4.5 mile long woodland Sculpture Trail. Walk underneath a stained glass window hung high in the tree canopy and discover hidden places in the Forest. Free of charge and perfect for all ages.
Attraction in or near Coleford
Cathedral by Kevin Atherton
Sentient Forest
Iron Road by Keir Smith
Deer by Sophie Ryder
Cone and Vessel by Peter Randell
Echo by Annie Cattrell
Hill 33
House by Miles Davies
Established in 1986, this 4.5 mile long Sculpture Trail was one of the first to open in the UK. The Trail features sculptures created by artists to interpret the Forest environment and the history of this very unusual landscape. It provides a unique opportunity to walk through the woodlands and discover art along the way. Perfect for all ages and abilities, you don't need to know about art to enjoy what you see.
Highlights on the trail include Cathedral, a 15ft high stained glass window suspended from the tree canopy enabling visitors to walk underneath, and Iron Road, twenty sleepers on a former railway line carved with images of the Forest.
The sculptures are installed within the woodland to encourage you to seek them out - the posts with blue rings will direct you - but if you want to make life easier for yourself, pick up a map at the shop at Beechenhurst.
The sculptures are commissioned by The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust, a charitable organisation, working closely with the Forestry Commission. The Trust relies entirely on fundraising in order to commission the sculptures for the Trail. With the 30th anniversary of the trail in 2016 funding has been obtained for new sculptures to be installed. To make a donation to support artworks on the Trail or to find out more about future plans visit: www.forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk. Just as new sculptures are installed, old ones decay and are removed; this was always part of the original concept, just as the forest continually decays and is refreshed.
A map to the trail can be bought at Beechenhurst Lodge.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail and will come again to see the new sculptures and to take part in events at Beechenhurst Lodge.
Access to the Sculpture is available all year round, from dawn to dusk. Please check Beechenhurst Lodge information for cafe and shop opening times.
Speech House Road
Coleford
Gloucestershire
GL16 7EG
O/S Ref: SO 6112
The Sculpture Trail starts and ends at the rear of the Forestry Commission, Beechenhurst Lodge picnic site, west of Speech House in the heart of the Forest.
The full Sculpture Trail is about 4.5 miles long. It can also be explored in a series of shorter distances. Follow the blue ringed posts and direction arrows.
Free of charge. Parking charges on site at Beechenhurst Lodge.
