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Taking my Dad to the Forest of Dean for his 70th birthday, staying near Symonds Yat.
We may take bikes, but it'll be pootling around the main forest paths.
So bar that and the standard strolls round the forest, is there anything else worth doing for an active 70 year old, his 40 year old some and an 8 year old girl?
Suggestions for pubs and restaurants also gratefully recieved.
See link to recent discussion below. Would also add Clearwell Caves, Goodrich Casle and Butterfly world (or similar name) at Symonds Yat.
Loads to do. Easy walk is chain ferry across the river at Symonds Yat, walk to Biblins footbridge and back up the other bank. Kymin at Monmouth has good vies and walks, Yat Rock (obvs) Cannop. Also Tintern Abbey, Chepstow & Raglan Castles (Usk Valley there mind), coal mine to go down, puzzle wood, train opposite puzzle wood, etc.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/forest-of-dean-wye-valley-what-to-do-where-to-go/
How adventurous is your Dad? My dad is 66 but loves doing the go ape junior course with my 7 year old son. There is an adventure plus course at cannop I think.
If you’re here before the end of the month, the tunnel at Tintern is a mildly interesting diversion. Shuts on the 30th.
the tunnel at Tintern is a mildly interesting diversion
Oh yeah, that is an interesting addition to an already nice walk.
Tintern abbey?...
Tintern Abbey's pretty good- it's a shame so much of it is inaccessible now (and a bunch of the information boards are still in the shut-off areas, bit frustrating) but what's there is still worth the visit, it's a nice town too.
TBH I could probably spend days just wandering in the forest, it's absolutely gorgeous in places, but then I am a tree fetishist.
Saracens Head pub at Symonds Yat is good for food and right on the river, and also worth a go on the rope ferry, then a walk up to Symonds Yat rock. Canoe on the Wye is worth doing, zip wire at the diving centre near Chepstow and some great walks all around Tintern.
I’d add Puzzlewood, which is an engaging walk and setting for any age, and the Dean Heritage Centre.
Check the other thread for sure but if your dad is active, then canoeing is a lovely way to spend a day
Another shout out for Puzzle Wood - surprisingly good.
Walking around Symonds Yat Rock is really lovey.
The chain ferry and small walks either side of the river + pub visits.
Goodrich castle worth a visit.
You could do a canoe day/half day. Especially if you got a double and you did most of the padding. We have done a couple of kayak trips (paid and hired) and a couple in our cheapo inflatable intex double. We parked and put in at Kerne bridge, pootle down to the swimming beach near Sterrett’s Caravan Park (near where we were camping) and tbh hardly have to do much padding. Very chilled half day on the water and that swimming beach and rock jumping location is a cool place to finish. Then it is a very easy bike back to pick the car up.