Forest of Dean Lost Mine Pt 1 of 4 The Walk

This started out as a nostalgic forest walk in the Royal Forest of Dean, searching for remembered relics from a previous life. We found a stone bridge, an old stone quarry and a mine. But not the right mine. The remembered mine location was near what is now the Cannop Cycle Centre and Bike hire facility and as this attracts many youngsters it was thought that the mine entrance may have been filled in to deter visits underground. This was not the case as we shall see in subsequent films. Many of the cycle paths are on old mineral railway lines but not so much on this side of the main road, but the walking isn't too arduous and you don't need to be a hill walker to get about. The forest feel soon makes up for the occasional climb. Sallow Vallets is criss-crossed by lots of mountain bike trails but present very few problems with the bikers themselves, provided you are careful and keep out of the way if possible. I've always loved walking down here, my passion has been walking, last year I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and walking is no longer natural. However I find that the more walking I do, the easier it gets, at least for now.
I hope that watching these films will encourage others to hang in there, and try to keep going, living in the moment, whilst enjoying beautiful countryside

[@michaelpilling9659]

Oh Ron that was wonderful. The stone bridge, the quarry and the mine with its dressed entrance. Glorious woodland scenes and I loved your "supreme navigation" (luck: as described by Pauline) at the end. Great film - much more please. On to part 2

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Michael. P.W.

[@weekendwarriorprospecting817]

I'm going to make regular visits to the Forest of Dean and i'm looking forward to using my new gold panning equipment. I doubt that I'll find any gold in the rivers but it's a great place to practice.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Lucky you Lewis, my wife wouldn't let me have a gold panning dish, she said I spend too much time out as it is. good luck. Ron

[@DRSEXPLORING]

Hi hope you are well ? The working mine 6:37 is no longer in use I found it today. I think the last one were it was flooded at the entrance has totally collapsed just inside the mine shaft

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for the update Dan. Ron

[@WOLFROY47]

i grew up in surrey in the middle of the green belt. as a kid i could walk all day without meeting another soul, and you could get real milk, not that coloured water, they call milk, nowadays, after they've taken all of the good bits out. now us old gits that remember how it used to be, aren't dying off quick enough for their liking. so their speeding it up a bit. but you reap what you sow. i think that we, were the lucky ones. i feel sorry for today's youngsters. and you, keep fighting. my sincere best wishes to you and anyone else that still remember how it was

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thank you for those kind words. P.W.

[@johnsparkes8963]

Very interesting video, would love to know were that quarry is to photograph it? ,many thanks.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi John, it is certainly picturesque. Hard to describe, but if you head up the valley from the cycle center it is on your left. You will know if it is the right path if you see tramway sets at regular intervals. Look out for the boar! P.W.

[@WOLFROY47]

i could point out, that cattle, were originally forest grazing animals, along with pigs, bears, wolves, and deer. yep, in this country. merry old england

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

You just did Wolfroy47. P.W.

[@estheroreilly3143]

This is beautiful. I'm researching this forest for a project and would love to ask a few more location questions. Have you ever walked around the area near Saint Anthony's Well?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I have walked a lot of the forest Esther, but it doesn't ring any bells. P.W.

[@estheroreilly3143]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Ah well, that's all right, there are still a few questions I had, just to get some more of the texture of the forest vicariously. If you're kindly willing to indulge me at all, my e-mail is estherioreilly[at]gmail[dotcom].

[@julie-annamos9731]

@@estheroreilly3143 did you find the well? If not I can tell you where it is

[@estheroreilly3143]

@@julie-annamos9731 Hi Julie-Ann! Have you walked about the area? I did find a bit more info but am gathering all different folks' perspectives on the location.

[@DRSEXPLORING]

where di you go on the map to find these mines ?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Dan, I'm not sure I understand the question, but if you start at the cycle centre they are around there. Ron

[@DRSEXPLORING]

@@ParkinsonsWalks hi i do Apologise. Were on the map were the mines?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@DRSEXPLORING Hi Dan, on the second or third film in this series I actually show the location on the map at the start. Ron

[@DRSEXPLORING]

@@ParkinsonsWalks brilliant thank you :)

[@granjerolunabrillo1487]

I thought the canop drift mine closed in 2013?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Andrew
This mine seems to close then re open quite regularly. When I shouted to the two guys standing there, that ‘there wasn’t much work being done’ one of them pointed to his black dog and said “What do you mean, he was white this morning”. Wonderful forest humour.