Blog

Cycling from Cannop Ponds to Parkend

Continuing our exploration of all the cycle trails in the Forest of Dean, we returned to Cannop Ponds, but this time to head south to Coleford via Parkend. It's mostly dismantled railway, so we were expecting a reasonably straightforward ride for our pedalling boy. The ride out of Cannop is easy and very slightly downhill. After crossing the road, the trail became more puddle-ridden but very cycl...[More]

Forest of Dean Family Cycle Trail

The Forest of Dean has plenty of options for cyclists: in fact, the traffic going past Tibberton Cottage on a Sunday morning is most likely to be groups of road cyclists. Forestry England run Cannop Cycle Centre in the heart of the forest, and from there you can ride a blue trail, red trail, or the family cycle trail. Like lots of people, we take our own bikes, though you can hire them from pedala...[More]

Painswick Beacon

Today we enjoyed an afternoon stroll around Painswick Beacon. There were excellent views of Gloucester, May Hill and the Malverns from the trig point at the top, lots of small winding paths, mounds and dips ideal for little people to run up and down, and plenty of space to stay far apart from others, despite it being a busy Sunday afternoon. We parked at Painswick Beacon Car Park, which is best de...[More]

Soudley Ponds and Blaize Bailey

Yesterday's after-lunch walk was at Soudley Ponds. We found a great new route that took us firstly to the viewpoint at Blaize Bailey, offering scenic views of the River Severn, and then returned us to the car park via all four of the ponds. Soudley Ponds is about a 25 minute drive from the cottage. It's a quiet little spot, and there's a free Forestry Commission car park that's never had more than...[More]