Tim Hughes heads into the other-worldly Forest of Dean

You stand more chance of finding Yoda carol singing at your front door than escaping Star Wars this festive season.

A cinematic spectacular, The Force Awakens is every bit as exciting as we hoped – with breathtaking scenes which are literally out of this world.

But you don’t have to travel across the cosmos to soak up the best of the film series’ stunning locations, with iconic scenes shot in the sands of Abu Dhabi, Iceland… and Gloucestershire.

Yes, when the search began to find quirky otherworldly landscapes, a quirky corner of rural England stood out – Puzzlewood.

A tangled mass of rock outcrops, ravines, mossy canyons and gnarled oaks, this bizarre beauty spot certainly fits the bill as an alien landscape. The combined efforts of nature and man have conspired to create a surreal vista which has become a favourite location for film and TV producers searching for a fantasy world – specifically, the jungle planet Endor, home to those ridiculously cute Ewoks.

As well as Star Wars, the wood, in the heart of the Forest of Dean – less than four hours’ drive from Oxford – has been convincingly used as the setting for Doctor Who, Wizards Vs Aliens, Tree Fu Tom, Narnia, Atlantis and Merlin. On the big screen, its ancient trees and ‘scowls’ were the home of Jack the Giant Slayer – with Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci among those hiding out in its canyons – linked with bridges, clifftop walkways and lookouts.

It is also reputed to be one of the locations which provided inspiration to JRR Tolkien in dreaming up the forests of Middle Earth.

Puzzlewood is only one of the reasons to venture to the Forest of Dean, which sweeps across a swathe of Gloucestershire, between the Severn and the Welsh border.

This is a landscape of seemingly endless woods draped over rolling hills and laced with walking and mountain bike trails. Within its clearings are caves, steam railways, art galleries and museums dedicated to the area’s mining and industrial past.

More than anything though it’s a place to relax – and eat. Which is why I found myself, my own two Ewoks in tow, heading across the Cotswolds and into this stunning, and little-visited, part of the country which is devoid of the crowds and high prices which have transformed other parts of the county into an expensive tourist honeypot.

Forget twee images of cosy ‘olde’ England. The forest may be close to the Cotswolds, but is an altogether more rugged, less manicured landscape – which is why it makes for such a convincing alien world. Wild boar run loose in the woods, while towns like Coleford and Cinderford bear testimony to the forest’s history as the haunt of freeminers, each working out seams of coal, iron and ochre in their own personal plots – round here known as ‘gales’. Best are at Clearwell, where we donned helmets and explored the upper levels of a former working mine, reputed to be haunted by a helpful old freeminer.

The place to stay in these parts is the Tudor Farmhouse, in Clearwell itself – just a lightsaber’s throw from Puzzlewood and the caves. This award-winning boutique hotel and restaurant (named best in England by hotel bible Sawday’s) also looks like a film set. It occupies an impossibly pretty location beside a babbling brook, and is sheltered by a hill, topped with woods, which stretch away into the distance. Permanent residents include a family of pigs, hens, ducks and some very friendly – and patient – horses – all of which went down well with my own two farm animals.

With great food, cosy rooms and boutique style, the Force is indeed strong in this neck of the woods.

THE FACTS
Tudor Farmhouse, Clearwell, Gloucs. Call 01594 833046 or go to tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk 

* Still looking for that perfect Christmas gift? why not treat your loved one to a stay at Tudor Farmhouse and start 2016 in style. The Tudor Farmhouse is offering readers a seasonal offer of 25 per cent off B&B rates in its Hen and Cockerel rooms and suites. The offer is valid from Jan 4 to Feb 28, excluding Feb 12-14. Please quote OXFORDTUDOR when making your reservation.