Parkend Loop – Forest of Dean Circular

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The Salt Path

Samantha Taylor

Gloucestershire

Parkend Loop – Forest of Dean Circular

Distance

10.1km

Time

1hr

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Published on May 12, 2025

2 min read

Finding Home in the Forest of Dean

Inspired by the heart-warming tale of love and resilience in “The Salt Path“, we invited our OS Champions to reveal special routes that are filled with meaning for them. In this post we hear from runner Samantha Taylor.

This route is special to me as it changed where I call home. When I first visited the Forest of Dean I stayed in Parkend and planned this run on my OS maps app. After I caught my breath following the steep power hike up the hill, I stood for a minute or two in the woods and got this feeling that this place was home.

As I continued my run I started falling even more in love. It was a sunny day and the rays shining through the trees made me stop again and enjoy the view. Which for those that know me, stopping on a run is not my usual behaviour!

Fast forward two years and after a very stressful house sale during what was considered one of the worst times for the property market, I now call the Forest of Dean home and this route has become one of my favourite early doors run before work. Particularly on the sunny days!

This route takes you along some beautiful forest and hopefully you find it as magical a place as I do! There is some on the road parking in Parkend, or stay at the Fountain Inn who offer rooms, a car park and delicious food. Highly recommend the Postage Stamp cafe also.

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