Clearwell Caves

Iron ore has been mined in the Forest of Dean for nearly 3000 years, and at Clearwell, near Coleford, the mining has formed an incredible system of underground tunnels and chambers, of which eight large caverns are now open to the public.

Puzzle Wood

A mile south of Coleford is an area transformed into tranquil woodland walks in the early 19th century. It has been open to the public for some 50 years, and illustrates open iron workings first exploited by the Romans, showing a completely different way of accessing the mineral from the cave mining at Clearwell. A maze of paths, with wooden seats and bridges, enables the weathered and moss covered rocks to be seen at their best

Goodrich Castle

Guarding the river Wye as it winds into the wooded valley at Symonds Yat, this old fortress commands the craggy red sandstone heights. Indications are that there was a fortification here way back into the Iron Age. The square keep probably dates from the beginning of the 12th century. The castle is now run by English Heritage.

Symonds Yat and the Wye Valley

Symonds Yat rock is situated in a heavily wooded limestone outcrop with cliffs 120m high. It is renowned for its magnificent viewpoint, which overlooks the beautiful scenery of the Wye valley as the river twists through the gorge. At the bottom of the valley are a range of visitor attractions, including a maze, a man-powered rope ferry over the Wye, and a Heritage Centre on the downland hillside. There is also a visitor centre at the top of the hill beside the viewpoint. During spring and summer you might spot the peregrine falcons that nest on the crags, protected by the RSPB, as well as people climbing and abseiling on the cliffs. Back down in the valley, Kingfisher Cruises run 35-minute boat trips along the river Wye, from 11am until sunset.

Perrygrove Railway

This narrow gauge railway (just 15 n) was built by Michael Crofts and his wife Frances and opened in 1996, the culmination of a long personal ambition. The line is just under a mile in length, but there are plans to lengthen it. It lies on the B4228, just south of Coleford.

Hopewell Colliery Museum

This is a working mine that runs underground tours, guided by miners or ex-miners. Visitors walk through the workings, some of which date from the 1820s, see the conditions in which miners worked and learn how coal was extracted from the steeply inclined narrow seams.