Ancestry trip to FOD (General)

by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Saturday, March 24, 2012, 12:10 (4630 days ago) @ charwatkin

I had some American visitors who came to stay with me who found driving not as big a challenge as they had thought, once they were used to the winding roads and the time it takes to drive relatively short distances. They found our roundabouts (circles) a bit of a challenge but got used to them quickly along with the speed at which we can drive on motorways. It is possible to hire both automatic and shift stick vehicles in the UK. Be prepared though for the cost of petrol (gas) as it is far more expensive than in the USA.

I have been to the Forest of Dean visiting places relevant to my family history without the need to plan it much in advance as it's quite compact and so beautiful that even if you take a wrong turning it can result in a pleasant experience. However, though I live a long way away from it I am used to this country so there could be things you would find unusual that I might not have noticed!

I booked one hotel in advance through finding it on the Internet and another just when I arrived. Have you thought of hiring a camper van and camping? If you like the seaside then if you go over the border into South Wales there are some lovely spots to visit and Cardiff is an interesting city as is Swansea and the surrounding area. If you like castles there are plenty in the area, e.g. Chepstow as well as many further into Wales. Monmouth is full of historical interest too.
You could drive south to Somerset (Bristol and Bath are also very interesting and Oxford's not too far away either) and beyond Bristol there are also some seaside resorts in Somerset.

I have found that June (around midsummer time) is often the best for weather, July tends to rain though it usually warm, and August and early September are also good times but by mid-September the nights start drawing in giving less daylight to explore. It's been lovely this week and you would probably have liked the spring flowers, my American visitors were amazed at the number of daffodils we have. September and October would be a good time if you wish to see the autumnal colours of all the trees in the Forest of Dean. When I last visited the Forest of Dean I was able to see the Severn Bore, which is an interesting natual phenomenon too (see www.severnbore.co.uk). The Forest of Dean is a relatively quiet and tranquil part of Britain and a lovely place if you like wildlife. (But beware of the wild boar! - Not much of a threat but present!)