News & Features

The Forest environment never ceases to amaze and bring joy, no matter what the season. Whether it’s the colour fantasia of the autumn leaves, or the crisp, clean beauty of the white frost covered trees. Spring is the time for deep emerald greens, topped with highlights of white that is the flowers from the abundant wild garlic. And right now, its bluebell time! There are many places in the forest that one can enjoy the abundance of bluebells, but Helen and myself have recently discovered somewhere rather special near the village of Staunton. This is the best show of bluebells we have ever seen and we have been very lucky to enjoy some lovely walks in bright sunshine. Though not a heavily scented flower, the air is stained with their scent, such is the abundance of them in this area. As an added bonus we were also able to watch a local herd of deer as it moved through the forest. Make a date in your diary for next year, come and stay at Belvedere House and we’ll tell you where this wonderful place can be found.

Its forecast to be the best day of the year so far and it’s certainly started that way.

Our glorious view is even better since we had some of our trees pollarded. As this early morning panoramic shot shows, we now have pretty much a 180° uninterrupted view of this beautiful valley. This area is renowned for its wild garlic, which carpets much of the forest at this time of year and is a wonderful backdrop to the rich blue hues of the bluebells that are early this year.

Come and see and enjoy it for yourself!

Yes, its true, the Forest of Dean really is out of this world!

So, many of you will have seen and enjoyed the new Star Wars film, but did you know that one of the locations was actually filmed right here in the FoD? The action took place at the fabulous Puzzlewood; a 14 acre ancient woodland that was once a Roman iron mine. It’s also reputed to have been visited by JRR Tolkien and to have inspired the fabled forests of Middle Earth. Numerous other films and TV shows have used this location, including Merlin, Doctor Who and Atlantis to mention just a few. This magical place is a favorite of ours and only a few miles from Belvedere! Why not book a stay with us and discover its beauty and mystery for yourself.

Now this is something that’s bound to appeal, even if you’re not particularly a foodie!

Book tickets for the Caldicote Castle Medieval Banquet and live it up like Lords and Ladies of a bygone era.

Held on dates at the end of November and early December, check out further details and sample menu here. Why not make a few days of it and stay at Belvedere House. You’ll sleep like a baby and eat breakfast like a King, or Queen!

Helen and myself are great fans of Puzzlewood. It’s like entering a mystical world or maybe it’s Middle Earth! If you’ve never been, you must make the effort when in the area. Stay at Belvedere House one weekend in December and enjoy the added magic of Christmas, Hohoho!

I hope you won’t mind my posting this article, but I’m sure there is no one in the civilised world who has not been moved by the recent and tragic events in Paris. Addressing the terrorist group who claimed responsibility for the massacre, Mr Leiris wrote a heartfelt open letter on his Facebook page, which has now been shared more than two hundred thousand times.

This open letter so well sums up the futility of the action of a few and what must surely be our response to such people.

Here is the full text…

On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you won’t have my hatred.

I don’t know who you are and I don’t want to know – you are dead souls. If this God for which you kill indiscriminately made us in his own image, every bullet in the body of my wife will have been a wound in his heart.

So no, I don’t give you the gift of hating you. You are asking for it but responding to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorance that made you what you are.

You want me to be afraid, to view my fellow countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my freedom for security.

You have lost.

I saw her this morning. Finally, after many nights and days of waiting. She was just as beautiful as when she left on Friday night, just as beautiful as when I fell hopelessly in love over 12 years ago.

Of course I’m devastated with grief, I admit this small victory, but it will be short-lived.

I know she will accompany us every day and that we will find ourselves in this paradise of free souls to which you’ll never have access.

We are two, my son and I, but we are stronger than all the armies of the world.

I don’t have any more time to devote to you, I have to join Melvil who is waking up from his nap. He is barely 17-months-old.

He will eat his meals as usual, and then we are going to play as usual, and for his whole life this little boy will threaten you by being happy and free. Because no, you will not have his hatred either.

If anyone has an interest in Christmas crafts/markets, they may want to consider the Gloucester Quays Victorian Christmas Market. Click the following link to find out more. Or, better still, why not combine your visit with a stay at Belvedere House and discover what else this wonderful area has to offer!