Although it’s perched right on the edge of England, near the border with Wales, the Forest of Dean is easily accessible by car, train, bus, and plane.
Close to a choice of major transport links, and offering a number of local public transport services, it makes a great destination no matter how you’re travelling.
Train
Once upon a time, a number of towns and villages in the Forest of Dean were linked by rail. Today, however, you’ll have to make do with catching the train to the nearby station of Lydney. Lydney is on the mainline that connects Cardiff with Cheltenham Spa.
Services to Birmingham New Street and Nottingham also stop at the station. Other train stations in easy reach of the forest include Abergavenny, Chepstow, and Gloucester.
If you really want to continue your journey into the forest by train, walk from Lydney mainline station to the nearby Lydney Junction. From there, you can catch the heritage Dean Forest Railway right into the heart of the woodland. As @DeanForRailway says, this “4 1/2 mile line runs through beautiful woodland and countryside offering visitors a chance to experience the relaxing pace of a typical country branch line.”
Car
The Forest of Dean is easily accessible by car, with a number of motorways passing close to the area. The M5, M50, and M48 are all within easy reach of the forest, while a number of fast ‘A’ roads link the motorways with local destinations.
A car will let you explore parts of the forest where public transport doesn’t reach. This gives you the opportunity to really immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area.
Bus
National Express runs a number of services to local towns and cities. You can catch the bus to Newent, Chepstow, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye, and Monmouth throughout the week, giving you a great choice of destinations. Once you’re inside the forest, you can catch local buses to towns and villages across the region.
Plane
There are a number of international airports within easy reach of the Forest of Dean. If you’re travelling from short-haul destinations, you can arrive at Birmingham International (one hour 25 minutes), Cardiff International (one hour 8 minutes), or Bristol International (53 minutes). These airports also offer some domestic services. Once you’ve landed, you can continue your journey to the Forest of Dean by car, train, or bus.
You can find out more about travelling to the Forest of Dean, and about the events, attractions, and activities available in the local area, by talking to a member of our team or taking a look around our site.
