It’s road works season in the Forest, and favourite and convenient routes from place to place are being savagely closed for repairs. Lydney seems to be the hardest hit, with many roads leading north to the central forest being ruthlessly closed. The A48 to Chepstow and Gloucester are currently OK, but if you’re planning a trip to the inner forest from Lydney, be ready for serious delays or diversions on any of the roads to the central or northern Forest.

At one time it seemed that every route from Lydney to the central forest was simultaneously earmarked for repairs, leaving frustrated motorists seeking remote alternatives.

The journey between the two Lyds, that is Lydney and Lydbrook, at the north and south of the Forest, provides an example of local frustrations. The B4234, which should connect those two Lyds, has obstructions at Whitecroft and at Lydbrook, and is not fully functional at its northern end of the road. You might take a detour through Brockhollands or Bream to avoid the Whitecroft road blockage. The Brockhollands route will take you to the Whitecroft - Parkend road just avoiding the Whitecroft road closure. The sleepy hamlet of Brockhollands has perhaps never seen such an influx of bewildered motorists trying to find an alternative route to or from Lydney. I was one of them.

And Lydbrook is cut off from its main route into the Forest. There are some helpful traffic lights to guide you through to Lydbrook, but you have to find a track through Worrall Hill, noted for its ancient potholes, or through English Bicknor to get you to the trsffic lights. If you take a wrong track, which is easily done, you will be abruptly redirected back to the A4136 Cinderford to Coleford road to try again. The B4234 will not get you there. Until the road repairs are completed, only trust the B4234 between Parkend and the A4136 (Coleford to Cinderford road) You should find a route through Worrall Hill or English Bicknor to get to these traffic lights, the gateway to Lydbrook. And Lydbrook is the gateway to Ross on Wye, so, my advice to you would be: if you’re off to Ross on Wye, avoid Lydbrook.

The Gloucestershire County Council Roads Department has a web site https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads/road-maintenance/maps/ to assist you in understanding and managing the ways of avoiding closed roads including those between Lydney and Lydbrook. I hope you can understand it, because I can’t.