A base for cycling in the Forest of Dean

Built for a riding weekend

The Walnut Barn sits in Clearwell, on the western edge of the Forest of Dean, with the Wye Valley and the Welsh border close by. For a group of riders that means forest singletrack, gravel and quiet lanes, and long road miles through the valley, all reachable from one house.

The barn sleeps eight in four king-size bedrooms, each with its own shower room, so everyone can get clean at the same time when you roll in. A fifth shower room sits in the games barn.

Somewhere proper for the bikes

Bikes are not an afterthought here. There is secure bike storage, so expensive frames stay locked away overnight rather than in a hallway or on a roof rack, and a dedicated bike-washing area to get the forest off before it reaches the house.

• Secure bike storage
• Dedicated bike-washing area
• Off-road parking for four cars
• Electric vehicle charging (additional fees apply)

Space for kit

With four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a separate games barn and a courtyard between them, there is room to spread out wet kit, lay out tomorrow’s gear and leave shoes by the door without anyone tripping over them. Towels are included.

The riding nearby

Forestry England looks after the Forest of Dean’s waymarked cycle routes, from a largely traffic-free family trail that follows old railway lines to graded singletrack for mountain bikes. Its Forest of Dean pages have the current trail maps, gradings and any closures, so check them before you set out.

Away from the trails, the lanes around Clearwell lead into the Wye Valley, where the river cuts deep between wooded slopes on the way to Monmouth and Tintern. Expect climbs: this is hill country on both sides of the border.

The evening at the barn

The other half of a riding weekend happens after the ride. The outdoor kitchen has a gas barbecue and a sink, so dinner can go straight onto the grill while the last bikes are washed. The dining table inside seats up to ten.

Later there is the private hot tub on the terrace, the fire pit, and the games barn across the courtyard for pool, darts and a film on the projector. Then four king-size beds, and the same again tomorrow.