The ancient Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire has been around for thousands of years, so it is little wonder that it is steeped in so much mystery and magical folklore. It makes sense that JK Rowling and Tolkien both took inspiration from this part of the world when writing books about magical places.
This winter, get your aran sweaters from Shamrock, pull on your walking boots and head down to the Forest to discover what mysteries lie in wait there…
Littledean Hall – One of the most notoriously haunted places in thewhole of England, if it is a Halloween visit or you just fancy some ghost hunting, stop at Littledean Hall. The ghost of a boy, blood stains that mysteriously appear on the walls and vengeful manservant are all widely reported sightings here.
In Parkend, there stands a mysterious gravestone in the cemetery. Known as the Parkend rune stone, it is the gravestone of Edward Vimpny who dies in 1836. On it there is some mysterious runic language inscribed – some of which can be translated and some of which cannot – it remains a mystery to this day.
The Staunton Longstone dates back to the Bronze Age. Local folklore says that the mysterious stone will bleed if you were to prick it with a pin at midnight.
What to do while you’re there
Wild swimming in the Wye Valley
Tudor Farmhouse in Clearwell offers the opportunity for visitors to appreciate a Wild Swimming bundle throughout the mid-year months. There is a scope of close by areas, from a basic oar on a riverside seashore in Hay-on-Wye to a somewhat all the more testing 2km swim along a waterway that goes through a group of fields towards Hereford.
Summer timberland washing
Battle pressure and uneasiness and feel the advantage of ‘nature’s wellbeing administration’ with a backwoods washing involvement with Soudley Woods; consolidating serene strolls through the forested areas, scavenged teas, and a lot of time to unwind and reflect while taking in outside air. Woods washing has its foundations in the Japanese act of Shinrin-yoku which interprets as ‘taking in the woodland air’ and intends to improve all psychological prosperity and decrease pressure, regardless of whether you’re managing sorrow, ailing in energy, or essentially feeling demotivated.
Biking trails
The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is home to various cycleways, appropriate for individuals, all things considered, and encounters from ‘simple rider’ and ‘family’ trails to testing mountain biking courses. The family cycling course begins in the Cannop Valley from the Pedalabikeaway bicycle enlist shop and takes you along the old Severn and Wye railroad line, passing a large group of previous stations, for example, Drybrook Road, Cannop Wharf, and Speech House.
The Virtuous Well can be found on the road to Tintern. It dates back to Druid times and both the Druids and the Celts believed these natural wells were portals to the other world of the spirits. It has long been believed to have gealing properties.
