Wye valley

[Wale90]

We'll be staying near Symonds Yatt for 5 days in early Sept. We have a 3.5 year old and want to know what the best little towns/villages there are around there for day trips.

Any recommendations for good adventure playgrounds/parks/pools (if weather bad)

We like natural/open/adventure type things to do but also a pub lunch/spot at a cafe in a village town.

We'll likely do a day trip to Bristol.

Any beaches we could get to that are worth it?

River Wye is awesome and lots of river banks that can feel like a beach.

Some great days out not too far-
Slimbridge WWT
Cattle country
Puzzle wood

Puzzlewood - and the miniature train opposite.
The big steam train in Parkend.
Clearwell caves.
Goodrich Castle.

Recommend Perrygrove and Clearwell Caves.

Beechenhurst definitely - a great play area and cafe plus forest trail

I thought Puzzle wood was a bit rubbish and overpriced but it was a wet dismal day!

You're quite a way away from any beaches - nearest decent one would probably be Barry Island...

amazing hedge maze and butterfly garden is in summoned tar and worth an hour visit with a little one.
beechenhurst in the forest has a nice park, and cafe plus sculpture trail through the woods
Perry grove railway is lovely for litttle ones
dean forest steam railway run regular Thomas tank days with a real Thomas train.
few castles around.
dick Whittington farm is good. Also good if raining as have a massive play farm of soft play/ball pits/slides etc

Beechenhurst has everything you want. Trails, Go Ape, play areas, cafe and huge picnic site.

Tintern for the old station - lovely picnic area and walks, trails and the abbey.

Chepstow has an amazing castle and a few sweet cafes.

Monmouth is lovely and lots of places to eat.

Redbrook has a small but lovely play area, ideal for stopping en route from Monmouth for a picnic, there's a pub which you walk across the old railway bridge over the Wye to get to.

In Coleford there's Puzzlewood which is fab, plus it has a play area and small maze, just over the road is Perrygrove Railway which is brilliant for young children, they do a treasure hunt via trains, there are two good play areas and you go and find your treasure in a very kitsch pixie village.
Beechenhurst is nearby too.

Probably your nearest beaches are Barry (Gavin and Stacey) or Weston Super Mare, although there are coastal places you can visit - Portishead? Clevedon?

For proper gorgeous beaches a trip to The Gower.

Just checked - Beechenhurst are doing the Superworm trail this year, so if you already have the book even better.

Symonds Yat itself has the hedge maze, canoeing, butterfly zoo, mini golf etc.

Whitemead Forest Park have an indoor pool but not sure if you can still get day passes for it - might be worth checking if weather is a bit off.

There's an outdoor pool in Lydney but not sure of opening times in Sept. Also Taurus Crafts in Lydney (crazy golf) is worth a visit.

There's a decent soft play in Chepstow (Whirlikidz), could combine with a trip to the Wild Place on the west side of Bristol.

The Wave surf place if you're feeling that way inclined!

Slightly further afield is the Wetlands in Newport.

Loads of stuff!

Perrygrove railway is a great day out. They have four (I think stations) and you can hop on and hop off as you like. There are picnic and play areas and most of them, including a big treehouse.

If the weather is bad then Monmouth Leisure Centre has a good soft play.

We're fairly local to here OP and we go to Ogmore by sea for the beach. It's dog friendly all year round, you can walk miles and there's a toilet block. Nash Point is very dramatic, and well worth a visit too, it's just a few minutes further on from Ogmore.

Monmouth is a quaint little town, and Ross on Wye/Ledbury a bit further on.

Beechenhurst - is the start of The Sculpture Trail

www.forestryengland.uk/beechenhurst/activities

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/beechenhurst-1bfadfa0

and also has a playground with wooden forts and things

There is also The Gruffalo Trail at Mallards Pike

www.forestryengland.uk/mallards-pike/gruffalo-orienteering-mallards-
pike

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/the-gruffalo-trail-lmdp3lxv

Perrygrove Railway -

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/perrygrove-railway-and-treetop-adventure-acee2f2e

Butterfly Farm

www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/wye-valley-butterfly-zoo-9ebd23bc

So helpful, thank you.

We're staying very close to puzzlewood so that and the caves/castle close by are on our list.

Sounds like we can pretty much get in the car and take our pick of what to do.

I had a wobble and thought we would show up at the (beautiful) cottage and our toddler would ask where the beach was and we would be stuck going to a wet forest every day 😅