Things to do

If you are planning a longer stay, there are plenty of places to visit and activities to keep you entertained. The nearby Forest of Dean has beautiful woodland walks, bike and pony-trekking trails, and the area also has a rich and fascinating history stretching back to pre-Roman times. The village of Newnham is a popular place to watch the Severn Bore, and there are often spectacular high tides in February/March and August/September. For links to recommended activities and places of interest, see the list below:

Outdoor activities

GoApe!
Zipwires and suspended walkways in the trees of the Forest of Dean

Pedalabikeaway
Bike hire in the Forest of Dean

Wye Pursuits
Outdoor adventure including canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, climbing, abseiling and caving

Beechenhurst Lodge
Tourist information centre and start of the Forest Sculpture Trail

Local interest

Dean Heritage Centre
History and culture of the Forest of Dean

Taurus
Craft centre, cafe and market garden owned and managed by Camphill Village Trust

International Centre for Birds of Prey
World-famous ‘raptors’ centre in Newent

Forest Web
Royal Forest of Dean Community website

Forest of Dean and Wye Valley tourism
The official Royal Forest of Dean tourist website

Newnham on Severn
Village website including details of local events and activities and history of Newnham and surrounding area.

Eating out

There are several good pubs and restaurants within easy reach of us. We especially recommend:

The Cock Inn, Blakeney (2 miles)
Tel: (01594) 510239 The Cock Inn is a sixteenth-century coaching inn situated on the A48 Chepstow road. It is open 12 noon – 2.30 p.m., 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 12 noon – 2.30 p.m. Sundays.

The Red Hart Inn, Blaisdon (6 miles)
Tel: (01452) 830477 The Red Hart Inn has an excellent selection of home-cooked food and a good wine list. It also has a separate garden, children’s play area and beer terrace.

The George, Newnham (2 miles)
The George Cafe serves light lunches, teas and coffees. It uses local and organic produce, including cheese made with our own milk from the Grove Farm herd.

The Severn and Wye Smokery, Chaxhill (5 miles)
Delicious lunches featuring fresh fish, including locally sourced eel and salmon. The restaurant is open lunchtimes and on Friday evenings, when an extended menu is available. Booking advised for Friday evenings.

La Dolce Vita, Blakeney (2 miles)
Friendly and welcoming family-run Italian restaurant.

The Ship Inn, Newnham (3 miles)
Pub food prepared on the premises and sourced from local suppliers, plus a good selection of Real Ales.