Newnham on Severn

Newnham on Severn is a compact village, so hotel choice within its own boundaries is limited, with most visitor beds found above its historic riverside inns rather than in dedicated hotels. What Newnham offers instead is a genuinely characterful, low-key base: a Georgian high street, a working river beneath the window, and the Forest of Dean a few minutes away, without the crowds of the region's better-known tourist towns.

For a broader choice of hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns, Gloucester lies about 10 miles north-east and has a full range of city-centre and out-of-town options along with its cathedral and waterfront, while Lydney and the villages of the Forest of Dean to the west offer a good spread of country inns and small hotels set among woodland, many geared towards walkers and cyclists using the Forest's trail network. Chepstow, just over the Welsh border, is another practical option for anyone wanting a slightly larger town with its castle and racecourse.

Wherever you base yourself, Newnham's setting on the Severn Way and its reputation as one of the best Severn Bore viewing points make it an easy and rewarding stop, whether as a short detour on a longer Gloucestershire or Wye Valley trip or as a quiet, riverside alternative to staying directly in the Forest of Dean itself.

Newnham rewards a slow wander, and it makes an easy base for exploring both the Severn and the Forest of Dean beyond it.

• Severn Bore watching — the riverbank and slipway at Newnham are among the most popular and reliable spots to watch the Severn Bore surge upstream on big spring tides, usually in early spring and autumn; bore-timing tables are published well in advance.
• St Peter's Church — a parish church rebuilt in 1866 on medieval foundations, notable for surviving a gunpowder explosion in the Civil War and a serious fire in 1881; it remains the focal point of the village.
• Newnham Town Trail — a self-guided walk around the village's Georgian high street, old quays and former port buildings, tracing its centuries as a working river port.
• Severn Way — the long-distance riverside footpath passes directly through Newnham, offering easy stretches for a short riverside stroll or a longer walk along the Severn's banks.
• Forest of Dean — England's oldest oak woodland lies just across the river and a short drive away, with waymarked trails, the Sculpture Trail, and mountain biking centres at places like Cannop and Beechenhurst.
• May Hill — a National Trust hilltop a few miles east, topped with a distinctive clump of pines and giving sweeping views over the Severn Vale, the Malverns and, on a clear day, into Wales.
• Westbury Court Garden — a restored late 17th-century formal water garden a short drive south along the A48, one of the earliest Dutch-style water gardens surviving in England.

The George Inn at Newnham, on the High Street, is the village's long-standing pub and restaurant, serving food from breakfast through to an evening à la carte menu alongside cask ales. The Victoria at Newnham, overlooking the river, is another local option for a pint or a meal with Severn views. For a wider choice, Gloucester and the villages of the Forest of Dean nearby offer everything from traditional Gloucestershire pub fare to cafés serving produce from the surrounding farmland.

Newnham on Severn sits right on the edge of the Forest of Dean, England's oldest oak woodland, with the tidal River Severn on its doorstep — a combination that makes it a quietly excellent base for camping and glamping. As anywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's explicit permission, so plan around one of the area's licensed sites rather than pitching informally on riverbank or forest land.

The closest option is the Severn Valley Touring Caravan and Camping Site, half a mile from the Severn Way and around 1.5 miles off the A48, which offers grass touring pitches with electric hookups for caravans, motorhomes and campervans, plus some tent camping in peak season and a converted vintage railway carriage set up as an ensuite shepherd's hut for those wanting glamping comfort without giving up the outdoor feel. It's a working-farm setting, so it's kept dog-free other than assistance dogs, and the rural, low-key atmosphere suits couples and families happy with a quieter site over a resort-style one.

Further into the Forest of Dean, a wider choice of family-friendly campsites and caravan parks opens up, many with on-site shops, cafés and easy access to the Forest's cycling and walking trails at Cannop and Beechenhurst, as well as more upmarket glamping pods, safari tents and shepherd's huts for those wanting a softer introduction to camping.

The best camping season here runs from late spring to early autumn, when the Forest's paths are driest and evenings are long enough for a walk down to the Severn after pitching up. Spring and autumn also bring a bonus for anyone camping nearby: the Severn Bore's biggest tidal surges pass directly below Newnham, and a well-timed early morning stroll from a local site to the riverbank is one of the most memorable free things to do in the area. Ground can be soft after wet weather given the site's proximity to the river and farmland, so it's worth packing for mud regardless of season, and booking ahead in summer and around known bore dates, when the best pitches go quickly.