Forest of Dean | Puzzlewood Magical Forest

Puzzlewood is a unique and magical ancient woodland in The Forest of Dean just outside Coleford. You can explore a mile of pathways winding through deep gulley’s of moss covered rocks, over wooden bridges and through fantastic tree and rock formations.

What is the magic of Puzzlewood?

Puzzlewood is a maze of pathways winding between moss covered rocks and gulley over twisted Yew tree roots, rickety bridges and leafy ‘lookouts’. JRR Tolkien is reputed to have taken his inspiration for the fabled forests of Middle Earth from Puzzlewood, and it is easy to see why. Puzzlewood is a truly enchanting place and has an atmosphere quite unlike any other wood you will have visited.

Puzzlewood has a fascinating history too; it was used for the mining of iron ore in Roman times, then nature reclaimed the workings until the early 1800s. At this time, a local landowner laid down a mile of pathways which meandered through the trees and gulleys to open up this ancient forest; originally for the amusement of his friends and children. Since then Puzzlewood has remained essentially unchanged, maintaining the same pathways and bridges as in earlier times, but with the addition of visitor facilities on the Puzzlewood site.

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