Life at The Roost
Ancient Forest Trails: The Green Lane
The Roost sits directly on the boundary line of the ancient Forest of Dean. Step past our gates directly onto a green lane, and hundreds of miles of quiet, winding woodland trails open up instantly. Some of our favourite walks are mapped out for you in our digital guest book, and every property is equipped with an Ordnance Survey Ranger map, unlocking custom paths, hidden valleys and local historic trails — no car required.
A Wildflower Meadow, Rich in Life
The cabins and Barn sit within a beautiful two-acre meadow, rich with wildflowers and bordering ancient, semi-natural woodland. We’re situated within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), close to a maternity roost for the endangered lesser horseshoe bat, and the woodland is home to a wide array of wildlife including deer and badgers.
Our naturally-fed wildlife pond teams with life — look out for four different varieties of dragonfly, along with frogs and toads. In the long grasses, we’ve built reptile hibernaculums, so keep an eye out for sunbathing lizards or slow worms. In the evening, sit out on your veranda to watch the bats’ flight displays, listen for owls, or simply take in the stars.
We’re proud members of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Guardian Scheme, and have worked with them on a comprehensive meadow management plan — we’re always looking for ways to further enhance the habitat here.
The Wild Swimming Pool
The centrepiece of our outdoor wellness landscape is our dedicated, unheated natural pool, built as a living rainwater ecosystem and naturally purified by native aquatic reeds and locally quarried gravel — no chemicals involved. You can reserve private 45-minute swimming sessions entirely to yourself via your digital guest book. Full safety guidelines and our pre-swim shower ritual are on our dedicated Wild Swimming Pool page.
Our Orchard
We believe in preserving the historic agricultural footprint of the site. Our hand-built cabins sit nestled within what was once a traditional orchard, and we’ve intentionally retained and introduced Gloucestershire varieties of apple and pear trees across the top of the site.
Posh Pooches
We don’t just tolerate dogs, we cater to them. After the muddy trails of the forest, your companion can enjoy our outdoor dog wash — an instant electric warm water shower with a specialised massaging shower head, so you can rinse off the forest grit before heading back to relax by the wood burner.
The Dark-Sky Oasis
Because of our ecologically sensitive location, the whole estate operates under a low-impact light policy to protect our local lesser horseshoe bats. By eliminating harsh artificial glare and light spill at night, we preserve a stillness that makes for genuinely excellent stargazing — enjoy crystalline views of the constellations from your private outdoor spa or secluded deck.
Practical Luxury
Our main car park features a dedicated bank of three shared, untethered EV chargers, so you can top up your vehicle on-site using clean energy. For those exploring the Forest of Dean’s cycling trails, our heavy-duty, lockable estate bike shed keeps your gear secure.
