Beechenhurst

A waymarked circular route mainly on former railway lines with connecting routes to villages and picnic sites. This route has been especially surfaced and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

You can access the family cycle trail from a number of locations around the Forest of Dean, including the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, Beechenhurst and Mallards Pike.

Fancy a shorter family route? Try the 5-mile/8km ride from the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre or Beechenhurst on the waymarked Hicksters Way Loop.

To find out about cycle hire, tag-a-longs or electric bikes, contact our bike hire specialists who can be found at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre.

This is a shared use trail and so you will come across walkers, dogs and runners on your way around. Please watch out for other people and take care when passing.

Explore Beechenhurst on our waymarked trails or smaller paths that criss-cross the forest.

Take the Ramblers Beechenhurst trail for a challenging walk, venture beyond Beechenhurst on the Speech House Link trail or discover a unique range of artwork along the Sculpture trail. 

Let sound artist Jez riley French take you on a self-guided journey of Beechenhurst in this soundwalk.

Using headphones via your personal device, start the audio in your favourite part of Beechenhurst and take a slow walk through the forest. The route is entirely up to you.

Guided by Jez’s gentle narration you’ll discover the secret sounds of Beechenhurst’s trees, plants, soil and insects normally inaudible to the human ear.

Listen deeply and learn about the inner life of the forest and how it interconnects. Allow the sounds of this environment to transport and stimulate your senses.

The Secret Sounds of Trees is commissioned and produced by Sound UK. Funded by Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and PRS Foundation. In partnership with Forestry England, Cinderford Artspace and Wilde Earth Journeys.

Founded in 1986, the sculpture trail is a partnership between Forestry England and the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust.

Some of the sculptures are temporary, while others will last for years. They have all been designed to evolve over time as the forest changes around them. Over the years, artists at all stages of their careers have been invited to create artworks for this unique context.

The sculptures on this trail are inspired by the forest - its trees, wildlife and industrial past. The sculptures are mostly constructed from natural material from the Dean - wood, stone and iron. They are interspersed along the trail through majestic oaks and towering Scots pine trees.

There are waymarked shortcuts: Shortcut A (first 6 sculptures) is approx 2.2 miles in length and Shortcut B is 3 miles (first 12 sculptures). 

The Sculptures

You may come across some temporary or decommissioned sculptures on the trail which aren’t marked on the map. Check the Sculpture Trust website for more information.

Audio descriptions of each sculpture are available to download here.