starts at Beechenhurst Lodge car park and has options to suit explorers of all abilities.

Keep an eye out for my favourite artwork, called ‘the Cathedral’. This is basically a stained glass window suspended over the path.

Ruardean to Lydbrook

This is a nice downhill walking route from the top of Ruardean Hill. The views here are fantastic, and on the trail you will see glimpses of the Wye from up high. This takes you through some very low-traffic paths. I have heard wild boar here before in the area known as Ruardean Woodside. The woods here are also a brilliant spot for seeing bluebells and other wildflowers.

After exiting the woods, this hike is on narrow country lanes until Lydbrook Church. You then head downhill through the village to Lower Lydbrook. The river at Lydbrook is beautiful on a summer’s day. However, there are options to continue hiking upstream or downstream.

Cinderford to Drybrook Via Plump Hill & The Forest Church

Cinderford is a former mining town in the Forest of Dean, the start point of this walk. The town of Cinderford is on many public transport routes, so it’s an easy starting point. Once reaching the edge of the town, you join some loggers’ roads through the forest.

Once you hit the main road, a detour takes you to Plump Hill Pond or Fairplay Pond. This is a gorgeous fishing pond that is a haven for wildlife, including many bird species and other pond life.

From here you head back into the woods until reaching Harrow Hill to enjoy views over Drybrook and its quarry. Not far up the road is The Forest Church, a nice church with spectacular views of the forest.

From here, the walking is all downhill into the village of Drybrook, where you can get bus connections onwards or return to Cinderford.

Drybrook to Wigpool

This route starts and finishes at bus stops onwards, as Drybrook is not really a tourist village. The walk takes you through the forest, along forest roads, and along narrow woodland trails. Wigpool is gorgeous and was once a gold-mining area. The route back takes you via a mixture of farmland and woods. You sideswipe Greenaway Farm, a campsite that welcomes adventurers. From here, the route is mainly downhill to the edge of Drybrook.

Symonds Yat Rock Trails

Symonds Yat Rock is a great starting point for a circular walk. They have many marked trails from the viewpoint, including ones that descend into the valley to the villages below. The route is quite steep to the valley, so you need some good shoes, especially when wet.

Monmouth to Redbrook Circular Walk

A lovely part of the Wye Valley is from Monmouth downstream to Redbrook and back. Monmouth is a beautiful starting point and has some interesting things to see. Once you exit the town, the countryside gets beautiful.

There are a few former railway bridges to see on the hike and some river beaches which are good for a paddle, especially for the dog. I found this section to be fantastic for seeing butterflies and dragonflies during the summer.

Redbrook Village is a great halfway point on the circular walk, with good options for refreshments and beer. You can then head back upstream via the same route or follow the trails on the opposite bank of the River Wye.

Parkend To Cannop Ponds

A walk I enjoyed after visiting the Dean Forest Railway was from Parkend to Cannop Ponds. This was initially on the road from the Woodman pub in Parkend but quickly became a lovely forest trail near Nagshead Reserve.

The forest here was pretty quiet, and the trail, which passed the ponds, was beautiful. At the end of the walk, we caught a bus onwards to Coleford. This took 1.5 hours. Route Map.

Tintern & Devils Pulpit

Another fantastic hike in the Wye Valley is a circular walk from Tintern to the Devil’s Pulpit. Tintern is a beautiful village on the river with famous abbey ruins. There are also places for refreshments in the village, including dog-friendly pubs.

The walk takes you across the river and then through some beautiful woodland and countryside to reach the viewpoint. Views from above are well worth the climb. The highlight is seeing Tintern Abbey and the River Wye from above. All trails has a great route map for this circular walk.

Create Your Own Forest of Dean Walk

I often choose some point-to-point walks, then look at the map or navigation app to find the best off-road route between the points. This adds variety for walking routes, and by studying maps, you can find things you didn’t know about.

There are many less trodden paths in the Forest of Dean. Some are fantastic, especially if you enjoy solitude and hope for wildlife encounters. At the right time of year, you can find some epic places for bluebells or snowdrop flowers.