The weekend before Easter, we went on a mini-break to the Forest of Dean, which is in Gloucestershire, UK. Although it was advertised as glamping, I would say that the place we stayed in was more like a luxury cabin, complete with outdoor Japanese soaker tub! It was an absolutely beautiful location, with rolling hills and farmland, and only a few minutes’ drive from the ancient Forest of Dean. This was a much-needed holiday as it was the first time we had stayed overnight together since December 2019. It was also Wilbur’s first night away from home.
The place we stayed is called The Roost, and it has two cabins, ours being The Nest. The cabin had charming yellow and owl themed décor with lots of rustic features, though fully kitted out. The soaker tub was so peaceful and I enjoyed a perfectly relaxing bath watching a calf prance about in a nearby field!
The area in which the holiday home is located is a Special Area for Conservation and is home to the endangered horseshoe bat. There were lots of sheep and lambs, and even some alpacas grazing in the adjacent fields, as well as loads of beautiful spring flowers. One of the main selling points for us about the cabin was the wood burner, and Wilbur certainly approved!
Fun Facts about the Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is an ancient forest. It was used as a royal hunting area in the medieval period, and was an important timber source. In the Victorian period, the area was mined for iron and coal, before becoming a National Forest Park in 1938. The nearby Puzzle Wood was also a filming location for Harry Potter!
The Sculpture Trail at Beechenhurst
Our Saturday outing was a hike at The Sculpture Trail in the Forest of Dean. The full trail was around 4.5 miles and there were 16 large sculptures dotted along the way, most originating from the late 1980s. The sculptures mainly represented the juxtaposition of industry and nature, and the wild beauty of the area. The full walk was a bit long for me and Wilbur’s little legs, but we nonetheless enjoyed the beautiful day and some contemplative art.
Although the mini-break was far too mini, we certainly had an amazing time! Plus, we came back home and then straight out to celebrate two birthdays and a retirement with lots of good food and company. Our next mini-break is in September and we are going glamping in Wales!
For more holidays and adventures, see:
- Scotney Castle – A Bank Holiday Visit
- Mini-break to Bournemouth!
- A Seaside Day Trip Summer 2021
- Visiting Vancouver
