Clays Press Cider

Clays Press Cider sits just outside Coleford in the Forest of Dean, and it's the kind of place that makes you understand why cider producers have stuck around this corner of Gloucestershire for generations. The operation is small-scale and genuine - you'll find them making proper scrumpy using traditional methods, not the mass-produced stuff you see in supermarkets.

What you actually get here is a working cider press and orchard where you can watch the process happen. It's not a vast visitor centre with gift shops and themed lunch menus - it's more straightforward than that. You'll see how apples become cider, taste what they've made, and walk away with bottles if you fancy them. The whole thing takes an hour or so, depending on how chatty the folks are and whether you linger over tasting notes.

It works best for anyone with a genuine interest in cider-making rather than casual drinkers looking for a day out. Families with older kids will get something from it; very young children will likely lose interest quickly. Check opening hours before you head over, as smaller producers like this don't always run to standard schedules.

If you're camping at Hawthorne Cottage or Forest and Wye Valley nearby, Clays Press makes a decent half-morning activity before lunch. It won't fill a whole day, but paired with a woodland walk in the Forest of Dean, it rounds out a proper countryside visit without feeling forced.