The UK is slowly opening from the ridged lockdown rules. Some of us are venturing further away from our immediate neighbourhood. Last Bank Holiday in May, my family and I seized the opportunity to have a much needed getaway. Stayed in Swindon but spent some time in Coleford, Gloucestershire. I can’t get enough of Gloucestershire. We spend two Christmases there but Coleford was new to us. It dates back to the Domesday Book. In 1086, the area was part of the large royal manor of Newland and still a thick forest. We went to Coleford to visit Perrygrove Railway
Where We Stayed
We set up ‘camp’ in up to the Doubletree by Hilton, Swindon. It’s a good location to say if you are plan to visit of Forest of Dean, Wales and environs. The Doubletree is a four-star hotel. I must say we were pleased with the COVID-19 safety precautions.
From the hotel, Perrygrove Railway was roughly one hour’s drive.
About Perrygrove Railway
Perrygrove Railway is award winning attraction. In 2017, they were awarded the Heritage Railway Association award for Outstanding Visitor Attraction. There are four stations on our railway, each with paths leading to woodland walks.
The train ride around the attraction takes roughly 30 minutes. However, passengers can hop on and off at any station at no additional charge.
The venue can be hired out for a variety of events. They have hosted corporate celebrations, networking events, trade shows, as well as, weddings and parties.
Our Time At Perrygrove Railway
We arrived at Perrygrove Railway early noon. It was a wonderfully sunny bright day. We took the train from Perrygrove Station and did the circuit to see the enter compound and returned to home base. The ride was thrilling! No matter the age, trains are always super fun. Along the ride were spotted the nature trails, lovely picnic sites and the Foxy Hollow play area.
Each family had their own seating which had glass partitions. We snug and felt safe COVID secure. To the thrill on the face of the children was priceless.
The plan was to explore the nature trails but pollen count was high during our visit. Both Miss V and I were struggling with hay-fever. In the end, we opted to eat at the picnic area outside café. From there we went off for the Treetop Adventure.
Treetop Adventure
The treehouses back onto the woodland and they are as high as the trees! The view up there is amazing. Each house has different features. One is setup like a train station stop, one has a slide, there’s also an area to climb.
The treehouses are mostly accessible to wheelchairs. Children and grownups alike will have fun play games of hide and seek and being immersed in nature. Although dogs are welcome at the attraction, they cannot be taken into the treehouses.
Other On Site Attractions
Other things to see at Perrygrove Railway are:
- Treasure Hunt
- Woodland
- Indoor Village
All attractions are included in the entry price. Standard adult try £8 and standard child entry is £6.50. Free parking is available on site.
Puzzlewood is less roughly 4 minutes’ drive away in you are staying in Forest of Dean you can visit both attractions.
Exciting News
At Perrygrove Railway, there are process of building a new locomotive! If you would like to volunteer and help design and build the new engine. Contract them directly
Additionally, If you are train enthusiast, you now have the opportunity to adopt an engine .
In Conclusion
We give Perrygrove Railway the two thumbs up! It’s an excellent day out for all in the family with accessibility for many.
I’ll leave you with the highlights from our visit there. Let me know what you think.
Comment below. I would love to hear from you.
