The Dome Garden

Fresh-air frolics are at every turn in the Forest of Dean. For starters, there are many, many miles of track to trot along, and you can enlist the company of a friendly llama for a chat as you wander. A golf club is a couple of minutes' drive away, and the Verderers’ Trail (tipped by mountain bike gurus as one of the best blue routes in the country) passes by the gate. Fancy more of that fresh air? An outdoor centre 10 minutes' drive away in Coleford can sort you with adrenaline-fuelled days of gorge walking, kayaking and paddleboarding, or you can descend 60 metres below the surface for underground adventures at Clearwell Caves, also within10 minutes. A more easygoing show cavern tour is available for those who’d prefer to stay closer to daylight. Time to take it easy for a while? Strolls along the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail are a five-minute drive away, or your may like to meander around Monmouth Castle or Goodrich Castle (both 15 minutes). The trails, maze and play area at Puzzlewood (10 minutes) are a top pick if you’re getting the nippers involved in nature – the ancient woods here are said to have inspired Tolkien, and telly fans may have spied them before in Dr Who and Merlin.