Coleford Area Walking Festival

Walking Festival Diary

Plan your festival walks here. You can book and pay for these walks via Eventbrite on the book walks page you can also book via the Tourist Information Centre in Coleford by using the booking form on the leaflet and paying by cheque (made payable to Coleford Area Partnership) or by calling in or calling 01594 837135. Walks are £5 each. Why not buy a Festival Freedom Pass for £20 per person and enjoy as many walks as you like over the festival (you do still need to book the walks so numbers can be managed).

Buy your Freedom pass here soon.

SATURDAY 9 MAY

  1. The Hidden Heritage of Coleford’s Eastern Arc– 5.5 miles approx  – Moderate – 10.00 –  Dogs on leads This walk takes in some of the historical locations around Milkwall, Coalway and Broadwell, outlining the background to some of our local heritage features. Among the places along the route, some may be familiar such as Dark Hill and Scarr Bandstand, while others may prove a little less well known. Meet at Darkhill Car Park SO 58830863;W3W trackers.decently.openly
  2. Nature and Foraging Family Walk – 2 miles approx. – Easy –  10.00 – No Dogs Another chance to immerse yourselves in this popular walk. Explore the fascinating world of trees, plants, herbs and fungi during our gentle foraging walk. Learn to identify a wide array of common plants, mushrooms and wild edibles. Meet at Angus Buchanan Rec Car Park GR SO 56951070; W3W nosedive.premises.decorated
  3. The Dog House Real Ale Trail – 8 miles approx – moderate – 12.00 – Dogs Welcome     Join Greg Daniel at The Dog House, Coleford for the annual pilgrimage around some of the area’s finest pubs, visiting Newland, Clearwell and Sling. Suitable for dogs but probably not children. Meet at The Dog House GR SO57481079; W3W send.kitchen.crabmeat

SUNDAY 10 MAY

  1. Hewelsfield and St Briavels Commons – 6.5 miles approx – moderate/Strenuous – 10.00 No DogsThis walk explores the myriad of quiet roads and footpaths that cross the Commons. It  generally keeps to the higher ground above the valley of the River Wye, but is still undulating with some prolonged ascents and descents and several stiles. Meet at the entrance to St Briavels Castle GR SO 55830460; W3W negotiators.warm.clocking
  2. 5. New Fancy, Moseley Green and Danby Lodge – WALK CANCELLED

MONDAY 11 MAY

  1. Coleford and Christchurch Café Crawl – 6 miles  approx – Moderate – 10.00 –  Dogs on leads Start the week off with a walk that gives you the opportunity to drink some coffee. Meet at Scoffs in St John Street for the first drink. Enjoy a walk to Forest Holidays café at Christchurch  before returning to Coleford via the café at Greenacres campsite. Meet at Scoffs Café  SO 57481079; W3W months.outdoor.accented
  2. Ruspidge to Coleford via Lime Tree Ride – 7.5 miles approx – Moderate – 13:40 – No Dogs We will catch the bus to Ruspidge [bring fare or bus pass] and walk back via Parkend along a route thought to contain an avenue of lime trees established in the mid- 19th century. Meet at the bus stop outside the Angel in Coleford GR SO 575107: W3W update.tacky.clauses

TUESDAY 12 MAY

  1. A Community Wellbeing  and Accessible Walk in the Forest  –  Distance varies – Accessible – 10.00  – Dogs welcome A gentle immersion into the local woodlands, we want this to be a holiday for the brain, a respite from any urgency of today’s fast-paced world. The walks are fully accessible and inclusive to those with physical, mental or cognitive challenges. Kids and dogs are most welcome too. Meet in the car park off the Soudley to Littledean road GR SO 66211163; W3W aware.donor.unloads     If you are a wheelchair user or accessibility is a concern please contact us so we can arrange a chat to ensure you are included. Hello@WildeEarthJourneys.org
  2. Little Doward and the Wye Gorge – 5miles approx – Moderate/Strenuous – 13.00 – No Dogs Walk through the Wye Gorge before reaching King Arthur’s Cave and an iron age hillfort on this walk which is mainly on good paths and tracks, but does have one steep ascent and descent. Please meet at Coleford Clock Tower GR SO57511071; W3W perfect.grace.heightens at 13.00 to arrange possible car sharing as the original parking location is no longer available.

WEDNESDAY 13 MAY

  1. The Working Forest – 2 miles approx – Moderate – 10.00 – No Dogs Join a Forestry England Community Ranger to learn about woodland management practices and how our Forest is managed for people, wildlife and timber to ensure that we have a woodland that will thrive for generations to come.  Ruspidge Halt Car Park GR SO6494 1274;  W3W choirs.first.disarmed
  2. Redbrook and Penallt Circular – 5.5 miles approx –  moderate/strenuous – 14.00 –  No Dogs From the banks of the River Wye, this walk ascends continuously to the top of the Lydart ridge. It then contours along the ridge before descending via the village of Penallt back to the river at the Boat Inn. Meet at Upper Redbrook car park [charges apply]  GR SO53620997; W3W rescuer.trombone.cavalier

THURSDAY 14 MAY

  1. Perry Hay Beavers, Spruce Ride and Russell’s Inclosure – 7 miles approx – Moderate – 10.00 – No Dogs Follow forest tracks to the new beaver enclosure at Perry Hay where a Forestry England Ranger will explain how the work of the beavers is changing the landscape. Continue via Spruce Ride to Speech House and the Sculpture Trail before following the Colliers Way back to New Fancy. Meet at New Fancy car park GR SO 62800954: W3W pairings,lightens.sung
  2. Woolaston Wander – 5 miles approx – Moderate – 14.00 – No DogsThis walk through the farmland and woodland surrounding Woolaston uses a mix of quiet country lanes, tracks and footpaths. The higher parts of the route give extensive views across the River Severn. Not a difficult walk but there are a number of stiles. Meet at Church Lane car park just off the A48. GR ST 58909926; W3W delays.outsiders.fund

FRIDAY 15 MAY

  1. Ramblers Walk: The High Meadow Trail  – 11 miles approx   –Strenuous – 10.00 –   No Dogs This circular walk featuring stunning views, a ferry crossing and a footbridge over the River Wye is probably the premier walk in the Forest. It is a demanding but rewarding walk with steep ascents and descents. Meet at the Log Cabin at Symonds Yat Rock car park. GR SO5635 1588; W3W investors.claps.bonds
  2. Oldcroft, Norchard and Pillowell – 5 miles approx – Moderate – 14.00 – No Dogs This walk provides extensive views as well as following the course of a steam railway and a Roman road. It mostly follows quiet lanes and forest tracks. There is a continuous uphill section close to the end of the walk and a number of stiles. Meet opposite the [now closed] Nags Head pub in Oldcroft Road which is off Bailey Hill. GR SO64240688; W3W usages.uplifting.storyline

SATURDAY 16 MAY

  1. Shaping Coleford  – 2.5 miles approx – Easy – 10.00 Dogs on leads Follow a trail around Coleford with an experienced local guide to discover some of the issues facing the town and its buildings in relation to conservation, design and planning, together with possible solutions. Meet at Coleford Clock Tower GR SO57511071; W3W perfect.grace.heightens.
  2. Plump Hill. Flaxley and Abenhall – 7.5 miles approx – Moderate/Strenuous – 14.00 –  No DogsThis is a fairly hilly walk through fields and forest. The route passes St Anthony’s Well, Welshbury Hillfort and Flaxley Abbey. There are a number of stiles. Coming from the Cinderford direction turn left at the sign to The Wilderness and then left again to a parking area. Meet here. GR SO65831705; W3W margin.fastening.dynamic

SUNDAY 18 MAY

  1. Blakeney, Gatcombe and Purton – 6 miles approx – Moderate – 10.00 – No Dogs Despite the route being partly along the Severn this is a fairly hilly walk that passes through some historic but remote hamlets. The walk follows lanes and uses field paths therefore there are a large number of stiles. Meet at the car park in Blakeney off Millend  GR SO 67080689; W3W strike.scramble.screaming
  2. Monmouth to Coleford Linear Walk – 7.5 miles approx – moderate/ strenuous – 13.00 – No DogsWe will catch the bus from Coleford to Monmouth [bring fare or bus pass] and walk back, firstly following the river before climbing up through the Highmeadow Woods to Christchurch and then returning to Coleford. Meet at the bus stop outside The Angel in Coleford GR SO 575107;  W3W update.tacky.clauses

To book these events (online available soon) or visit the Tourist Information Centre in Coleford