Forest of Dean & Wye Valley

Designated England’s first National Forest Park in 1938 and previously a royal hunting ground, the Forest of Dean is thought to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, while key scenes in Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows and Star Wars The Force Awakens were filmed here. Top sights in the Royal Forest of Dean include Symonds Yat, Puzzlewood, Clearwell Caves, the International Bird of Prey Centre, Goodrich Castle and Dean Forest Railway. Outdoor activities include kayaking and mountain biking. Forest of Dean image: © Crown copyright Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism Association.