Planning a trip to the Forest of Dean (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 04:27 (4170 days ago) @ stockampreddy

Donna,
fear not you'll be fine, probably the only roundabouts of any note you'll see are on the Gloucester bypass dual-carriageway, and if in doubt just go round again, but as you say you have your own guide so just sit back and enjoy the view under clear blue skies... As JH says it's wise to follow the Road Numbers rather than place names, and know what general direction you want (eg Gloucester or West bound).

In the UK the main "trunk" routes have very old origins and all radiate out from London and generally head towards major cities and seaports; so the A40 (or M40 where its Motorway standard) goes eventually to Fishguard in west Wales, for the Irish ferry, so conveniently to and past the Forest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A40_road

To get to Somerset from the Forest I suggest follow the scenic River Wye down the A466 from the Monmouth area past Tintern Abbey to Chepstow, then the A48 eastwards across the "old" Severn Bridge towards "London". The Tolls only apply driving into Wales, not out !. Then the M5 South past Bristol to Somerset.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Bridge

Hopefully you can watch this video in the USA, it's part of a BBC series of roadtrips actor Richard Wilson took around Britain in classic cars, in this episode the WyeDean area altho sadly the beginning of the programme is missing. Richard visits the little Hopewell Colliery that I mentioned earlier, I hope it's still open for visits altho I do know it's a small business so prior enquiries/booking is recommended.
UPDATE Oct 2017: sadly longterm owner and freeminer Robin Morgan passed-away last year, but the pit is still open for visits, see
http://www.hopewellcolliery.com/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/29/one-of-a-kind-tributes-to-uks-oldest-wo...

If it's closed but you do fancy going underground, hopefully to cool on a hot summer's day!, Clearwell Caves as mentioned in the earlier threads is the place altho best visited away from the busier weekends etc. Nowadays it seems more like a walkthro cave system than a "conventional" mine, but it's origins go back many centuries as a source of mined mineral ores including iron and ochres.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearwell_Caves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BAlSfaZ8Bs

Bon voyage !