I’ll never forget the drive to Dean Forest Pet-Friendly Lodge – a proper Forest of Dean adventure that started with me taking a wrong turn near Coleford and ending up in a muddy farm lane, swearing under my breath while the satnav laughed at me. It was one of those classic daft moments: we’d left Gloucester early, kids and dog in tow, buzzing for a three-day family escape, only for me to miss the turning for Broadwell by about a mile. Fifteen minutes of reversing past bemused sheep later, we finally rolled up to the lodge, mud-splattered but grinning.

Pulling into the drive, the first thing that hit me was how perfectly tucked away it felt – right in the heart of the Forest of Dean, surrounded by those ancient woods that make you feel like you’ve slipped into a Beatrix Potter tale, minus the talking rabbits (though our spaniel, Monty, gave it a good bark). The lodge itself is this cosy wooden haven, all warm cedar vibes and a veranda begging for cups of tea. It’s pet-friendly to the core – Monty was straight out, sniffing every blade of grass like he’d claimed the estate. We unloaded in a flurry: kids dragging welly bags, me juggling the cool box, and a rogue sausage roll tumbling out and straight into the dirt. Chaos, but the good kind that screams family holiday.

Stepping inside, it was love at first sight. The open-plan living space is compact but spot-on for lodge life – squishy sofas piled with cushions, a wood-burning stove (we got it crackling by lunchtime), and a kitchen that’s kitted out just enough to rustle up beans on toast without fuss. The kids claimed the bunk beds in the twin room faster than you can say “top bunk’s mine!”, while our double bedroom had this fab en-suite with a rainfall shower that made me feel briefly fancy. First impressions? It’s got that Scandi hygge thing going on, but proper British – think tartan throws and a telly for rainy afternoons, which we’d soon need.

No sooner had we unpacked than we were out exploring on foot, because what’s a Forest of Dean stay without a wander? The lodge backs onto trails that weave through towering oaks and ferns – we followed one down to a babbling stream just a short stroll away, where the kids skimmed stones and Monty chased sticks into the shallows. It’s all so effortless here; no need for the car once you’re settled. Lunch was a picnic on the veranda: cheese ploughman’s from the local shop in Coleford (five minutes’ drive), washed down with flask coffee. The sun dappled through the leaves, birds cheeping away, and for a moment, it was pure bliss. Monty, bless him, decided to “help” by stealing a crisp packet and racing laps around the garden – cue twenty minutes of chase and giggles.

As the afternoon wore on, we lit the BBQ (pet-friendly doesn’t mean fire-free, thankfully) and charred some bangers while the light faded. Sat there with the forest humming around us, I had one of those quiet reflective moments – you know, the kind where you realise how knackered you’ve been from the daily grind back home. Here, with the kids’ laughter echoing and no emails pinging, it felt like we’d hit pause on life. Simple pleasures, really: mud on the boots, a full belly, and that woodsmoke scent clinging to everything. The lodge wrapped us in this bubble of relaxed chaos – a bit of lodge life disorder with Monty shedding fur everywhere, but it’s what makes it real.

By evening, curled up by the stove with hot chocolates, first impressions sealed it: Dean Forest Pet-Friendly Lodge is the antidote to hectic holidays. It’s unpretentious, utterly welcoming, and bang in the middle of Dean magic. If you fancy a family break where the forest does the entertaining, this is your spot. We were already plotting a return before we’d even finished the first day.