Summer in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is never short of things to do. But this year the calendar is particularly strong — and if you’re planning a stay, knowing what’s on during your visit can turn a good holiday into an exceptional one.
Here’s our pick of what’s happening across the area from June through August 2026, with booking links and notes on who each experience suits best.
For the Nature Lovers
Two of the most rewarding things you can do in the Forest of Dean in summer require booking ahead — and both are worth every bit of the planning.
The Forest of Dean Evening Wildlife Safari runs throughout the summer, with upcoming dates including 12 and 20 June, and 4 and 19 July. The long evenings mean you’re out in the forest at its most atmospheric — and wild boar sightings are a genuine possibility. Book via visitdeanwye.co.uk.
The Nightjar Safari runs throughout June with six dates available. Nightjars are one of the most enigmatic birds in Britain — rarely seen, unmistakeable once heard, and the Forest of Dean is one of the best places in England to encounter them. This one is for adults who don’t mind being out in the dusk.
Daytime wildlife safaris run most weeks through June and July — a more accessible option for families with younger children, or anyone who prefers their wildlife in daylight.
For Families
The Room on the Broom Trail at Beechenhurst runs until the end of October and is one of those genuinely lovely things to do with younger children in the Forest. Julia Donaldson’s story comes to life along a Forestry England woodland trail — and the Beechenhurst site with its café and facilities makes a full family morning of it.
FOD Thursdays — timed bike runs on the downhill trails at Pedalabikeaway — run every Thursday from 4pm until 9 July. For families with older children or teenagers who cycle, this is a brilliant way to spend a summer Thursday afternoon.
For the Creative Soul
This summer is an unusually strong one for arts and crafts in the area.
The Summer Sculpture Exhibition at the Wye Valley Sculpture Garden runs until 13 September — now in its third year, it showcases work by regional and national artists in a garden setting above the valley. Worth an afternoon.
Hot Pot Pottery and Eastnor Pottery between them offer an almost continuous programme of wheel throwing sessions throughout the summer — from 90-minute introduction classes to full-day workshops. A pottery session is one of those activities that sounds nice and turns out to be genuinely absorbing. Multiple dates available throughout June, July and August.
The Beyond the Books Exhibition at the Dean Heritage Centre — a Forest of Dean Writers Collection display — runs until 30 August and is included with general admission.
For the Foodies
If you’re in the area this week, the Week of Greek at the Redhart Inn runs until 10 June — a themed food week bringing the flavours of the Aegean to the Wye Valley. And the Vegan Market on 14 June brings high-quality street food, artisan bakes and handmade goods to the area — well worth a morning out.
Father’s Day — 15 June 2026
If you’re planning a Forest of Dean stay around Father’s Day this year, the area has some brilliant options for a day that feels genuinely different:
- An Evening Wildlife Safari on 12 June (book ahead) — extraordinary for a wildlife-loving dad
- A mountain biking session at Pedalabikeaway — FOD Thursdays run the week before
- A long walk to Symonds Yat Rock followed by a proper pub lunch
- A pottery workshop — genuinely unexpected and consistently brilliant
- A day on the river — kayaking or paddleboarding the Wye with a local provider
Staying in the Area?
White Feather Management looks after 14 holiday let properties across the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley and Monmouthshire — all within easy reach of everything listed above. Browse our properties or give Emma a call to find the right base for your summer.
📞 07931 642142 🌐 www.whitefeathermanagement.co.uk