Leaf peeping in the Forest of Dean

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley are taking on New England as a must-see autumn destination with the launch of a Leaf Peeping Drive.

Believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, the 50-mile drive will take visitors to the best places to see the autumn colour display. It spans sections of the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, an area that has more than 20 million trees, including oak, ash, birch, beech, larch, sweet chestnut and maple.

Mallards Pike Lake in the Forest of Dean. Photo: Paul Bennell.

It’s a circuit that can be picked up at any point and highlights 10 ‘hotspots’, such as the 360 degree views at New Fancy and The Kymin viewpoint.

The online guide has a downloadable PDF and also has Leaf Peeping short walks, drawn up by tree specialist Paul Rutter.

Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean. Photo: Linda Wright.

“This region has one of the UK’s finest displays of foliage for the autumn which makes it perfect for Leaf Peepers,” he said. “It is the time to embrace the changing seasons and celebrate the important role that trees play on our planet.”

Eagle's Nes Viewpoint a hotspot for leaf peeping in the Forest of Dean.
Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint overlooking the Wye Valley. Photo: Gemma Wood.

The Leaf Peeping guide can be found at http://www.wyedeantourism.co.uk/leafpeeperswelcome

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