The nation's forests are for all to enjoy
This page offers information to help you plan a stress-free visit to Beechenhurst.
Essentials
Toilets
Our toilets comprise a women's toilet with 8 cubicles (including one with a baby changing table), a men's toilet with 4 cubicles plus urinals and a gender-neutral accessible toilet with a baby changing table. These are all located in and around the main building.
The accessible toilet is at the end of the building close to the accessible parking bays. The door width is 0.85m and has a hand rail on the inside, 0.95m from ground height. The room is approximately 2.8m x 1.97m. There are two handrails by the toilet itself which can be folded down. When down these are 0.68m from ground height.
Changing Places facility
We have a gender-neutral Changing Places facility on site. It is opened with a radar key, which is available from Beechenhurst Cafe or from the information point.
Needing help
All of our rangers are first aid trained and some have disability awareness training.
If you need assistance, please speak to a member of the team in the information point (located opposite the cafe). The information point is open during peak times (usually 11am to 3pm in the summer and school holidays).
If you need assistance when the information point is closed, please ask one of the cafe staff to get in touch with us.
Arriving at the forest
We have one main car park and one smaller car park at the front, both close to the main building. The site has roughly 300 to 350 car parking spaces.
You can reach Beechenhurst by bus. Stagecoach buses stop at Cannop Crossroads or Speech House Hotel. You can also book the Robin Bus and ask to stop at the Cannop Crossroads. Access from these stops are either uphill via a busy road with no designated footpath, or on an unsurfaced path with some steep gradients. The bus stop is 0.3 miles (0.5 km) from Beechenhurst.
The train station at Lydney is 8.2 miles away. Taxis are available at the station and accessible taxis can be booked in advance.
See all public travel and active travel routes for the Forest of Dean District in the Forest of Dean Travel Guide.
Car park
There are six accessible parking places close to the main building via a sloped tarmac access ramp. Another 10 are in the smaller front car park which is level but a further distance from the building.
Both of these paths to the main building will also take you to the cafe, toilets, ticket machines, picnic area and play area.
We have three card/contactless only pay machines on site. Two are located under the archway of the main building and one is located close to the Go Ape cabin. You can also pay on your phone by using RingGo.
Information point
Our information point is open during peak times (usually 11am to 3pm in the summer and school holidays). Here you can find information, buy trail maps, activity packs, memberships and car parking day tickets.
The information point is run mainly by dedicated volunteers, so opening times may vary.
Getting out in the forest
We have one all-terrain mobility scooter available to hire at Beechenhurst. You do not have to be registered disabled to hire one, and it can make it easier to get around the forest.
Seating and shelter
There are plenty of benches around the site. Picnic tables adapted for wheelchair users are situated on the hard standing area next to the play area.
The seating area next to the cafe has a sheltered section.
Trails and activities
Our children's play area has two accessible swing sets and a nest swing, the ground around these items has a flat surface. The swings are connected by a boardwalk which is suitable for wheelchair users.
The Glade Trail is an all-ability access trail and is suitable for most wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Lots of our trails and activities are comfortable for a range of abilities. See our Things to Do page for inspiration.