Is the Wye Valley area nice? Worth visiting?

[Fredflinstoneswife1]

I am really undecided! We are from Northern Ireland, home exchanging in southern Cumbria, bear Ulverston, and have a week to spend elsewhere. We've received an invite to stay in a home in Broadwell, Wye Valley area, the house looks fine, the immediate area looks just ok. Does anyone know would there be much to see and do close to Broadwell? Would you consider it a holiday destination? We will have two children (5 and 3) and a baby, and we will really be needing a rest. I think it's nearly a 4hr drive from Ulverston to Broadwell, so want to make sure we won't have to be driving far when we get there.

Or should I try getting somewhere closer Cumbria so we are driving less? Last year we did the peak district near Ashbourne, which was lovely but I'd like to see somewhere different. I'm not familiar with Yorkshire or Northumberland. I wouldn't know where to stay in those areas. We've done Shropshire and North Wales already.

I'm just not sold yet on the immediate area of Broadwell going by Google maps lol. But maybe someone here can change my mind. We like beautiful countryside, things to do for the little ones, historic pretty towns with good independent shops/charity/antique shops etc.

Love a holiday to England.

Broadwell itself isn't a typical holiday destination. It's a typical Forest of Dean village and isn't Wye Valley, strictly speaking. However, it is pretty central to places which are visit-worthy (by car) in the Forest. Ross-on-Wye, Monmouth or Chepstow may be more suitable for the Valley with restaurants, supermarkets, pubs etc..

The Forest does have things to do, including sculpture trails, Puzzle Wood, Clearwell Caves etc.. (all close to Broadwell).

Edited to add, this is Wales, not England, if it makes a difference! 😀. The river Wye is usually the country border.

Assuming that you mean the one near Coleford and not the one in the Cotswolds...

We live fairly close to there - there is loads to do - plenty of lovely walks, Go-Ape, old mines, Gruffalo/Stick-man trails, steam railways, Puzzlewood, Symonds Yat for kayaking and paddle-boarding.

You also are within easy reach of Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye which have independent shops and cafes (their fair share of charity shops too!)

But it's a looooong drive from Cumbria, so you might want to look at places that are closer.

Edited for typo.

Strangely we stayed just up the road in Mile End a few years ago. Whilst the area itself wasn't typical tourist area, there were shops etc in Coleford and we found several nice pubs close by. But we found it very easy to get to all the sites - Wye Valley, Forest of Dean (Sculpture Trail there is lovely), Puzzlewood was brilliant - even for our grown up kids!, trips into Hereford, Monmouth etc. There a steam train nearby and some caves. Spent a lovely week there.

I've just looked at the map and I'm wondering would it be worth the drive - it is only going to be for 6 nights and we have a baby in tow?! Should I go somewhere like Hebden Bridge/Haworth area if I can get a home exchange to stay at, or somewhere else up that area?!

@Seeline puzzlewood sounds great!!! Ahhh I am so undecided because of the drive really. If it was 2hrs away I wouldn't think twice but its twice that!

Stunning area

It can be a lot more than 4 hours! It's taken me that long to get to Liverpool from Monmouth in the past...

If you have a very young child, I'd probably look more locally, to be honest.

OK, I really appreciate that, thank you. It did cross my mind that this is without factoring in bad traffic. I think I'll forget about it and do it another year!

Thank you all for your input!