Forest of Dean - recommendations?

Chris Gilbert wrote

Quoted message said:

We're off the FoD for the weekend. We'll be based in
Longhope and if anyone has any local fave walks they'd
like to share with us then I would be very appreciative.

The walk up to the Farmer's Boy at the top of the village is
usually very rewarding...

T.

Chris Gilbert wrote on 22 Jun 2004 05:24:26 -0700....

Quoted message said:

We're off the FoD for the weekend. We'll be based in
Longhope and if anyone has any local fave walks they'd
like to share with us then I would be very appreciative.

Not quite the FoD, and possibly further from Longhope than
you wanted, but there are some good walks with nice views in
the Wye valley.

E.g. here's one I've often done at the southern end of the
Wye valley. Park in the castle car park in Chepstow
(free on Sundays if memory serves) and walk to Tintern
and back. Take the Wye Valley Walk on the Welsh side of
the valley, and Offa's Dyke Path on the English side.
Can be done either way round, though unfortunately
there's a little bit of walking on a main road towards
the Chepstow end of the Offa's Dyke Path. You can
include a visit to Tintern Abbey and/or Chepstow Castle
if you fancy doing the tourist thing and don't mind
paying the entrance fees.

--
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visit patent.freeserve.co.ukpatent.freeserve.co.ukOpen ↗

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

We're off the FoD for the weekend. We'll be based in
Longhope and if anyone has any local fave walks they'd
like to share with us then I would be very appreciative.

I think the best thing to do in the FoD is just to head off
into the woods and follow your nose. Having looked at the
Outdoor Leisure map I've got, a lot of my favourite paths
aren't marked anyway and you'd have a bit of difficulty
trying to find some that are. Just keep an eye out for
narrow paths that head off from the main Forestry Commission
tracks for the best bits. Start somewhere in the middle like
Cannop Ponds, Mallard's Pike or Speech House and you can't
really go wrong if you like trees.

Thanks all. Suggestions noted

AndyP wrote

Quoted message said:

Mallard's Pike

I spent a short while looking for Mallards Pike on the map,
figuring that it was a hill somewhere near Mallards Pike
Lake. It's just struck me however that rather than talking
about a lake associated with a hill called Mallards Pike we
are in fact talking about a lake in which pike are caught
which either belongs to someone called Mallard or is noted
for a profundity of a particular make of duck :-)

Chris

Quoted message said:

profundity

Profusion

I'm not in a position to comment on the philosophical
capabilities of ducks although I'm sure that it was Drake
who said 'There is plenty of time to win this game, and to
thrash the Spaniards too' and Daffy Duck came up with the
immortal 'That's the last time I work with someone with a
speech impediment!'.

Chris

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I spent a short while looking for Mallards Pike on the
map, figuring that it was a hill somewhere near Mallards
Pike Lake. It's just struck me however that rather than
talking about a lake associated with a hill called
Mallards Pike we are in fact talking about a lake in which
pike are caught which either belongs to someone called
Mallard or is noted for a profundity of a particular make
of duck :-)

The pond was dug out maybe about 20 years ago and named
after some bloke who went by the name of Mallard and used to
live in an old Pike House around there. The FoD is rather
short on hills as such although you do get a reasonable view
from the top of New Fancy View which is an old coal tip.

Actually for anyone interested in combining a bit of
industrial history/archaeology with their walking it's a
good place to go. Back in the nineteenth century there were
literally hundreds of small and not so small mines operating
which have left traces of varying degree. Or Cannop Ponds
for example were dug to provide water for the iron works in
Parkend and a pleasant stroll can be had following the
course of the water leat that took it that way.

Well, a fine weekend despite the weather. Just wandering the
forest tracks does indeed seem to be a good plan for this
place although the sculpture trail around Beechenhurst makes
it doubly worthwhile. Also wandered up and around May Hill
in the sun on Sunday morning. Superb views. And, yes, the
Farmers Boy is a fine establishment. Many a pint of Abbot
quaffed and the steak pie is outstanding. Probably going
back in autumn to get some pics.

Cheers all

Chris

Quoted message said:

The pond was dug out maybe about 20 years ago and named
after some bloke who went by the name of Mallard and used
to live in an old Pike House around there. The FoD is
rather short on hills as such although you do get a
reasonable view from the top of New Fancy View which is an
old coal tip.

Dean is a hill..

It is a big feature of the southern horizon back home..

The advice just to wander in the forest is a good one.. I
really like the place and find it very rewarding.. As for
tops there are a few, Buckstone, Ruardean Hill, May Hill a
few east of Cinderford.

When orienteering there I find it hilly enough.

Richard Webb

On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 20:47:12 GMT, [email hidden] (RJ

Webb) said:

The advice just to wander in the forest is a good one.

That's what we did on Sunday, looking for the crag at
Shorn Cliff ;-)

Top day, made better because it was supposed to be wet.
(though the forecasters didn't let us down on Saturday)