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Explore the Forest of Dean with Hidden Heritage apps

The Hidden Heritage apps are an exciting new way to explore the Forest of Dean using your mobile phone or tablet device.

The free apps were developed through the Foresters' Forest programme, and use fading 'Then and Now' images to enable both local residents and visitors to discover the Forest of Dean's rich history.

Coleford's Hidden Heritage app

Coleford's Hidden Heritage is the latest app in the series. 

Follow the seven mile route around the historic market town of Coleford. Coleford has grown from a group of cottages in 1275 to one of the Forest of Dean's main towns.

Discover Coleford's rich history through 31 points of interest. Learn how Coleford was once at the forefront of the developing national iron and steel industry. Shorter routes and routes avoiding inclines are optional.

  • Maps show selected places of interest
  • Your location tracked by GPS (no 'phone signal required on route)
  • Location pinpointed on map
  • When near a place of interest GPS triggers "You have discovered" message. 

The route includes Darkhill Ironworks and Titanic Steelworks both of which are critical to the story of the evolving iron and steel industry, such that Coleford can be described as 'the birthplace of modern steel'.

Download Coleford's Hidden Heritage app from the Apple iStore or Google Play Store

Hidden Heritage of the Dean app 

This was the first in the series of Hidden Heritage apps and follows a 9 mile route around the Forestry Commission's Family Cycle Trail. 

Download Hidden Heritage of the Dean from the Apple iStore or Google Play Store

Watch the images move between the past and the present