Escape the everyday

Join our mailing list for hand-picked holiday inspiration, exclusive offers, and the latest arrivals across the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and beyond!

This message will not appear again for another 24 hours

Check Availability

Keeper's Cottage

Viney Hill, Forest of Dean

Sleeps 6

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Dog Friendly

Local Pub

WIFI

12-24 Mbps

Take a 3D Tour

View Floorplan

Add to Shortlist

The Forest of Dean becomes your playground when you stay at Keeper's Cottage near Lydney. The treeline begins at your doorstep opening a world of possibilities from which to explore this mystical natural world. Keeper's Cottage provides a home from home during your time here where you can truly relax and have a proper break from the daily hubbub. Made for family holidays or groups of friends there are two sitting rooms, flexible bed arrangements and space to dine together indoors and out. In the flourishing garden discover the apple orchard where fruit was picked to make cider in days gone by. At any time of year this is a wonderful retreat with a woodburning stove and a conservatory that allows you to appreciate this location no matter the weather. An oasis for walkers, the dogs are more than welcome to join you on this adventure. Within a short drive you can enjoy the Dean Forest Railway, Dean Heritage Centre, the Clearwell Caves or head further to Tintern Abbey and Symonds Yat.

Escape to Keeper's Cottage, a hidden retreat on the edge of the forest where you feel as if you've entered another world. When you arrive you will want to immediately pull on your walking boots and head into the woodland. Sitting in the village of Viney Hill near Lydney you are within walking distance of The New Inn and just a short drive from Lydney where you’ll find shops, pubs and a station for the heritage steam railway.

Encompassed by garden views, Keeper's Cottage embraces its surroundings. Two sitting rooms and a glorious conservatory let you choose where to spend your time whether you’d prefer to read or watch a film with the family. If you’re staying in, the kitchen has everything you need and you can spend a long evening chatting and drinking wine beside the fire. Three bedrooms, two of which can be arranged as a twin or double, make this house an ideal choice for families. Children can have a bed each while couples can spread out in a super king-size bed. The whole house feels warm and welcoming letting you have a real break of rest and relaxation.

Stepping outside, the garden is a treasure trove of delights. Birds often twitter past and you may spot the woodcocks, goshawks and secretive owls in the evenings. Embracing rewilding the garden is an English cottage delight with native flowers coming to life each season. Explore the apple orchard beside the pond and bring out some loungers to the front lawn to catch some rays. This Forest of Dean haven will become a firm favourite year after year as you discover this magical area.

Ground Floor

Kitchen/Diner
A traditional country kitchen sets the scene at Keeper's Cottage with its characterful blue touches and wooden dining table. You can hideaway here and cook up a storm for the whole group to enjoy together, inside or out. After muddy walks a handy washing machine can handle the load and there is a useful storage cupboard for stashing your luggage.

Shower Room
At the end of the kitchen is one of the three bathrooms, this one has a shower with a rainfall head, WC and basin.

Living Room
Snug and cosy, the living room is a joy to curl up in. Comfortable sofas and a roaring wood burner make you feel at home so you can really relax and enjoy this peaceful spot. A selection of books are here for you to choose from, watch TV, or switch off and listen to the birds outside.

Conservatory
Surrounded by the vibrant garden the conservatory is a fantastic room where you can be immersed in nature no matter what the weather. Spend some time birdwatching and have a quiet moment to yourself.

Snug
If you’re staying as a family, younger guests will enjoy having some space to themselves. There’s plenty of space to get the toys out or to watch their favourite cartoons. Books and games are kept here so there is no end to the entertainment.

First Floor

Bedroom One
The master bedroom has a garden view from the king-size bed, there’s no place better to wake up. Finished in soft olive hues this room brings the outdoors in and is spacious and flooded with light.

En-Suite
This bedroom benefits from an en-suite where you find a bath with a shower over, WC and basin.

Shower Room
With the shower room on the ground floor, each bedroom can have its own bathroom. This shower room has a shower, WC and basin.

Bedroom Two
An exposed stone wall in bedroom two fills this room with character. Once a fireplace it now adds texture and interest. The super king-size bed can be arranged as a twin on request and there is plenty of storage space.

Bedroom Three
The final bedroom looks out across the forest, inviting you to head out first thing and explore. Adding flexibility, the king-size bed can be a twin on request and would be great for younger guests.

Outside

The garden is what gives Keeper's Cottage an extra special touch. Left to embrace nature it blooms with life and colour showcasing snowdrops and bluebells through to roses and magnolia. Hidden spots to have a quiet drink and enjoy the views are scattered across the garden and at the bottom end you will find a small pond and orchard of apple trees. It’s a real hidden gem which the local wildlife makes their own.

Indoor

Bedroom One - King-size
Bedroom Two - Super-king (can be twin on request)
Bedroom Three - King-size (can be twin on request)
3 Bathrooms - 2 x shower room, 1 x bathroom
Hairdryer
Fire - Logs provided for initial fire 01 Oct to 31 March
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee machine - Magimix Nespresso Citiz
Dishwasher
Dining table - Seats 6
Washing machine
Iron
Drying rack
WiFi *Please note that speeds are for guidance only and are not guaranteed
TV - Smart
Travel cot (cot linen not provided)
Stair gates

Outdoor

Dog friendly - 4 well-behaved dogs welcome for an additional fee
Garden - Enclosed with open pond, pets and children to be supervised
Outdoor dining area
BBQ - Please provide your own charcoal
Parking - Off-road parking for 3 cars

Farm shops, delis, and shopping: There is a village shop and Post Office at Yorkley (1 mile) and nearby Lydney (2 miles) has a Lidl and a Tesco supermarket. Chepstow (8 miles) has Lidl, Tesco, and an M&S Foodhall. Taurus Crafts (5.5 miles) sells a selection of gifts and has a zero waste shop. If you are in search of a little retail therapy Gloucester Quays is a 30-minute drive with lots of shops and plenty of places to eat. Cribbs Causeway in Bristol is 40-minutes in the other direction.

Eating Out:

The New Inn, Viney Hill – a dog friendly local serving simple pub grub (0.3 miles)
The Rising Sun, Moseley Green – lovely location in the heart of the forest. A great place for walkers and cyclists (2.5 mile walk from cottage)
The Woodman Inn, Parkend – traditional country inn with beautiful dining space (3.5 miles)
Speech House, Coleford – historic hunting lodge perfect for relaxed evening meals, afternoon tea or a more formal experience (5 miles)
Swan House Tea Room, Woolaston – pretty tearoom with super afternoon tea options (7 miles)

Walks:
You can head straight into the forest on foot or on your bike from the doorstep at Keeper's Cottage. The region is criss-crossed with miles and miles of walking trails where you might be lucky enough to see some of the abundant local wildlife which includes deer, wild boar, and foxes. Sheep also roam freely in the forest so please ensure your dog is under control when exploring. Head to Mallard’s Pike for a lakeside lunch or find The Rising Sun pub. Other walks include the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Puzzlewood Walk and the Beechenhurst Trail.

Places to Visit:

Mallard’s Pike, Cinderford – walk here from your doorstep and enjoy a picnic beside the lake or an adventurous Go Ape course (3.5 miles)
RSPB Nag's Head Nature Reserve - hosts to a variety of bird species with a daily bulletin board so you know what to look out for (4 miles)
Dean Forest Railway, Lydney – journey through the forest on a steam train (4.5 miles)
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Cannop – a showcase of unique and contemporary sculptures (6 miles)
Puzzlewood, Coleford – a magical forest often used as a filming location (6.5 miles)
Chepstow Racecourse – home of the Welsh Grand National (15 miles)
Symonds Yat – walk to Symonds Yat Rock for stunning views across the river (15 miles)
Ross-on-Wye – much-loved market town which hosts local markets (17 miles)

Travel:
Train - Lydney Railway Station (3 miles) has services to/from Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Chepstow, and Cardiff.
Taxis - Abbey Taxis, CDS Taxi, Moriarty’s Cabs

There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreats Experiences.

Reviews

Cottage is beautiful, stunning location and well stocked. Very pretty garden. Forest of Dean is such an amazing place with Dean Heritage Centre and Mallards Pike. Puzzlewood well worth a visit and so many other places. We all thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will visit again. Thank you for the tasty apples and bread.

Suzanne

| 18/10/2025

We had a lovely peaceful stay, especially enjoyed walks in the woods right next to the property. The location is perfect for exploring the forest and there are enough shops and restaurants a short car drive away. The house itself had lots of homely touches, including comfy sofas with extra blankets. Beds were very comfortable and the kitchen was well-equipped with everything we needed, including coffee, teabags, milk, apples and fresh bread on our arrival! We would definitely stay here again.

Callie

| 09/10/2025

Warm welcome with complimentary bread & apples. Comfy beds! Lovely walks on the doorstep. Thoughtful touches e.g. dogs toys and blankets. Outstanding garden. Cosy vibes throughout. Great cleanliness. Really useful guest manual. An idyllic and relaxing getaway! Thank you.

Olivia

| 03/10/2025

Very good cosy stay! We would love to visit again.

Kajal

| 12/09/2025

Really enjoyed our stay in Keeper’s Cottage it had everything we needed. Lovely secure garden and it was great to walk straight out of the cottage into the forest, our dog loved this. We were a family of 4 adults and there was plenty of space for us to relax. We enjoyed sitting in the conservatory watching the birds.

Sue

| 05/09/2025

Really relaxing holiday with varied local places of interest. Great place to stay for families. lots to do and see.

Gill

| 22/08/2025

We had a very relaxing stay. The house is comfortable and the garden really lovely. We appreciated the welcome hamper items thank you. The location is incredible - so many walks right from the door and only a short drive to other interesting places.I'd very happily stay again.

Rachel

| 01/08/2025

A great location, 3 couples felt very at home. Lots of walks nearby and pubs and restaurants. A really great weekend!

Daniel

| 25/07/2025

Very comfortable place to stay, with a beautifully tranquil garden setting, right on the edge of the forest. We settled in very quickly as everything was perfect, the garden was a wonderfully restful place to sit and read and listen to the birdsong. The forest tracks are right outside the garden gate, a great place to walk the dog and do some bird spotting and our trip to Lydney Harbour and walk along the Severn Estuary was lovely. We would love to come back.

Penny

| 27/06/2025

Loved staying in this really nice house of the edge of the forest. Well equipped and comfortable. We were very lucky with the weather and ate outside for every meal. Our two dogs loved the walks in the forest where we saw deer. A peaceful break and we'd love to go back.

Gill

| 15/06/2025

Location

Step out the front door of Keeper's Cottage and the majestic forest stretches before you. Following the trails you can walk from the doorstep for miles without reaching another road. It’s an inspiring place for walkers, cyclists and anybody that loves to be surrounded by nature. The Forest of Dean is one of the most interesting places in the UK lying within the embrace of two great tidal rivers, the Severn, and the Wye. The landscape, heritage and culture created are quite unlike anywhere else. Viney Hill is just outside Lydney where you can shop, dine and enjoy a journey on the Dean Forest heritage railway. Further afield, Chepstow, Cheltenham Spa, Bath, and Bristol are all easily accessible.

Select an arrival day to begin

Please select a departure day.

Select a new arrival day or continue to summary..

View summary

Clear dates

Getting availability

Summary

Nights

From

For

Total Cost (inc booking fee)

Sorry, but your searched dates are not available for this property

Change dates

Web design by Creatomatic

This website uses cookies

This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Necessary

Preferences

Statistics

Marketing

These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.

A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.

A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).

Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.

Escape the everyday

Keeper's Cottage

Viney Hill, Forest of Dean

Forest of Dean

Hay-on-Wye

Hereford

Ledbury

Forest of Dean

Hay-on-Wye Guidebook

Hereford

Ledbury

Wye Valley guidebook

Reviews

Location

Escape the everyday

Filters

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Keeper's Cottage

Viney Hill, Forest of Dean

Ground Floor

First Floor

Outside

Indoor

Outdoor

Walking & Cycling Guides

Forest of Dean

Hay-on-Wye

Hereford

Ledbury

Area Guidebooks

Forest of Dean

Hay-on-Wye Guidebook

Hereford

Ledbury

Wye Valley guidebook

Reviews

Location