Beechenhurst

Visitor information

Opening hours

Open every day except Christmas Day. The site opens at 8:00am every day and the closing times are as follows:

November to February - 5:00pm

March - 6:30pm

April - 8:00pm

May to August - 9:00pm

September - 7:30pm

October - 6:30pm

Beechenhurst is often quieter on weekdays (outside of school holidays), earlier in the morning, and later in the afternoon.

How to find us

Please note that if you put the postcode in to your satnav it will take you to the nearby Speech House Hotel - you can follow brown signs from there to find us.

Speech House Road, Coleford

Sat Nav Postcode: GL16 7EL

By Car

Follow tourist signs for the Forest of Dean. Take the B4226 Coleford to Cinderford road. Beechenhurst is located between the B4234 crossroads (Parkend/Lydbrook) and the Speech House Hotel.

Or go car-free

By Public Transport

We welcome car-free visitors and offer free admission to those arriving by public transport or bike – plan your journey at Good Journey.

From Coleford - number 25 (stops a short walk away).

From Lydney - number 23 bus, change at Coleford to number 25 bus

Cinderford - number 25 bus.

OS Grid Ref

SO614120

Get directions

51.806067402752, -2.5609087944031

Parking and prices

Pay for your parking with cash, debit/credit card or use the RingGo app. We recommend downloading the app to your phone before you visit.

You can also use RingGo by pre-booking online or calling 0203 046 0063 with location code 31002 (cars) or 31003 (minibus or motorhome).

There is a small convenience charge for using this service. See RingGo online for full terms and conditions and VAT receipts.

Forest of Dean members park for free. Buy your Membership now for £40 and simply display your pass in your vehicle without queuing for a ticket. Parking charges and memberships help us to look after the Forest of Dean for everyone.

Parking Charges

The money you pay for parking helps us to look after the forests. Read how

Peak charges (1 April - 31 October)
Up to 2 hours	£3.00
Up to 4 hours	£5.00
All day	£7.00

Off peak charges (1 November - 31 March)
Up to 2 hours	£2.00
Up to 4 hours	£4.00
All day	£5.00

Coaches/Minibuses charges

Minibuses/motorhomes - peak £10.00, off peak £8.00

Coaches/minibuses with trailers - peak £12.00, off peak £10.00

Additional information

Regular visitors can save money by becoming a Member -

If you arrive car-free there is no charge, find out more.

Number of accessible parking spaces: 11

Card payments accepted

Coaches/Minibuses welcomed

Disabled parking available

Pay by phone available

Facilities and access

Beechenhurst Cafe is open daily.

If you have limited mobility (short or long term, for any reason), why not hire a tramper through the Countryside Mobility Scheme? These can be used to explore the nearby Cyril Hart Arboretum. You do not have to be registered disabled to hire a Tramper.

Beechenhurst is often quieter on weekdays (outside of school holidays), earlier in the morning, and later in the afternoon.

For more information on planning your visit, take a look at our accessibility guide:

View Accessibility Guide

Accessible toilet

Baby changing facilities

Cafe

Dogs allowed

Picnic area

Play Area

Ranger's Office

Toilets

Contact details

Landline Number

0300 067 4800

E-Mail Address

westengland@forestryengland.uk

Beechenhurst

A great place for the whole family to start a Forest of Dean adventure

Beechenhurst lies in the heart of the Forest of Dean, one of Britain's oldest and largest woodlands.

It is the ideal place for families to start their forest adventure, with a family activity trail, Sculpture Trail, play area and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. You can even bring your bikes and access the wider forest on our Family Cycle Trail.

Don't forget to refuel in the café or bring your own food to enjoy in our beautiful picnic area. We also have bookable barbecues if you fancy cooking your own family feast.

At a glance

To reduce waste and prevent forest fires, please do not use disposable BBQs in the forest. You are welcome to hire one of our bookable BBQs.

24/03/2022 11:03

Planning a visit? Take a look at a map of our walking trails.

23/07/2021 14:48

Things to do

See more things to do

Family cycle trail at 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.

Find out more

Walking trails at Beechenhurst

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.

Find out more

Arts - The Forest of Dean Sculpture trail at Beechenhurst

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).

Forest to Forest trail

In 2021 Beechenhurst hosted an additional temporary arts trail called "Forest to Forest" which featured eight new sculptures celebrating forest wildlife, flora and fauna. This trail has now been decommissioned but some of the pieces remain in the forest and will be incorporated into the main sculpture trail.

Find out more

Beechenhurst play area

The play area at Beechenhurst has a host of wooden play equipment for your kids to enjoy. There is a separate area specially made for toddlers.

In 2022 we welcomed a brand new zip line, nest swing and mining-themed climbing frame.

Picnic tables are available, including mini versions for the children.

Please leave dogs outside of the play area and always shut the gates. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The play area is located next to Beechenhurst Cafe, perfect to refuel ready for some more play!

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Nearby forests

Cannop Ponds

The site was originally home to the Severn and Wye Railway, which was constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the Forest of Dean.

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walkers enjoying a walk around a woodland lake in autumn

Mallards Pike

This beautiful setting is a great place to get active. Adrenaline seekers can challenge themselves at Go Ape Tree Top Challenge. For those with energy left to burn there is Forest Segway or a range of running trails from 2km to 10km routes.

Find out more

Symonds Yat Rock

Discover the ancient hill fort, spot birds of prey and enjoy a snack from the log cabin cafe.

There are waymarked trails linking to the River Wye and over the famous Biblins Bridge, or a choice of circular walks into the forest itself. There is also a cycling trail linking Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest site at Bracelands to Symonds Yat Rock.

Find out more

Wenchford

Wenchford is a beautiful spot nestled deep within the forest with plenty of picnic tables and an easy access path

Blackpool Brook trickles through the site under the dappled shade of the large oak trees. The paddling area is the perfect place to cool down in the hot summer months.

The toilet facilities are open from April until the end of October. Parking charges only apply during this time.

Find out more