The thriving village of Parkend, at the foot of the Cannop Valley, lies at the southern end of the Royal Forest of Dean and offers two lovely pubs, a store, Post Office and a 19th century railway station, part of the Dean Forest Railway. The RSPB Nagshead Reserve is home to many rare woodland birds and offers interesting events for all ages throughout the year. The magnificent Royal Forest of Dean, England’s largest oak forest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, boasts numerous trails that can be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback. Caving, abseiling and a high wire rope course are for the more adventurous, whilst fishing, golf, kayaking and canoeing are other popular activities in this unspoilt area. The eerie caverns and ancient caves of Clearwell are close by, as are the Gloucestershire Way and Offa’s Dyke Path. Close by, Symonds Yat boasts natural scenery and straddles the beautiful River Wye with its magnificent limestone ‘rock’, popular with climbers, and well-known for its viewpoint. Visit the historic town of Monmouth with its mixture of elegant Georgian mansions and Victorian courtyards, or the lovely town of Ross-on-Wye with its timbered Tudor houses and delightful riverside walks, both offering excellent shops, pubs and restaurants. The unspoilt Malvern Hills, Brecon Beacon National Park and Black Mountains, as well as lovely Cotswold towns and villages are just a little further afield.
