Devil's Pulpit

The walk down to Devil's Pulpit near Lydney is steep enough to test your thighs but short enough that you won't regret it. This sandstone outcrop juts into the Wye Valley with a view that catches you off guard - the river curves below, Wales rises on the far bank, and on a clear day you can see for miles. It's called the Pulpit because the rock formation does look a bit like a preacher's lectern if you squint and use your imagination.

The viewpoint itself takes maybe ten minutes to reach from the car park, but you're scrambling down a proper path with chains bolted into the rock in places. Kids aged ten upwards will find it fun; younger ones might need a hand. The actual pulpit is surprisingly small - you can stand on top of it and feel properly perched above the gorge, which is thrilling if heights don't bother you.

Walkers will love this as part of a longer loop along the Wye Valley Walk. History buffs might appreciate the industrial heritage hidden in the slopes - old quarries and workings dot the hillside. Allow an hour total if you're just doing the pulpit and back; half a day if you're combining it with a riverside stroll.

If you're camping at Forest and Wye Valley or Hawthorne Cottage, this is genuinely worth the short drive. Free, no restrictions that we could find, and the Wye Valley being what it is, you'll likely have the place to yourself on a weekday.