If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I recently visited the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail. A four and a half mile walk through the woods sculpture spotting. Thankfully the weather held up and we only had a very short sprinkle of rain.
As this was a spur of the moment decision we hadn’t packed lunch or water but luckily there is a cafe adjacent to the carpark. Unfortunately I felt it was over priced, so I’d definitely recommend bringing your own food and drinks with you. There is a charge for parking but at £5 all day, during peak times, it’s very reasonable.
The sculpture trail took us 2 and a half hours to go round but there are also shorter or bypass routes you can follow. Look out for the purple signs along the way.
If you’re worried about losing your way, there are maps available at the cafe for £1 or you can download one for free before your visit. We got lost once so the map definitely came in handy! There’s rarely any phone or GPS signal available in the Forest of Dean.
There were gravel footpaths along most of the trail but some areas were overgrown or muddy, so wear sensible footwear and, depending on the weather, waterproof clothing.
The sculptures along the trail were varied with many differing structures, large and small. Some were on the paths and others tucked away in the trees. It was fun trying to find them all and what some of them were or represented.
There are currently 17 sculptures which can be viewed throughout the trail and, even with the map, there were a couple we couldn’t locate. Of the sculptures we did find my favourites were the iron railway and the stained glass window, known as ‘The Cathedral’.
As well as the sculpture trail there are also cycle roots and Go Ape! Kids to enjoy at the Beechenhurst site. So why not make a weekend of it? I’m planning on going glamping in the Forest of Dean this Summer; I’m a fan of staycations and exploring as much of my home country as possible.
What about you? Have you ever been to the Sculpture Trail or something similar? Do you like staycations?
10 Comments
Helen C
February 18, 2019 at 12:58
Lovely post Kim, thanks for sharing! I love the idea of a sculpture trail, it promotes walking as well as local art. I enjoy going walking with my camera, so this kind of thing would be right up my street. The glass window is so pretty, and I can imagine it has a lovely story behind it. I’m a big fan of staycations, my family and I do quite a bit of visiting to local places, and enjoy finding hidden gems. Hope you are well and speak soon. 🙂 xx
Helen | Helen’s Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
Bill @OthFit
January 27, 2019 at 22:36
This looks like a pretty awesome hike. We have a couple hikes like this around here and our family loves them.
Kim
February 3, 2019 at 12:36
It was a lot of fun and we’re looking out for more like it. Probably wait until it gets a bit warmer.
Bexa
January 26, 2019 at 18:07
I’ve never heard of a sculpture trail but it sounds like such a fun way to get some exercise and see interesting pieces of art too! It looks like a very affordable day out and a great way to get fresh air and explore nature. Thanks for sharing Kim, fab post! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Britt K
January 25, 2019 at 03:50
I love the way that locations like this normalize artwork in our lives. We have a sculpture park here in Windsor, along the riverfront, and I love visiting it.
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
Nic
January 24, 2019 at 10:37
This looks really interesting to do, glad the weather was not overall bad for you 🙂
I do quite a few staycations as my folks have a house in Dorset, so it’s nice to see a lot on the Jurassic coast
Nic |https://nicbakes.blogspot.com
Kim
March 24, 2019 at 17:15
Thanks for your comment Nic and sorry for the delay replying. It had ended up in spam. 🙁 I love Dorset and the Jurassic Coast! I’m a little jealous your folks have a house there. It’s one of my favourite parts of the UK, especially Weymouth and Lyme Regis.
Caitlin Brant
January 23, 2019 at 17:37
I always hear good things about the Forest of Dean and after reading this I really want to go! The cathedral looks so cool!
Kim
February 3, 2019 at 12:37
It’s a great place with so many different things to do. I’d highly recommend a trip. Thanks for your comment. x
Amy
January 23, 2019 at 16:13
I think there’s a sculpture park near me, but I’ve never been. It sounds like a great day out though! It seems a lot more exciting than an ordinary art gallery.
£5 for parking is so cheap! When I went to LFCC last year it was £27 for the day, which is quite normal for event car parks I think.
Glad you enjoyed the trail! And glad it didn’t rain too much!