Whitemead Forest Park

View prices & book 9.3 363 reviews
Aerial shot of the hardstanding and the tent pitches
Aerial shot of the hardstanding and the tent pitches
Pool
Pool
Well-spaced pitches
Lodge
Apartment exteriors
Apartments
Camping pods
1/185
Pool
Pool
Well-spaced pitches

  • Well-equipped park just outside Parkend in the Forest of Dean
  • Puzzlewood and Clearwell Caves within a 10-minute drive
  • Indoor swimming pool, spa area, restaurant and kids' activities
As you’d expect from the name, Whitemead Forest Park is surrounded by woodland. And not just any old woodland... but the age-old Forest of Dean, one-time stamping ground of the royals and their pals. It’s not hard to see why the regal types would flock to this part of Gloucestershire – the surrounds are most scenic, and packed with plenty of things to do including days of wandering among ancient trees (on foot, on bikes or on horseback), exploring spooky caves and riding rural railways. So far, so peaceful… and that vibe is stretched out to the park’s facilities too, which include a free gym, sauna, steam room and spa pools. And if you’re in charge of kids that have more active plans in mind? Such scenarios are sorted too: the indoor swimming pool has a kids’ area, and there are also several outdoor play areas scattered around the site. Through the summer holidays, the park’s all abuzz with various activities they can join in with (for an extra charge). Despite all this activity, there’s little chance of going hungry here – the restaurant serves all day from breakfast to dinner (via afternoon tea…) with a couple of bars also on hand to provide the drinks and entertainment. If you’d like to venture out, there are a couple of pubs in the nearby village of Parkend (10 minutes’ walk) and lots of restaurants and shops in Lydney (10 minutes’ drive).

Campground type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 88
Caravan sites 71
Tent sites 30
RV & Motorhome sites 71
Open now
Opens 16 January

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dog Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 16 Jan 2026 to

No availability here for your search criteria

Site types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesRV & Motorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
0 dogs

Reviews

9.3

Overall rating from 363 Pitchup.com customers

  • 68%
    10
  • 7%
    9
  • 17%
    8
  • 1%
    7
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    6
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    5
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 8
Bush

96% would recommend this campground to a friend

93% would stay here again

What customers say

Spacious, level sites with great facilities (pool, spa) and forest walks get a tick. Staff are super friendly. Fun for families and doggos, though Wi-Fi's a bit patchy and some activities are pricey. Lots of folks keen to come back!

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 37
Arrival date (latest first)

A lovely spacious site really family orientated

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Alison J.

Powered gravel and concrete caravan site

Liked I felt the pitch we were on (57) could have been bigger as our awning was right on the bushes.
Showers very unpredictable with it's temperature often too cold.
Last site we were on dogs were allowed in the kids disco but then they didn't have carpet
This hasn't put me off as we really enjoyed our stay and will be back

Disliked As above

Recommend to friends Visit again

Like Butlins and Centre Parcs, but very much for families

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 1
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 1
Customer service
 5
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 1
Claire H.

Powered gravel and concrete caravan site

Liked I really appreciated how quick and efficient the check-in process was, especially being greeted right at the gate. The staff were polite, welcoming, and made a great first impression.

I also love this location. The Forest of Dean is one of my favourite places in the UK, which is exactly why I chose to book here.

Disliked Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this stay. I arrived at 1300 on the 6th and ended up leaving at 0600 the following day after a very restless night. The site was at full capacity and overwhelmingly geared towards children, which was not made clear at the time of booking. Had I known this, I would have chosen to stay elsewhere.

The facilities were not well maintained given the number of guests, and there was very little information provided for adults, such as walking routes or alternative things to do outside the campsite.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear that your stay did not meet your expectations and that you felt unable to rest comfortably during your visit. Whitemead Forest Park is a family holiday park, and your stay took place during the Easter school holidays, which is one of our busiest and most family‑focused periods of the year. We do clearly advertise school holiday dates on our website, along with details of the facilities, entertainment, and activities that are available on site during these times. During holiday periods the park is naturally much livelier, with a high number of families and children enjoying the facilities. We do have an on‑site noise policy, with quiet hours beginning at 11pm, and staff are on hand to address any issues reported during the evening. Prior to this time, some level of activity and noise is to be expected during peak family holiday periods.
Outside of the school holidays, particularly during midweek off‑peak stays, the park experience is very different. These quieter periods tend to be predominantly adults, and guests often comment on how peaceful and relaxing the atmosphere is. We would always recommend these dates to guests seeking a calm, low‑key stay.
In terms of local information, there is a dedicated Guest Services team available daily to assist with recommendations, questions, and directions. We also provide two large leaflet stands located on site, which include local attraction information, walking routes, and maps of the surrounding area.

Overall really good, children are keen to come back!

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 7
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 7
Laura R.

Powered gravel and concrete caravan site

Liked Great pitches, good size, lovely surroundings, good facilities.

Disliked Showers could have been warmer (in my opinion)
Would have been nice to have been made aware of everything available and timings somehow.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Spacious pitches, amazing views, loads of…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Lee W.

The Mead powered gravel and concrete campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Spacious pitches, amazing views, loads of facilities, welcoming staff, lovely indoor pool! The list goes on!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent park.plenty of activities. Sports complex…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
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Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
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Cleanliness
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Wifi
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Andrew T.

The Mead powered gravel and concrete campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Excellent park.plenty of activities. Sports complex brilliant. Lovely forest walks. Keep an eye out for wild boar and Dear. Very clean toilet and washing facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great Location,friendly reception staff.…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 7
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
stephen m.

The Mead powered gravel and concrete campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Great Location,friendly reception staff.

Disliked Very limited shower options, and was hard to be kept on top of

Recommend to friends Visit again

Spacious pitch Great location Good food…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 5
Robert D.

The Mead powered gravel and concrete campervan, tent or trailer tent site

Liked Spacious pitch
Great location
Good food and drinks reasonable prices
Plenty of good walking through the forest
Staff very friendly
Swimming pool
What’s not to like

Disliked Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would book again

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 8
Debbie W.

Powered gravel and concrete caravan site

Liked As always the site was clean and tidy, a great sure to visit

Disliked Some of the showers were cold and the taps didn't work in the ladies section.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site, mega pod, staff and facilities. Very clean

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
Amanda H.

Mega camping pod (no pets)

Liked Fantastic site. Excellent customer service. Lovely surroundings

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfectly located within the forest with…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
James P.

Powered gravel and concrete caravan site

Liked Perfectly located within the forest with some lovely areas to walk.
extremely clean campsite, the Pitches are of a decent size and the amenities are great! I really liked that they had a dog play area and dog wash station too!

Disliked During busier evenings the sauna was always full, we didn’t get a chance to use it which was disappointing so maybe a time limit should be in place like the gym equipment.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Hot tub Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site cafe On-site restaurant On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Toddler's pool Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Off licence Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Bush Gastronomic delight Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Communal freezer Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Large (51-200 sites)

Accessibility

Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Motorhome service point Water hook-up points for caravans

Location

Whitemead Forest Park

Parkend

Lydney

Gloucestershire

England

GL15 4LA

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.76784°N
2.56431°W

Nearest transport

Coach
11.7 km Bus Station
16.2 km Bus Station
16.3 km Cantilupe Road
Rail
6.4 km Lydney Rail Station
15.2 km Cam & Dursley Rail Station
16 km Chepstow Rail Station
Ferry
7.4 km Sharpness Old Docks
7.5 km Lydney Harbour
30.9 km Bristol Docks Ferry Landing
Airport
31.3 km Gloucestershire Airport
43.6 km Bristol International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

For those seeking a bit of peace and quiet, there are stacks of splendid trails around the Forest of Dean to ramble or ride bikes along (and a bike hire place a few minutes’ walk away in Parkend if you need it). Should the kids demand more from their woodland outings, take them along to seek out dragons and unicorns along the themed trails at Puzzlewood, or launch themselves into the air on the ziplines and high ropes courses at Go Ape; both are 10 minutes away by car. Much of the area’s attraction is linked to its natural good looks, but there’s also manmade interest in the form of the miners’ caverns at Clearwell Caves and the puffing steam trains of the Dean Forest Railway (both 10 minutes' drive). In the unlikely event that you tire of this scenery, head west to the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for days visiting Goodrich Castle (20 minutes) and the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo (25 minutes), or canoeing from Symonds Yat (25 minutes).

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Clevedon Beach 42.2 km Estuary N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre 11.4 km

Berkeley Castle 11.5 km

Caldicot Castle & Country Park 11.5 km

Goodrich Castle 12 km

Chepstow Castle 15.8 km

National Trust

The Kymin 9.8 km

Westbury Court Garden 12.1 km

Skenfrith Castle 20 km

Woodchester Park 20.7 km

Newark Park 22.6 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Parkend - Oakenhill Wood - Moseley Green - Church Hill - Parkend 0.2 km

Parkend - Cannop Ponds - Nag's Head RSPB Reserve - Parkend 0.2 km

Nagshead Visitor Centre - RSPB Reserve - Nagshead Visitor Centre 0.8 km

Nagsgead RSPB Reserve - Cannop Ponds - Speech House 0.8 km

NAGSHEAD (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 23/09/2003) 1.3 km

Local events

  • Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (Friday 7 August 2026 – Friday 7 August 2026)

    Bristol, England 36.8 km

  • Cheltenham Festival (Tuesday 16 March 2027 – Tuesday 16 March 2027)

    Cheltenham, England 38 km

  • Green Man Festival (Thursday 20 August 2026 – Thursday 20 August 2026)

    Crickhowell, Wales 43.5 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Gloucestershire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Whitemead Forest Park have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
  • Is Whitemead Forest Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Whitemead Forest Park? For those seeking a bit of peace and quiet, there are stacks of splendid trails around the Forest of Dean to ramble or ride bikes along (and a bike hire place a … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Whitemead Forest Park?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  7 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Whitemead Forest Park? From $53.32 (for 1 night, 6 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.