Whether its magical, mystical, hilarious, classical or sci-fi the Forest of Dean, the Wye Valley and the surrounding area will lead you to places of wonder from the page or screen. Our beautiful area certainly brings in some of the “big guns”.

A few famous Authors

Laurie Lee - relation to Chris!

When you come to stay ask Chris about his great Uncle famous for his book “Cider with Rosie” amongst others and who lived and is buried a short drive away in the Slad Valley.

Frank Oz

Born in Hereford in 1944, Frank Oz is a puppeteer and filmmaker. He began his career as a puppeteer for Jim Henson’s Muppet characters including Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear. He is also well known for voicing the wise Yoda in the Star Wars franchise. Yoda first appeared in the 1980’s film The Empire Strikes Back where Oz had a great deal of creative impact for the puppet as well as creating the trade mark style of reversed grammar.

J K Rowling

Popular author, J.K Rowling grew up in the small village of Tutshill near Chepstow and attended Wyedean Comprehensive School. Rowling’s novels regularly acknowledge her childhood roots; the Harry Potter series has frequent mentions of the Forest of Dean.

The Dymock Poets

The small village of Dymock became a base for group of writers in the years leading up to World War I, the group become known as the Dymock Poets. The group consisted of seven poets named Abercrombie, Brooke, Drinkwater, Gurney, Gibson, Masefield and Thomas.

Dennis Potter

Writer, Dennis Potter was born in Berry Hill in the Forest of Dean and attended Bell’s Grammar School in Coleford. Potter pursued a career in writing and screen writing for televisions. Some of his best known television dramas included Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective.