Anyone live in the Forest of Dean?

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I'm trying to persuade dh to relocate and this is an area I think might suit us, in spite of the recent flooding, although we haven't visited it much. Is it a good place to raise a family? What are the schools and medical care like? And how remote is it in terms of getting about?

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one last try?

I've never lived in the Forest, but was born & bought up in Gloucester. Its a lovely place - I think there is a real sense of community. They have lots of small primary schools, although you would have to travel a bit to the secondary ones. The nearest hospital is Glos, I think. There are quite a few accidents on the roads, many due to inexperienced boy racers. Sorry got to dash now - hope this was helpful.

Hi; I lived in the Forest for most of my life. Most places here weren't actually affected by the flooding (apart from not being able to get in to Gloucester to shop/work).

We think it's a great place to live. The primary schools are mostly quite small and a lot of the villages have a good community feel to them. I like knowing that people know who my children are and will look out for them.

In the village where I live we have a doctor's surgery and they're great - will fit in an appointment last minute for the children and never have to wait more than a day or two for an appointment for us. Although their opening hours are a bit restictive you can go to the surgery in the next village or the local cottage hospital.

Some towns/villages are a lot nicer than others (better shops/community feel/more going on) so it's worth trying to find these things out before you move.
Hope that helps!

Thank you ladies! . Where we live now the roads are lethal for the same reason - country lanes and idiots driving.

So how do I find out which villages have a good vibe? I live a long way and can't afford to spend lots of time on wild goose chases!

Lydney is very nice and is a bit bigger town,

Lydney is nice if you want a larger town - I wouldn't want to live in Cinderford (despite the fact most of my family live there) or in Coleford, which are the other two major towns in the Forest.

Villages that have a nice vibe about them: Bream, Newnham, Mitcheldean, Blakeney. Lots of the other small villages have a nice feel to them but there are too many to name!

Thank you! We don't want to live in a town. basically we would like to replicate the set-up we have here where we are in a village that is 3 miles from the nearest small 'town' (one row of shops), 7 miles from the nearest bigger town and 40 mins from the nearest city. So knowing which towns to take as a base is really helpful.

I had thought of Mitcheldean having read about the Secondary School there. Would still prefer a smaller village in the catchment area.

(would love to know which villages have GPs as that is important with three young dcs who often get unwell!)

Thanks again!

The secondry school at Mitcheldean is very good (my brother works there!) and I think the primary is pretty good too. Not sure what small villages are in the catchment area. I guess maybe Aston Ingham, the Lea or Flaxley and Blaisdon (always thought Blaisdon would be a lovely place to live!).

Mitcheldean has a doctor's surgery and I think Drybrook does too, also Newnham and Westbury. Most places in the Forest are within a 15 - 20 minute drive so you'd never be far away from a doctor.

Gloucester is also only about 30 minutes from most bits of the Forest too, and Cheltenham 40 minutes. It's great for getting to places as it's only an hour to Birmingham and less than that to Bristol.

Thank you lolpop - excuse one handed typing - I now have a good starting point for dh when he goes down your way later this month!