Living and working, as we do, in the Forest of Dean, we are often asked to recommend campsites within a short distance of both our businesses.
Our latest adventure has been to travel no further than five miles from Puzzlewood, staying overnight at five different campsites, exploring each site and heading out for a walk. Over the next few days we’ll be sharing our experiences – hopefully to inspire you to come and stay in this stunning area.
And so to Day One…
Our first stop was Forest and Wye Camping Site, which is located just outside St Briavels and a stone’s throw from Puzzlewood. As we arrived, we were welcomed by the resident pygmy goats and then we met Jess, Jo and Bev. Sisters Jo and Jess have run the site since 2015 – dad John built all the fantastic facilities. In the four years this family-run site has been open, it’s become very popular – repeat visits and personal recommendations account for approximately 40% of guests – and enjoys an excellent reputation. A quick look at TripAdvisor shows just how much people enjoy staying at Forest and Wye Camping Site.
And it’s really not hard to understand why. There is plenty of space, with 26 grass pitches and 17 hardstanding for caravans and camper vans. Where others might have packed in as many pitches as possible, the family has created really generous pitches – the smallest are 11m x 11m – so you don’t feel crammed in at all. All pitches have electric hook-up and even TV points (luxury!). Wifi is also available. The pristine toilet/shower block is heated and there is a separate disabled shower room and baby changing facilities. The site also has a great shop that sells local produce, including meat, beers, cider, jam, honey and ice cream – enjoy it during your stay and choose a few items to take home with you.
During our stay we went for a lovely 10-mile circular walk that goes through gorgeous woodland and along Slade Brook – it’s a really pleasant setting. When you get into the village, St Briavels Castle, which is now a youth hostel, is worth a look and a good starting point for a number of walks, including Offa’s Dyke path – you can pick up a map from the campsite.
St Briavels is an easy 20-minute walk and we enjoyed the most wonderful views and spotted plenty of spring lambs in the fields. Feeling peckish, we stopped off for afternoon tea at The Pantry, which also sells a great range of patés, cheeses, pasties and divine homemade cakes. We also popped into Mariana Art, a gallery run by a professional artist and full of original art, ceramics, jewellery, prints and gifts. The local playground is great if you’ve got kids and, time your visit right, there is a local produce market every month, which is a great experience. Following a drink at The George, it was back to the campsite and a lovely treat in the shape of a rainbow.
At this stage, we should mention that there is a brilliant café on site. So, forget cooking over a camping stove, we took full advantage and had a homemade curry delivered to our pitch. It was amazing! These evening takeaways are a great idea, especially if you’ve had a busy day out and don’t feel like cooking or looking for somewhere to eat. They’re available during high season and for large groups booking ahead. The next morning, we tucked into delicious bacon baps for breakfast and enjoyed a fresh pot of coffee, purely in the interests of research of course!
And finally, knowing that the weather can be changeable, and that camping in the rain can be a challenge, the campsite has boot-drying racks and facilities to wash boots, dogs and/or bikes if things have got a bit muddy! Firepits can be hired, which makes for a wonderfully cosy evening – the shop sells marshmallows and skewers for the perfect fireside experience! What more can one ask for!
Having stayed in our motorhome, it was time to get ready for a campervan experience…
