Walking
Wainlete, being in Clearwell on the borders of not only the stunning Wye Valley but also the Royal Forest of Dean, is the perfect base to sample the many varied delights of walking this beautiful and historic region of Gloucestershire.
The scenic delights embrace the bare moorlands on the eastern edge of the Black Mountains, the rolling country of the Wye and golden valleys, the dense woodland of the Forest of Dean, the dramatic limestone gorge of the lower Wye nearby and the gentle landscapes around Dymock and Newent. Historic attractions include monastic remains, castles built by the Normans such as Goodrich castle to the myriad mottes that pebbledash the western fringes of the county.
Red kites and peregrine falcons soar in the skies whilst otters hunt the waterways and fallow and roe deer, polecat and wild boar haunt the secluded woodlands of the Forest.
Only perhaps at the famous Yat rock will you be aware of more than a handful of like minded souls looking for peace, solitude and the land of yore that many wish to rediscover.
For the more serious walker, major recreational trails include Offas' Dyke Path National Trail, Wye Valley Walk, Marches Way and the Mortimer Trail.
In the cottage you will find:
- OS maps
- Jarrold walking guide books for the area
- Other published walks
- Our own walks from the cottage door
- Backpacks
- Binoculars
- Details of walking shops and organised walks. The walks range from half an hour to all day hikes.
Royal Forest of Dean
The Royal Forest of Dean was the hunting reserve of Tudor Kings. It is now one of the remaining Royal Forests in England, and is stocked with fallow deer and wild boar, which you may have the pleasure of seeing today. The deer are predominantly fallow deer, present in the forest since the 13th century currently numbering around 400. The Forest's hilly terrain and 20 million trees have helped preserve a pattern of land use, culture and heritage unlike anywhere else in the whole of England. In 1939 the woodland area became the first park in England to be designated as a national forest, and has an abundance of public footpaths and rights of way. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, lived on the southern edge of the Forest and used the forest as a setting in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Wye Valley AONB encapsulates one of the most spectacular landscapes in lowland Britain.
The gorge area of the lower Wye was discovered at the end of the 18th century by the romantics, intellectual and aristocratic visitors who found the combination of steep wooded cliffs, winding river and the spectacular view points of Wintours Leap, Wynd Cliff, Devils Pulpit and above all Symonds Yat irresistibly wild and picturesque. Wordsworth was also impressed by the beauty of the region and composed some of his most memorable lines near Tintern Abbey.
