Beanhill Farm

Outdoorsy types will have plenty of options in the Forest of Dean. Offa’s Dyke Path (10 minutes’ drive) straddles the English-Welsh border: following the route down towards the Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow makes for a particularly pleasant jaunt. The site is also 10 miles south of the popular Family Cycle Trail, where guests can make a whistle-stop tour of the surrounding countryside. The circular 11-mile route runs through the Cannop Valley, along the old tracks of the Severn and Wye railway (passing through abandoned stations) and passes the remains of former coal mines at Foxes Bridge and Lightmoor. Mallards Pike (20 minutes' drive), where there is a car park, is also home to a Go Ape high ropes course. If you want to experience greenery with a bit of a twist, head to Puzzlewood (15 minutes) for a maze (as the name suggests), plus farm animals, an adventure playground and an interactive treasure hunt for the kids. For a proper step back in time, Tintern Abbey (20 minutes' drive) is surely one of the most impressive ruins in Wales. Make a day of it by contrasting its elegant Gothic facade with the sturdy walls of Chepstow Castle (also 20 minutes), built in days of yore to defend the banks of the River Wye.