Tastes of the Forest – A weekend of foodie heaven in the Royal Forest of Dean – 18th & 19th November 2011

We are very excited about our next event which is taking place on 18th & 19th November.

We have teamed up with Harts Barn Cookery School and Kingstone Brewery to present a weekend of foodie treats.

 Starting on Friday evening with a tasting of local ales from award winning local brewers Kingstone Brewery.  Edward Biggs from Kingstone will give an informal tasting of his delicious local ales followed by a mouth-watering three course meal prepared by our head-chef Blaine Reed.

Following breakfast on Saturday morning, guests will head off to the Forest of Dean’s newest attraction, Harts Barn Cookery School, for a half day cookery lesson and demonstrations with lots of ideas of what to cook with brilliant local produce (lunch is included).

After breakfast on Sunday morning, you will be taken on a guided walk with a local  expert starting at 10am, the walk, of approximately 5 to 6 miles, will finish back at the hotel at 1pm, where a hearty Sunday lunch will be waiting.

 Price for a two people is £450, single occupancy of a double room £300

To book please call 01594 833046

SEVERN BORE

The Severn Bore is a spectacular naturally occurring tidal wave which forms as the rising tide forces a large volume of water through a narrowing river channel with a rising river bed. The Severn Estuary has the second highest tidal range the world and produces one of the biggest bores. With an average speed of 16km per hour the wave can reach two metres in height making it a major attraction for both sight seers and surfers.

The size of the waves are categorised by a star system (1 = small, 5 = large and very rare), with 3 and 4 star bores being well worth the effort to see.  Why not make a day and night of it by booking a stay at the Tudor Farmhouse to coincide with the forthcoming 3 and 4 star bores in August, September and October 2011:

August 30^th, 31^st, September 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, October 27^th, 28^th, 29^th

SPECIAL EASTER-WEEK RATES 19TH APRIL – 26TH APRIL

Spring has sprung in the Forest of Dean (the famous bluebells are out!) so where better to unwind this Easter week than the Tudor Farmhouse Hotel. Rates from just £145 per night, staying in one of our well-appointed rooms and dining in our candle-lit restaurant the package also includes:
• basket of local goodies in your room including locally made chocolates, preserves and drinks.
• glass of prosecco each before dinner.
• complementary newspaper and full English breakfast delivered to your room each morning.

Barn – £145, Garden – £175, Character – £200, The Byre – £220, Cottage Suite – £240

Forest of Dean Daffodil Weekends

Saturday 6 to Sunday 28 March 2010

Explore the Forest of Dean’s famous floral displays in Oxenhall, Kempley and Dymock, when wild daffodils start to bloom across the golden triangle this spring 2010.

See delightful daffodils in their true glory, during the three Forest of Dean weekend events.Visitors from across Gloucestershire, the UK and beyond will be descending on the Forest of Dean in March 2010, when stunning wild daffodils can be seen in all their glory and a number of activities will celebrate the enchanting native flower.

Taking place in an area known as the golden triangle; Oxenhall, Kempley and Dymock will all be hosting their own weekend events, giving visitors the chance to enjoy and learn more about daffodils.

Guided walks will be led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers, taking in places of interest including the Daffodil Way footpath, Betty Daws Wood, Gwen & Vera’s Fields Nature Reserve and the former Daffodil Line Railway – which used to run the Daffodil Specials when local children would pick the wild flowers to be sent by train from Gloucester to London for the capital’s hospitals and markets.

Oxenhall Daffodil Weekend
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March 2010
For more information contact Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on (01452) 383333.

Kempley Daffodil Weekend
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March 2010

Dymock Daffodil Weekend
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March 2010
For more information contact Dymock Parish Hall on (01531) 890453.

BBC Presenter Recommends the Tudor Farmhouse!

Kate recommends the Tudor Farmhouse.

THE Forest of Dean is one of the top wildernesses in which to escape says Springwatch star Kate Humble.

In a feature for this month’s Lonely Planet Magazine BBC presenter Kate outlines her top tips for an invigorating weekend west of the Severn.

Her highlights include Symonds Yat, the Giant’s Chair sculpture at Beechenhurst Lodge and the array of wildlife including goshawks, woodpeckers and wild boar.

Kate says: “When you enter the Forest of Dean you feel as if you’re on someone else’s territory; that something or someone else is in charge, it’s really quite exciting.”

Kate recommends the Tudor Farmhouse in Clearwell as a top spot to spend the night and the Garden Cafe in Lydbrook as a good place to grab a bite to eat.

Severn Bore this week!

The Severn Bore is a tidal wave which works its way up the Severn Estuary over 25 miles between Awre and Gloucester.

It attracts thousands of spectators, and scores of surfers along its course.

Caused by the tide from the Atlantic Ocean entering the Bristol Channel and forcing its way into the Severn Estuary, the bore filters into a narrow channel and the water to rises by anything up to 15 metres. The water reaches speeds of up to 20kmph as it nears Minsterworth and, as the width of the River Severn narrows, becomes held up causing the natural bore phenomenon.

The Severn Bore in particular is revered because the River Severn has the second largest tidal range in the world, making for a bore which can be anything up to 2 metres in height, and is one of only three surfable tidal waves in the world. Subsequently the powerful bores often see surfers take to the water in a brave feat, hoping to catch the wave at the right time and smash the surfing record which began in 1955.

You can watch The Severn Bore at numerous locations along the River Severn, but the best vantage points are located at Minsterworth, Stonebench and Over Bridge.

Large bores with a tidal range of 4.9 to 5 metres are denoted by three stars; very large bores with a tidal range of 5.1 to 5.3 metres are denoted by four stars, while the rarest five-star bores have a tidal range above 5.4 metres.

Monday 1 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.15am, Stonebench 8.25am & Over Bridge 8.50am ****
Minsterworth 8.42pm, Stonebench 8.52pm & Over Bridge 9.17pm ****

Tuesday 2 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.56am, Stonebench 9.06am & Over Bridge 9.31am *****
Minsterworth 9.22pm, Stonebench 9.32pm & Over Bridge 9.57pm ****

Wednesday 3 March 2010
Minsterworth 9.38am, Stonebench 9.48am & Over Bridge 10.13am ****
Minsterworth 10.03pm, Stonebench 10.13pm & Over Bridge 10.38pm ***

Thursday 4 March 2010
Minsterworth 10.20am, Stonebench 10.30am & Over Bridge 10.55am ***

Tuesday 30 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.54am, Stonebench 9.04am & Over Bridge 9.29am ***
Minsterworth 9.19pm, Stonebench 9.29pm & Over Bridge 9.54pm ***

Wednesday 31 March 2010
Minsterworth 9.35am, Stonebench 9.45am & Over Bridge 10.10am ****
Minsterworth 9.59pm, Stonebench 9.09pm & Over Bridge 9.34pm ***

Thursday 1 April 2010
Minsterworth 10.17am, Stonebench 10.27am & Over Bridge 10.52am ***

Wednesday 11 August 2010
Minsterworth 9.55pm, Stonebench 10.05pm & Over Bridge 10.30pm ***

Thursday 12 August 2010
Minsterworth 10.25am, Stonebench 10.35am & Over Bridge 11am ***
Minsterworth 10.38pm, Stonebench 10.48pm & Over Bridge 11.13pm ****

Friday 13 August 2010
Minsterworth 11.22pam, Stonebench 11.32pm & Over Bridge 11.57pm ***

Wednesday 8 September 2010
Minsterworth 8.49pm, Stonebench 8.59pm & Over Bridge 9.24pm ***

Thursday 9 September 2010
Minsterworth 9.17am, Stonebench 9.27am & Over Bridge 9.52am ***
Minsterworth 9.31pm, Stonebench 9.41pm & Over Bridge 10.06pm ****

Friday 10 September 2010
Minsterworth 9.58am, Stonebench 10.08am & Over Bridge 10.33am ****
Minsterworth 10.14pm, Stonebench 10.24pm & Over Bridge 10.49pm ****

Saturday 11 September 2010
Minsterworth 10.41am, Stonebench 10.51am & Over Bridge 11.16am ***
Minsterworth 10.58pm, Stonebench 11.08pm & Over Bridge 11.33pm ***

Thursday 7 October 2010
Minsterworth 8.27pm, Stonebench 8.37pm & Over Bridge 9.02pm ***

Friday 8 October 2010
Minsterworth 8.52am, Stonebench 9.02am & Over Bridge 9.27am ***
Minsterworth 9.08pm, Stonebench 9.18pm & Over Bridge 9.43pm ****

Saturday 9 October 2010
Minsterworth 9.33am, Stonebench 9.43am & Over Bridge 10.08am ***
Minsterworth 9.52pm, Stonebench 10.02pm & Over Bridge 10.27pm ****

Winter Owl Evenings

We had a poster come through from the International Centre for Birds of Prey based in Newent and it sounded so interesting that I thought I would share the information with you. You will see the owls at the natural time of their lives – in the dark, and watch them fly at night. It makes for an exciting evening. The tickets are £18 for adults and £10 for children and includes:
A guided tour of the owls by torchlight
Hot mulled wine and Hog Roast
Flying demonstration with small owls indoors
Outside flying demonstration of owls to finish

They are taking place now through to December 19th on every Friday and Saturday evening from 6.30.
Remember to wrap up warm and take a torch. Tickets must be booked in advance.
For more details phone 01531 820286 or visit their website:
www.icbp.org.uk

Clearwell Caves

The beautiful cavern at Clearwell Caves

Many people will have heard of Clearwell Caves. They were voted the ‘Best Family Attraction in Gloucestershire’ by the Good Britain Guide 2003. The Caves are part of an extensive natural cave system surrounding the Forest of Dean and have been worked for ochre (natural paint pigment) and iron ore since the Neolithic period over 5000 years ago. Mining has created a cave/mine complex consisting of many miles of passageways, with hundreds of caverns. At Clearwell Caves, nine impressive caverns are open to visitors, with mining and geological displays throughout.

The wonderful atmosphere in the caves is never more evident than for the annual candle – lit Halloween party for 300 people. Colin & I went a few years ago – dressed as cartoon characters (we left it quite late to organise any costumes!) – and had a wonderful time. It really is highly recommended.

We also love the caves at Christmas, and have gone every year (even before Matthew was born). It is always beautifully decorated and the children can visit Father Christmas and choose a toy. There is also a craft fair. Then the last section of the caves is used to illustrate a story. It is always beautifully done and throughout the caves are “presents” marked with names. It’s always a challenge to find your name. Colin and Matthew always do better than me!

The Entrance Churn at Clearwell Caves

Even if you haven’t visited Clearwell Caves, you may have already seen it as in the past few years, the cavern has been used by the BBC to film four separate Dr Who episodes, two Merlin episodes and also Dalziel and Pascoe.

Clearwell Caves does provide an unusual day out for all the family as well as an exciting underground experience for all ages. We will post more information on any special events they hold throughout the year but in the meantime please visit their website for more details:
www.clearwellcaves.com