Living in the Forest of Dean

Can I be the first the mention the all pervasive but faint sound of the opening to "Duelling Banjos" every where you go?  I'm sure it's lovely to live there, but it does have a "local valley for locals, have I travelled to a different country by accident" feel to it as a visitor.

Has a reputation for being parochial and unwelcoming to newcomers (i.e. anyone without 3 generations in tbe graveyard) which was associated to protection of free-miners rights. All likely balderdash and enough new blood has moved in to mean it is lovely.

Have you watched The Change on Channel4?

It’s a true life* documentary on a lady moving to FoD, watch that and have EMF on loop and you’re good to go. <br /><br />*ish.

(to repeat something written on here last time this question came up!)

I have a brother and an uncle who live there... i'll ask him. 🙂

The locals are ace. In my experience.

watch that and have EMF on loop

James Atkin lives up here now. Everyone leaves.

Watching with interest as we have potentially similar plans.
*my mum & dad were related so hopefully I'd fit in if the above is anything to go by

We have plans for either there or south bits of Shropshire. However i don't care about the other 'people' lol. So if i'm a social paraiah that's OK with me 😀

If you move there, you have to have/get a proper dog. It's the law.

Don't mention the bear.

If you move there, you have to have/get a proper dog. It’s the law.

Well that's me out then 😕

The dog has to be big enough to take on the bear.

Proper dog? hmm we will have multiple dogs but they do seem to be getting smaller as we get older!

Have you watched The Change on Channel4?

It’s a true life* documentary on a lady moving to FoD, watch that and have EMF on loop and you’re good to go. *ish.

Thanks will check it out!

I grew up in Lydney and still have family there, plus another area in the Forest.  Since the removal of the tolls on the Severn Bridge there's been a big influx of people living in Lydney and commuting to Bristol, so any idea that it isn't open to outsiders has gone. You might find that in some of the more old-school places like Drybrook or Ruardean, but not in the three main towns of Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford. Lydney is a big town now, so I'm not sure how much community feel there is - you might need to look at a smaller town, or a tight-knit area in Lydney to achieve that.

Biking access is obviously ace, even from Lydney there is quick access into the Forest.

Not been in the pubs in ages, but a few pubs in the Forest are great, not so much the ones in Lydney. Same for restaurants.  Miners Arms in Sling is supposed to be quite good. Plenty of shops in Lydney - Tesco, Lidl, etc

I wouldn't want to work there - no local jobs, plus commuting is awful at rush hour, but it would be good to retire there - do some research on finding that right community though.

Living in the Forest of Dean is fantastic if you like endless woodland, tracks, trails, crazy wildlife and people just randomly talking to you like you're up north. I really, really like it.

I like a couple of pints in The Fountain at Parkend after bike rides, but the Rising Sun at Mosley Green is a top spot in summer. There's plenty of good pubs to choose from.

Don't take any notice of that outsider nonsense, it's rubbish, people are very friendly.

There are some pretty poor areas (I'm looking at you Cinderford and your rusty pole), with the additional chaos that occasionally brings. I don't mind it, but some people will.

Find a house as close to the woods as you can, ideally will direct access if possible.

You'll spend a plenty of time driving other places like the supermarket so a reliable car is useful.

Cinderford Palace cinema is only £4.50!

Best life you could ever give a dog.

Some villages are posh Forest - Clearwell, Newland etc. if you're that way inclined. They seem less friendly to me.

It sometimes feels as though I'm living in a magical realism novel, which is what The Change captures so well.

Bloody well full of incomers(like my mum who came in 61)  and too many tourists and the woods are trashed!

However I have been here since birth so claim the right to be grumpy. Most of the pubs, like the Fountain are now tourist traps but if you don't know any better then you'll be fine. The Miners has gone all posh since I was a kid. The ladies bogs now have locks on the doors and lights and the gents has a door.

If you go out of the Forest, eg Lydney then avoid the new places on the flood plains as one day they'll go under one day . Avoid Lydbrook for any reason you care to name. The Monkey Tump is good value, (friends from London think it is amazing, I think it is a **** hole)  and there is that rusty pole there!

Commuting out of area is awful. Gloucester and Bristol are pigs to get to at rush hour.

Clearwell being posh is a matter of opinion. It is a damp dark valley with 1 decent pub that opens part time but thankfully does no food and several over priced joints that are miserable if you want a pint.

Things like doctors surgery's are very stretched with too many new estates and no infrastructure and as for a dentist.....

House prices can be high, although there are some good deals as well, as is the fuel .

I like a couple of pints in The Fountain at Parkend after bike rides

Despite living miles away it's almost my local now

I live in Hereford so it's a 40 Min drive to ride. What about Monmouth? On the edge of the forest, good transport links, easy access to Wales. That's where I'd move to if I was mobile. 

And whatever you do, when you view a house ask yourself "how much sun would it get in winter?". There are some really dark and damp little valleys that look lovely in the summer... And incredibly cold and depressing in winter. 

I've lived in the forest for jearly all of my 45 years. I love it. Lydney is the worst of the 3 main forest towns in my opinion  I'd avoid it unpess you really need the train station or enjoy looking at charity shops and takeaways whilst sitting in the worst traffic in the forest.

I think you'd find it a friendly place these days - the attitude towards 'owtziderz' has changed a lot over the last 30 years.

Coleford is the best town, with some of the best pubs too. The villages around coleford are some of the best in the forest too - Newland, Staunton and Clearwell. House prices here are generally higher. I wouldn't say they're any less friendly,  I always chat to randomers in the village pubs anyway, and I'm definitely not alone! Nearer lydney - take a look at Parkend, Whitecroft,  Yorkely and Pillowell.

The forest is the perfect place place to be with a dog too, ours has the best life.

Any questions or if you fancy a guided tour of anywhere here drop me a message.

Following....

View houses in the winter and go for a hill side facing south with few trees. Valleys are cold and damp.

If your coming from out of county be aware that there's not a single dentist in Gloucestershire accepting new NHS patients!

The FoD is beautiful, I don't know it too well but it is like a pleasant step back from the crazy modern metropolis's.

Similarly to the Stroud valleys, don't buy in a valley bottom and make sure your south facing and it's unobstructed.

You might find that in some of the more old-school places like Drybrook or Ruardean, but not in the three main towns of Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford.

Conversely a close friend of mine moved to Ruardean about 2 years ago and she says that people there were friendly and welcoming.

I moved to Whitecroft in 2020 and I don't think I ever want to leave the forest now. I absolutely adore living here. You will never get tired of the forest. There are too many places to go walking, not to mention some of the best off-piste in the country. Super close to South Wales for cheeky weekend trips to Risca/Wyllie/BPW etc.

There are so many great pubs in the forest too. I disagree with The Fountain being a tourist trap. I don't go on weekends but weeknights after doing some trail maintenance or a night ride it's great, super chill and everyone is friendly. My local, the Miners Arms is great in the summer too, has a lovely garden and you can hear the steam trains go by on weekends. Rising Sun in Moseley Green is great, Miners Sling has very good food, as well as The Ostrich. The Butchers Arms makes some of the best steaks I've ever eaten in my life too.

Just down the road you've got Hanley Farm shop, and just outside the forest near Gloucester you've got Severn and Wye Smokery for great seafood.

The forest can get a little brown and dark in winter (depending where you live) but it's nicer than living in a grey city, and when spring comes around, wow. The bluebells and greenery just make everything better!

Thank you all, some good advice there!