Visitor information
Opening hours
Cannop Ponds is open every day except Christmas Day. The site opens at 8am every day and the closing times are as follows:
- November to February – 5pm
- March – 6:30pm
- April – 8pm
- May to August – 9pm
- September – 7:30pm
- October – 6:30pm
Overnight parking is not permitted. The access barrier to the car park is locked at night when the site is closed.
Food and drink
A catering unit is at Cannop Ponds from 11am to 4pm during school holidays and every weekend throughout the year, serving food, drinks and ice creams. Make sure you try the wild boar hot dogs!
How to find us
What3Words location: ///clinking.racing.sorry
Sat Nav Postcode:
GL15 4JSBy Public Transport
- We welcome car-free visitors and those arriving by public transport or bike. See all public travel and active travel routes for the Forest of Dean District in the Forest of Dean Travel Guide.
- The Robin Bus is your local, friendly bookable bus service. From Gloucestershire County Council, this bus service improves connections between rural areas which often have infrequent or no fixed routes available. Cannop Ponds is part of the Forest of Dean South area. For more information, check out the website. Available 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
- From Coleford, the Stagecoach number 24 bus stops a short walk away from the entrance to Cannop Ponds.
OS Grid Ref
51.793209252556, -2.5664276189691
Parking and prices
You can pay for your parking with debit/credit card or contactless at the machine by the entrance barrier, or pay with cash at the machine in the main car park (if paying with cash, please bring the correct change). Equally, you can skip the queues and pay for your parking through the RingGo app.
Save with a membership
Forestry England members park for free at Cannop Ponds.
Support our work in the Forest of Dean with a Forest of Dean membership, or choose a national membership and support the nation's forests. Both memberships cover the whole household.
Parking Charges
| Early bird - exit before 10.30am | £2.00 |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £2.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.00 |
| All day | £5.00 |
| Minibuses (not suitable for coaches) | |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £8.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £10.00 |
| All day | £12.00 |
Additional information
There is no charge for car-free visitors and those arriving by public transport or bike.
Members: This site requires you to display your membership car disc when parking here. Only one disc is allowed per membership. If you can't find your disc please contact membership@forestryengland.uk. Free parking for Forestry England national members and Forest of Dean members only.
Facilities and access
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Cafe
- Dogs allowed
- Picnic area
Contact details
Things to do
Activities at Cannop Ponds
