Coleford, a Small Market Town of the Forest of Dean District in the County of Gloucestershire, England
Coleford is a thriving small market town west of the Forest of Dean district in Gloucestershire, England. It is only two miles away from the Welsh border and near the Wye Valley. The town, which is the administrative centre of the Forest of Dean has a rich and colourful history which was first recorded in 1275 as Colevorde when it was part of the Royal hunting forest. It was in this town where Robert Mushet formulated the process of making steel in the 1800s and where he developed the first air hardening grade tool steel.
Food, Shopping and Accommodation in Coleford
This town is a heaven for food lovers because of the numerous and diverse eating places that this town host, some of which are considered the finest in this area. Most of the restaurants double as pubs or bars that serve locally brewed beer or distilled whisky. And the menus vary from traditional English home-cooked meals to Italian and Mediterranean, to Asian and Indian.
There are several independent shops in Coleford, but for serious shopping, some residents go to Ross-on-Wye or the other towns nearby.
Things to See and Do in Coleford
Presently, the centre of town has been designated as a Conservation Area to protect the many buildings of historical interest there. A series of Town Walks have also been established to showcase the history of the town. Coleford is within easy reach of the many places of interest in the Forest of Dean District which includes the Clearwell Caves, Symonds Yat, the Wye Valley, Puzzle Wood, Beechenhurst, The Sculpture Trail, and the Railway Museum among others.
A ride on the Perrygrove Railway, a heritage railway, through woods and farmlands on the edge of the Forest of Dean including a treetop adventure is a sought-after activity when in this town.