Venue:

Puzzlewood
Perrygrove Road
Coleford
Forest of Dean

Where:

On Perrygrove Road between St Briavels and Coleford

What’s on offer:

A truly magical woodland that has been the setting for scenes in the television dramas Dr Who, Arthur and Merlin, cafe an d gift shop, picnic area, children’s playground, pony rides, a collection of animals, willow maze, indoor maze, kids parties.

How to get there:

From Worcester take the A38 to join the M50 westbound, north of Tewkesbury, signposted South Wales. Leave the motorway at junction 4 roundabout, taking the first exit onto the A40 signposted Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth.
At the next roundabout take the third exit onto the A40 signposted South Wales, Monmouth, and at the Wilton roundabout take the third exit, continuing on the A40 signposted South Wales, Monmouth. At the next roundabout take the second exit onto the A40, signposted Newport, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Forest of Dean.
At the next set of traffic signals turn left onto the A466 signposted Chepstow, Forest of Dean A4136.
Shortly afterwards turn left onto the A4136 signposted Forest of Dean and at the Robin Hood junction turn right onto Staunton Road, B4228, signposted Coleford.

In just over two miles arrive at Puzzlewood.

Opening times:

February-March: Open half-term, then weekends only, 10am-4.30pm. April-September: Open daily, 10am-5pm.

October-December: Check website – puzzlewood.net

Prices:

Adults, £5; children £3.50; family ticket £16.

Annual pass: Adult, £10; children, £7. Family (two adults, two children), £32.

Review:

Puzzlewood is another gem in the Forest of Dean’s treasure house of visitor attractions. Children and adults love the wood, with its mile of pathways leading through a spectacular and eerie wonderland of huge moss-covered rocks, tangled vines, fallen and growing trees, up steep inclines and over wooden bridges.

There is nowhere else like it, unless you count the Middle Earth forests in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Tolkien was a frequent visitor to the Forest of Dean and it is believed that Puzzlewood may have been the inspiration for Fangorn. The venue is becoming very popular, with record attendances over the 2010 spring bank holiday weekend.

Parking is plentiful, but at busy times you might have to queue for 20 minutes or more at the single pay hatch. The cafe and gift shop can become rather crowded, but there is an interesting selection of Forest-produced gifts, including Mitcheldean soaps and Brian’s walking sticks.