Wainlete - a haven of tranquillity

Tucked away in a nearly forgotten corner of England sits the mysterious Royal Forest of Dean. Bounded by the rivers Severn and Wye this stunningly beautiful area, once the hunting ground of Kings, lies waiting to be discovered.

Over the centuries the Forest has hosted the Romans, grown oak for Drake's great ships and provided iron for the nation's armies. Free mining for coal helped to fuel the Industrial Revolution, and still exists to this day. The visitor can still see many relics of these ages past and can indulge in a journey through one of our few remaining ancient forests. There are waymarked paths, enchanted woodland glades and streams, interesting flora and fauna and, above all, a warm welcome in an area truly 'off the beaten track.'

No visit to the Forest of Dean would be complete without discovering the delightful historic village of Clearwell.

Set in a gentle valley just a few minutes drive from the old market town of Coleford, the centre of the village is dominated by a 14th century stone cross. Clearwell's history can be traced back to Roman times and evidence of early iron workings can be visited at Clearwell Caves, now an award winning mining museum.

Abundant clear water from the spring behind the Wyndham Arms encouraged the development of tanning and nail making industries and also gave the village its name. First known as Wellington 'the place of the spring', it was changed to Clearwell in the 13th century meaning 'the spring amongst the clovers.'

Situated along Clearwell high-street is another top class hotel and restaurant, the Tudor Farmhouse Hotel. The hotel features a romantic candlelit restaurant, ideal for that special occasion.

Next to the Tudor Farmhouse Hotel is the Butchers Arms, an inn with a large range of facilities including a fine restaurant.

Dominating the village is Clearwell Castle. The castle was built for the Wyndham family in 1727 on the site of a Tudor manor and is a fine early example of Gothic revival architecture. It was England's first neo-gothic mansion but unfortunately burnt down in 1929 and was left in decline until 1953.

Since then it has had several owners who have used it for various commercial ventures, including a recording studio during the seventies.

The castle is now available for daily hire by its present owners and is especially popular as a wedding venue on a grand scale.

Adjacent to the castle is a church built by the Victorians in the Gothic style. You will note it has no graveyard, this is because it was built by the then owner of the Castle, the Dunravens, to replace the chapel on the road towards Clearwell Caves, which has the graveyard.

Along the valley brook to the west of Clearwell is the charming medieval village of Newland where the 'Cathedral of the Forest' crowns the hillside. The Ostrich pub is a fine eatery described in the Good Pub Guide.