As a landscape photographer based in the Forest of Dean, I thought I would share some of my favourite places to photograph and how to capture this beautiful area in all it's glory.
About the Forest of Dean
Before I go into specific spots, it's worth briefly talking about the Forest as a whole. Situated between two rivers, the Severn & Wye, it's an area that has had an interesting history, which has fundamentally affected its landscape. It has a long history of mining and timber trade going right back to Roman times, which can still be seen today. It was also a Royal hunting ground, and still today there are inclosures that exist from back in the day, as well as various hunting lodges. The Forest is set upon a few hills which form one side of the Severn Vale (the other side being the Cotswold Hills). Being sandwiched by the Wye Valley on the other side, it does feel the landscape has been squashed resulting in undulating hills and small gorges/ravines. It also has a variety of lakes and ponds, which most were man made supporting the mines and forestry work at the time. These have since become nature reserves and habitats to a vast number of birds and mammals.
The spots I have selected cover a wide range of landscapes such as woodland, lakes, heathlands, & settlements which encompass all the elements that create the character of the Forest. So you'd be thinking that this is just landscape photography, it's actually so much more. Most of these spots are capturing history, heritage and culture, and I think it's worth baring that in mind when visiting these places.
So, let's begin...
1. Woorgreens Nature Reserve
If I was forced to make a decision on my favourite spot to take photos in the Forest of Dean (...and it's a tough one), I would probably choose Woorgreens. Mainly because it's my go-to whenever I'm indecisive on where to go. It kind of has everything, woodland, heathland, a lake, and is walking distance from alot of other areas.
For landscape photography you have the lake with the island in the middle (which makes for a good subject) and also the heathland has small groups of trees (and some lone ones too). It's also great for the wildlife photographers amongst you. Regularly see deer there, but also many varieties of birds. It is also a great spot whatever time of day. For a sunrise or sunset, the open space makes a great place to get creative. There is a path, but some of the best compositions are as you go a bit 'off piste' (just be careful as there is alot of woodland debris about).
Top Tip: Keep an eye out for the cows. In a good way, on occasion there are highland cattle that graze the heathlands. Have found them to be very docile creatures and probably used to people by now, but with any animal I would still keep a distance.
More Info: Woorgreens | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
2. Mallards Pike
One of the popular sites of the Forest of Dean, and for good reason. Comprises of a small lake which is easily accessible and there is a purpose made path all the way around. Plus, if you're there during the day, there is a place to grab a coffee and cake!
My advice however, would be to venture out into the many many trails into the surrounding woodlands. One of my favourites is to walk up the hill which takes you to Staple Edge Woods (from the car park, the hill is directly in front across the lake). This is quite a steep climb so appropriate footwear is a must. But once you get to the top, thanks to some forestry work, there are some incredible views across the Forest canopies.
Top Tip: There are a few trees that over hang the lake, so utilise these for some fab framing compositions.
More Info: Mallards Pike | Forestry England
3. Lydney Harbour
If you get a bit bored of nature...I mean, what's wrong with you? Then Lydney Harbour is a great option for something a bit different. Once was the gateway (by water) to the Forest of Dean and a hub for all timber and mineral transportation along the Severn River. They have recently regenerated the area and have installed some sculptures representing the harbour's industrial past. Some of these are great to play around with as you have the Severn River as a beautiful background setting. There are also the boats in the small harbour itself, some are more looked after than others, but even the rough and ready boats make good candid photography shots.
Top Tip: Get down there for early morning, and capturing the sunrise from across the Severn, utilising the sculptures along the river.
4. Cannop Ponds
Another popular spot is the beautiful Cannop Ponds. A great hub for landscape and wildlife photographers, there is so much to play around with here. There are two 'ponds', and you are likely to see a lot of birds, especially swans gliding about. It's also a great place to play around with reflections, as there are a few fishing pontoons which can make excellent interest in a photo. Between the ponds there is a small stream which has a cascade, so great to practice long exposure water images. Though, to get to the best vantage points for this, you will likely need your wellies.
At the time of writing this, Forestry England have announced plans to 'upgrade' the ponds due to potential issues with a dam so there maybe some changes in the future.
Top Tip: Get here early morning on a cold day, as the ponds can generate a lot of surface mist creating some atmospheric photo opportunities.
More Info: Cannop Ponds | Forestry England
5. Sculpture Trail
Now, if you were like me when I started photography and really struggled with capturing woodland scenes, then the Sculpture Trail is for you. An initiative put together between Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust (FODST) and Forestry England bringing together art & nature. The pieces, some of which are temporary, depict elements of the local area, such as the mining heritage, and nature...in art form.
The most famous one has to be the Cathedral, created by Kevin Atherton, a stain glass window suspended on a wooden frame over a footpath. These sculptures are perfect subjects when struggling to find compositions or subjects in the general woods. And, despite what some people think, I actually think these pieces complement the woodland they sit in really well. It is also free to follow the trail, its all on public footpaths and trails, so can visit anytime of day at any point of the year. Some of the sculptures are more abstract than others, so it will also help flex that creative muscle in playing with angles and positioning.
Top Tip: Visit at different times of the year, or in different conditions, as it can give some of these sculptures a completely different feel. Some of the sculptures are designed to change with the seasons and evolve over time.
6. Bradley Hill
Bradley Hill is a wonderful part to wander around. But...I would say it comes alive in Spring and Autumn. It's situated on the Roman Road that was used, as it suggests, by the Romans to transport mining materials to a foundry up in Herefordshire. Some of the road still remains on the Blackpool Bridge end. (The bridge actually is a good subject itself). It's claim to fame though is it's showcase of bluebells that carpet the woodlands around May time. Plenty of compositions to seek out and a few paths that venture off the main path to explore. As for the road itself, the trees canopy over and is lovely to drive through, especially in Autumn. The woods are full of oak and beech trees, so it turns completely into warm burnt tones.
Top Tip: It's famed for it's bluebells, so definitely suggest a morning in mid to late Spring. Some of the bluebells areas can be a bit 'gappy', so consider using long focal lengths at a distance to compress the bluebells hiding the gaps on the woodland floor.
7. Staunton Stones
One of the eastern most parts of the Forest, in fact, it might technically be the Wye Valley, but I'm including it anyway because it's worth venturing here. Just passed the village of Staunton as you are going towards Monmouth, are vast woodlands either side of the road. There is a footpath that follows near the top of the hill before it descends into the valley that crosses either side of the road. It's worth spending a few hours just exploring here. Along the ridges are various limestone rocks that sit prominently and have various mythology and legends associated with them. The ones definitely to visit are Buck Stone (which would be on the left of the road) and Suck Stone and Harkening Stones, (which would be on the right). The Buck Stone has fantastic views across to the Welsh Black Mountains. Over by the Suck Stone, there is a clearing of trees close by that allows another spectacular view across the Wye Valley to the mountains. The other stones are hidden in the woods, but these can be interesting subjects within a woodland setting. The Harkening Stone especially as it's so vast, you'll only really be able to take photos of parts of it.
Top Tip: Definitely sunset/evening location. Timing is key here (especially with the BuckStone). Whilst the later evenings give some fantastic sunsets here at the stones, the woodlands can become overgrown and you will miss a lot of the view. So I would suggest late Spring is the best time to get the best sunset and still see the views off into the Black Mountains of Wales.
8. Viney Hill
Maybe I'm biased...as I live here...but I think for a village there is so much to explore. It's technically on the edge of proper Forest of Dean (still very much in the council district), which means there is a great variety of woodland and countryside. Not only that, but I think we have the prettiest looking church in the area, All Saints Church, so if you like buildings/architecture it ticks that box too. One great thing about Viney Hill when it comes to photography is it's location. It sits on a the first big hill from the Severn Valley. So not only are there footpaths that give you some incredible views over the River Severn, right over to the Cotswolds, but we also get a fair amount of fog. This is due to either temperature inversions that occur fairly frequently in the valley which sometimes get pushed up the hill mid-mornings, or being one of the higher spots in the Forest catching any low lying cloud. It's a sparse village, where I mean the houses are very spread out which give some pretty picturesque lanes to photograph.
Top Tip: Mornings are best here to catch the best conditions, and definitely worth venturing the footpaths that overlook the Severn Vale. Take the long lens with you, as you can capture some more intimate details along the valley.
9. Moseley Green
This is a little gem of a place I think. It's basically a clearing not far from various popular places like Mallards Pike, New Fancy and Parkend. It's great for photography because of a few things. Firstly, if there is any chance of mist in the Forest, it's here. The area has a scattering of birch trees, and I mean a scattering. It can actually be overwhelming when trying to find a composition as it can feel quite busy, so allow time to have a wander around. It also has been affected by the Forest's mining history which has made the landscape an interesting one. It was once the site of a railway transporting minerals from the New Fancy colliery, joining up the once main railway down to the harbour. The railway isn't there anymore, but the indent in the landscape still exits as does the tunnel (which is shut due to collapse). So there are various undulations which, if you're creative enough, make some good foreground interest/textures. In the woodlands towards Parkend, you can see the old air shafts hiding amongst the trees. The big plus is there is a pub there, the Rising Sun, as this can be thirsty work, haha!!
Top Tip: A lot of the Forest Sheep ('Varest Ship' if you're a Forester) accumulate here, so can be a great chance to capture some baby lambs in the Spring, making great subjects against a beautiful backdrop.
10. Welshbury Wood (or Welshbury Hill)
On an old iron fort next to the village of Flaxley, is the woodlands on Welshbury Hill. If you are looking for another bluebell site, this is definitely another place (but not sure it's well known so that's between you and me!!). Again, it's another place that has an interesting landscape due to it's history, and as you reach the top of the hill (bare in mind no views as it's completely covered in woodland) you can see the hints of the old fort in the undulating floor. As well as the bluebells, its also great for wild garlic towards the bottom of the hill. Caution though, there are some hidden wells here, so be careful where you tread.
Top Tip: Being on the Severn River side, it's definitely another morning spot as the sun pokes through the trees. Also worth visiting the nearby St. Anthony's Well which is said to have healing powers if you swim in it.
And of Course...there are more!
I know some of you will be screaming at me, what about Soudley Ponds & Blaize Bailey? Speech House Lake & Spruce Ride? Waterloo Screens? Ruardean Hill...etc!! I mean, yes, there are so many more spots...and maybe I'll do a sequel to this if people have enjoyed it. It was with great difficulty whittling this down to just 10 locations, as I didn't want to bore you all with an incredibly huge list. And if you are like me, it would possibly give you choice paralysis with where to go. So...consider this is your starter for 10, but I challenge you to explore your own locations too.
I hope that has inspired you to get out and explore the Forest and maybe visit somewhere you haven't been before. Also, you don't need an incredibly expensive camera, and these are all places where you can capture great pictures with your smartphones. What makes a great photo generally comes down to composition and lighting, so hopefully there are some helpful tips here to guide you on these aspects. If you have any specific questions over these locations, I am more than happy to help. Just send me an email at jks.photography@outlook.com or feel free to message me on social media.
Meanwhile, check out some of these locations in my portfolio, along with the Wye Valley and Wales.
Some of these are available as prints too, and may appear in my annual calendar of the area. So do check those out as well.
Disclaimer: all info sites referenced are third party sites and therefore I have no control over their content. Some of these locations are better documented than others so I have chosen, where possible, the best site I can find to provide more information. These were suitable at the time of writing. but may have changed since.
Beautiful photography and a lovely insight into each place. Keep it coming!
The Forest has so many wonderful locations, it must have been difficult to pick just 10! For me, I especially love how the Forest's old industrial past blends into the beautiful scenery, like spotting the route of an old railway from the contours in the landscape, or nature gradually enveloping the remains of long abandoned equipment.
A great read (& tips) & I very much hope you will do a sequel.
Fantastic! I really enjoyed that and the tips are a nice touch. If I head to the forest, I'll certainly be using this article for inspiration. - Trevor.