City
6 Best Activities In Coleford
Every one of Coleford's six listings has outdoor space. Half of them have a roof as well, but nobody comes here to be inside. It is a town for families whose children will walk — not far, necessarily, but willingly, and in wellies.
Puzzlewood is the one people travel for, and it does the imaginative work for a child without anyone having to organise a game. Clearwell Caves Ancient Iron Mines goes underground, which some children love and a few really do not. Perrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure covers the family that wants to sit down for part of it.
Showing 1–6 of 6
AdventureClearwell Caves Ancient Iron Mines
National ParksPuzzlewood
Sports & ActivitiesPedalabikeaway
SightseeingPerrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure
Parks and PlaygroundsForest of Dean Sculpture Trail
Parks and PlaygroundsBeechenhurst
12 more within 10 miles of Coleford
Go Ape Forest of Dean
Hot Pot Pottery
The Gruffalo Trail
Symonds Yat West Leisure Park
Kingfisher River Cruises
Symonds Yat Treasure Hunt Trail
Wyedean Canoe and Adventure Centre
Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo
Taurus Crafts
Goodrich Castle
BattleSports Glos
Tintern Old Station
These are unstructured days rather than timetabled ones, which suits some families and unsettles others. Waterproofs matter more than planning does. Where a place involves caves, trains or bikes, check ahead rather than turning up, since those are the ones that fill or close without warning.
Visiting Coleford with kids: FAQs
Can you do Coleford in the rain?
You can get wet and still enjoy it, which is a slightly different question. Three of the six have something roofed: Clearwell Caves Ancient Iron Mines, plus Pedalabikeaway and Perrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure. Underground stays the same temperature whatever the sky is doing. But Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail and Beechenhurst are walks, and heavy rain turns those into a test of coats.
What is the youngest age that gets something out of it?
Around three, once a child will walk a loop without being carried the whole way. Beechenhurst and Puzzlewood both work at that age, slowly. Below three you are carrying or pushing, and a good deal of the ground here is not pram-friendly. Older children get considerably more, particularly anywhere with a bike or a cave attached.
Which one for a child who scares easily?
Leave the underground option for another year and start with Beechenhurst or the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, both open-air walks with things to find along the way. Perrygrove Railway and Treetop Adventure is a gentler introduction to somewhere unfamiliar than a mine will ever be. The caves keep, and they will be braver next time.
Is this a day or a weekend?
Comfortably a weekend if you like being outdoors, because these are separate places rather than one attraction with several parts. A single day means choosing one big thing and one short walk. Trying to fit three of them into a Saturday is how you end up with a car full of tired, muddy, cross children.