Delving into the forest itself, our next camping trip was to Bracelands.

Bracelands is one of 15 sites owned by Camping in the Forest – as the name suggests, these campsites have all been created within woodland areas and they are managed jointly with the Forestry Commission.

At Bracelands you are surrounded by views of magnificent oaks, beech and pine trees and there is a real feeling of being immersed in nature. Within this stunning location are 520 pitches, a mix of grass and hard standing, with the option to stay in a pod or glamp it up in one of five safari tents. There is something for everyone and, with prices starting at just £14.20 per night for two adults, a very affordable holiday.

We arrived to a very warm welcome and were impressed by the staff’s knowledge of the area. For anyone new to the Forest of Dean and wondering what to do, you only have to ask for ideas.

We chose to stay in a pod. With the weather looking a bit dodgy, it was great to know we’d be warm and dry and, of course, no setting up to do! The pods are fairly basic, but very spacious – we were able to fit two inflatable double beds and still have space for our belongings without feeling cramped. A carpeted floor and heater mean you can be as cosy as you fancy – perfect for fairweather campers!

Time to explore and we were impressed with the amount of space there is to enjoy without even leaving the campsite. You can explore the woods, try your hand at den-building and encounter an unusual resident if you’re lucky! This rather lovely sculpture was actually commissioned as part of a Mindscape project several years ago. We’ll leave it to you to decide whether he’s a gnome, ogre or troll!

Having settled in, it was time for dinner and we ordered a curry from Coleford. No cooking, great food, beautiful, uninterrupted views from our pod, no buildings or roads in sight – what a wonderful and peaceful way to spend an evening. The next day, we enjoyed a lazy breakfast, during which we sampled Wolfy’s Porridge, a new and very delicious product for Puzzlewood’s café. After a lovely hot shower in the spotlessly clean shower block, we set out for a walk along the Peregrine Path.

The Peregrine Path runs between Monmouth and Symonds Yat and is also suitable for cycling. Wander down through Highmeadow Woods on the Wye Trail to the River Wye, do a bit of dam building in the streams with the kids and then decide which way to go. Turn left and you’ll cross the English-Welsh border and end up in the county town of Monmouth. Alternatively, go right, which we did, and enjoy a short walk to Symonds Yat, one of the Forest of Dean’s many fantastic natural attractions. All off road, it’s a really nice walk and, if you have time, you can stop off and play on a rope swing and maybe enjoy a bit of wild swimming. We ended up at The Saracen’s Head where we had a very tasty lunch before taking the handferry across the river (watch out for ducks crossing!). Kingfisher Cruises operates from outside the pub – a river cruise is a great way to take in the scenery, plus you’ll learn plenty about the area thanks to very knowledgeable guided commentary. Needless to say, it’s also a great spot if you fancy a go at canoeing or kayaking.

Back to Bracelands and it was time to pack up and head out, but not before we had a sneaky peak at the safari tents. This is definitely camping in style – proper beds, a sofa, dining table, a kitchen area. Sleeping up to six people (maximum four adults), this is luxury camping. Booking can be completed online – just make sure you choose the right accommodation type because you’ll be taken to different booking systems. However, the pods can only be booked by phone at the moment, so call 024 7798 6991.

For us, our departure meant another campsite, another pod…